My Friends is now my favorite book by Fredrik Backman and it will definitely be one of my favorites of the year! Backman is excellent at writing about the human experience and creating wonderful characters. This book will make you laugh and cry. Magnificent storytelling!

Synopsis:
Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of a wide expanse of sea. But Louisa, soon to be eighteen years old and an aspiring artist herself, knows otherwise. She is determined to find out the story behind these three enigmatic figures.

More than two decades before, in a distant seaside town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their bruising home lives by spending long summer days on an abandoned pier telling silly jokes, sharing secrets, and committing small acts of rebellion. These lost souls find in each other a reason to get up every morning, a reason to dream, a reason to love.

Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that, after a chance encounter in an alleyway, will unexpectedly be placed into Louisa’s care. She embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to discover how the painting came to be and to decide what to do with it. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more anxious she becomes about what she'll find. Louisa's complicated life is proof that happy endings are sometimes possible, but they don't always take the form we expect them to.

Fredrik Backman's signature charm, humor, and attention to the poignant details of everyday life are on full display in this funny, moving novel. His most heartfelt and personal tale yet, My Friends is a stunning testament to the transformative, timeless power of art and friendship.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced digital copy of the book for my opinion.

This book was a riveting and well told story of four friends. I was instantly captured by the story and hung on until the end, desperate for the next bit of the story. Per usual, the author has a way of telling a story that is unique and gripping.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria, and Fredrik Backman for a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review!**

"It's art that helps me cope. Because art is a fragile magic, just like love, and that's humanity's only defense against death. That we create and paint and dance and fall in love, that's our rebellion against eternity. Everything beautiful is a shield."

Louisa may just be on the precipice of adulthood...but she has an artist's soul and a wisdom far beyond her seventeen years. She is still reeling from the death of her friend and twin flame, Fish, who she bonded with during their time in foster care and feels that without her, she has no one left. One special painting has kept her company during this difficult time though: the painting depicts a group of friends in the ocean. Although she only has a copy with her, her sentimental attachment to the painting convinces her that she needs to see the original in person, and she sets off on a quest. When she arrives at the auction where the painting is waiting to be sold, however, she ends up meeting the painter's friend, Ted...and the meeting seems destined in a way that neither party can explain...just yet, anyway.

What follows is a quest (Quest? She was ALREADY on a quest!), where Louisa and Ted travel by train to carry out the artist's final wishes...and Louisa is treated to a beautifully complex tale of friendship, love, and grief that led to the painting's creation, entrance in a competition, and ends with these two strangers forming a unique and inexplicable bond all their own. But with so much collective pain and loss oscillating back and forth between this unlikely pair, can they bridge the chasms of their grief together and forge a new path towards connection and joy? Or will Louisa's shock at the TRUE meaning of the story (and the loss of a very important urn) be the nail in the coffin of this budding friendship?

I'll start with a bold statement: Fredrik Backman is one of THE great artists and most poignant wordsmiths of the modern era. It feels impossible to write a review that does his work justice. Even the simplest contemplation and seemingly conspicuous observations of the human condition comes alive through Backman's pen, but he never ostracizes the reader with lofty, unapproachable prose. His books are the type you want to highlight - A LOT - even if you swear you're not the type to ever set pen or highlighter to the page. Quotable beyond measure, his reflections on grief and art are a particular high point of this novel, and this is one of those books that finds beauty in simplicity while still philosophizing on the bigger questions of life and existence and all that makes us whole as a human race.

So why not a glowing 5 star review for this one? I think it came down to a few aspects for me that just didn't quite click fully and a story line that felt less intriguing to me than some of Backman's other work. For one, there are LOTS of fart jokes and references in this book (and one that's even central to the plot, somehow!) and that sort of thing takes me instantly out of reflective mode and feels a bit juvenile in the context of all that is explored in these pages. While I loved the dual timeline as a concept, I felt that most of the important 'action' took place in the past (for Louisa AND Ted) and yet this timeline also seemed to have less going on in terms of plot, so the pacing felt a bit off. Our MCs (and Backman) had to spend a lot of time telling rather than showing just to get us up to speed on the backstory, and while I felt like I understood Ted's friends to an extent, they all could have had their OWN books with how much was going on in each of their lives. This made the first half of the book feel a bit bogged down, but DID work to set up Act Two beautifully.

...And as is almost ALWAYS the case with Backman, the threads of these plot lines wove together effortlessly by the end of the book. Although I do think this is one of the rare instances where a Backman book could have been shortened JUST a bit, all of the set up pays off in the climactic conclusion and feels earned by the time the reader arrives there. Though the ending of this one isn't neat and square by any means, this again just speaks to Backman's dedication to remaining grounded and rooted in realism. While this may not have been my quickest Backman read, or one where the characters felt like the friends I just hadn't had the pleasure to meet yet, his musings on art, connection, and the hole left by grief alone are enough to make this a memorable read in its own right.

With art, there is no wrong way to see it, and when it comes to Backman's writing, there is truly no wrong way to READ it.

Or as Henry David Thoreau so succinctly put it, "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."

4.5 stars

What a brilliantly written book! It's unique back and forth storytelling captivated me from the first chapter. Things progress quickly with Louisa and her journey with Ted, which is a delightful contrast to how the artist's story slowly unfolds in the past. The dialogue and details of the characters and their lives made it seem like I knew them myself. He portrays the beauty of humanity, friendship, love and death so beautifully and seamlessly, making it quite an emotional rollercoaster. The best kind of ride. Backman kept me wanting more until the very end -- and what an ending at that! I wasn't sure how I wanted to see things end, but I was so pleasantly satisfied when I was done I cried.

Wow. I’m not sure I have the right words for this story.

It’s very every day life but so beautiful because of it.

It starts with a young girl who’s run away from her foster home just before turning 18. She just has to see the painting that has been so special to her in person as it’s being sold at auction.

Unsurprisingly this rough teen is kicked out of the fancy schmancy auction and ends up meeting who she initially thinks is a homeless man but ends up being someone who’ll change her entire future.

As we meet this man we also meet his childhood friend and get a story of a summer more than 20 years ago all about their friends group.

I don’t think a book has ever had me crying so early as this one did. The people are fabulous. The story is heartfelt.

Please read this!

Backman has a way of making the reader (it's me, the reader is me) laugh and in the next 30 milliseconds, have tears running down my face.

The way he uses the simplest of language to create the most indelible characters,

I will read anything this man writes!!!

Fredrik Backman is at the tippy top of my auto-read authors list, so of course I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of his latest novel. Backman has a way of writing about the human experience like no one else, and this book was no exception. I absolutely adored it.

This stunning novel took a deep dive into friendship, love, tragedy, hope, heartbreak, and everything in between and managed to tackle it all with heart and humor. As I typically do for Backman, I highlighted so many passages. There were just so many times a single sentence would just stun me and make me feel all the feels. He truly has a way of telling you, in just a few words, exactly who a character is.

The characters in this story felt so real and loveable. I love that he really shone a light on male friendship, specifically in adolescence — a topic I don’t think we see enough in media. These characters have my whole heart and I will be thinking about them for a long time.

I loved this book so much and highly recommend, especially if you’ve loved others by this beloved author.

Oh how I love and loathe every single Fredrik Backman book.... howw can a book make you feel so much despair and hope all at the same damn time???

Full rtc

This may be my favourite Fredrik Backman novel to date. His ability to write the human experience of friendship, loyalty, and grief is unmatched. Readers will be able to see themselves in these stories and empathize with characters who have shared experience of abusing homes/domestic violence, drug addiction, and struggles within the foster care system.
The only negative I have in regards to storytelling is in the exposition where the author tells and doesn't show. Somehow it works with this novel but if a character is troubled, manipulative, kind, etc. I want to be shown examples of why they are this way rather than told that they are.
I laughed, I cried, and I wish this book was 100 pages longer.

This was not my favorite Fredrik Backman book. I enjoyed the characters but I had a hard time staying engaged with the story.

🤣😭 For my friends with the tissue supply and bladder strength to embark on this journey.

MY FRIENDS by Fredrik Backman (@marinireland, Narrator)

🎧 Thanks, @atriabooks, for the review copy and @natchparishlib for the audiobook.

“An unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger's life twenty-five years later.” It’s about found family, deep friendships, love, and art in the face of terrible reality. It’s about rallying against abuse with your best friends by your side. It’s about grief, loss, loyalty, and joy. It’s about saying, “I love you and I trust you.” It’s about cautioning, “Don’t hurt yourself.” It’s silly and poignant. Heartwarming and heartbreaking. It’s exceptional writing. Rapid-fire banter. It’s about kids and beauty, and the gut-wrenching laughter that follows a really loud fart when you’re 14 years old. It’s “The Sandlot” meets “One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot.” Something irreverent that still manages to take you out at the knees.

I loved sweet, shy Ted, who was afraid of everything but willing to stand up for his people. Ted, who “sighs so deeply that you really wouldn’t want him in the vicinity if you were building a house of cards.” I loved sharp, sarcastic, yet naive Louisa, with her lug-soled boots and sharp wit, who still has the joy to “bounce away as if someone had yelled, ‘Free Marshmallows!’” I loved every character in the story, including a brief encounter with a taxi driver who talks like Yoda.

The combination of Ireland’s narration (how can her voice be both dry and dripping with sarcasm?) and Backman’s writing is pure magic, and the book wore me out. From the beginning to the end, I laughed so hard I cried. I laughed while crying. I sobbed. I had to pause the book once while driving because I was a hazard to others. It was easily a #FiveSpongeAudiobook (so addictive you’re willing to clean to keep listening) and one of my top books of 2025. 🧽🧽🧽🧽🧽

I love everything Frederick Backman writes, and this falls more in the "Beartown" style rather than the "A Man Called Ove" style. It's a beautiful story that will have you gasping in the first 30 pages, with a reveal that sets up the rest of the book incredibly well. A story of unlikely and absolutely necessary friendships, some between kids, and some between adults and kids. It did get a little slow at one point, but it was really a fantastic addition to his catalogue.

Fredrik Backman’s *My Friends* is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant novel that lingers long after the final page. His signature prose is as lyrical as ever—rich with poetic observations and gorgeously rendered descriptions that breathe life into every scene. The characters are exquisitely drawn, flawed and real, each carrying the weight of their histories in a way that feels deeply personal and universally familiar.

I was especially moved by the quiet strength of the story's emotional core and its exploration of friendship, grief, and the ways we try (and often fail) to show up for the people we love. Backman’s ability to capture the small, tender moments that define relationships is nothing short of masterful and was very refreshing.

That said, the frequent shifts in perspective and timeline occasionally pulled me out of the narrative. The nonlinear format sometimes made it harder to stay fully immersed. in the story but the power of the story and the depth of the characters far outweighed any confusion.

In the end, *My Friends* is a moving, powerful novel that speaks to the complexity of the human heart. A worthy read for anyone who appreciates prose that sings and stories that make you feel deeply. Bonus points if you enjoy art!

Thank you, Atria Books and Netgalley, for a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I love Fredrik Backman's writing. It's always deep and lyrical. I had to soft DNF when I first started this because I could tell the book would be heavy. When I picked it back up, I read and listened to it. The audiobook was amazing. I found myself wanting to keep reading towards the end to figure out what was happening. It was heartbreaking, yet beautiful. I only knocked it down one star because there was a lot of talk of art. I know that was the premise of the book, but it did start to get a little redundant towards the end. Despite that, it was a wonderful book.

“𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”

𝗠𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 is an ode to friendship and the choices we make. Art and how it speaks to us. Escape and belonging. Louisa, an orphan and homeless, has been obsessed with a painting ever since she came across the post card version of it. At an exhibit, she unexpectedly encounters the artist who has remained out of the public eye. After a few turn of events, she’s in possession of the famous painting, and learning about what inspired it from the artist’s best friend, Ted. He shares the its backstory with her on a long train ride together.

In usual Backman style it’s a back and forth through the present and the past, weaving together parallels through memories. Ted’s recollections are simultaneously riveting and devastating. Louisa’s blunt persona counters Ted’s gentle soul.

Highlights:
🎨 Literary fiction, dual timelines, multiple POVs
🎨 Dry humor, heartfelt
🎨 Friendships, seizing opportunities, dreams

Be aware of: trauma (details in my GR review)

I don’t know how Backman does it. How he takes us on this trip where we feel ourselves experiencing a character’s lifetime. While my heart broke a little for each of the friends, I also found hope in the lifelong love and loyalty they had to each other. “𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶.” The 7 words that anchored them to each other as they fought to survive their childhoods. They dreamed big dreams for each other.

Yes, I recommend this, and keep the tissues close by.

Many thanks to @atriabooks for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can't find the words to do this book justice, it was perfect. This was my first book by Fredrik Backman, but I will be reading more for sure. I loved this book especially the flashbacks and the characters. The friendships formed between characters felt so authentic and beautiful. I also loved how even with such an emotional book, there were many cliffhangers and it wasn't predicable at all (for example, when they visit the grave you aren't sure who it belongs to, you're not sure of the crime committed by one character). Overall, so perfect and I can't find the right words to show how much I loved it. Thank your NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC <3

Frederick Backman delivers another incredibly heartbreaking, but loving, and some how funny book with My Friends. You will find yourself reminiscing on what it is like as a teenager to have your close group of friends that become everything to you, especially as you weather the challenges of growing up and family life. I fall deeper in love with his writing style every time I read one of his books and continue to find myself smiling with tears in my eyes!

Let me preface this review by saying that the Beartown series is one of my all time favorite series. I recommend it to everyone. I was so excited to read an advanced reader copy of My Friends. I started reading it in December and put it down until now. I felt like the storyline and dialogue felt repetitive and it was too wordy. I found myself thinking "we get it! move on!" throughout the book. The characters seemed to just talk in circles about the same things. I'm so sad that I didn't love it like everyone else. I

More literary genius from Fredrik Backman telling the tale of how sometimes our families are chosen for us, but other times we choose them. It’s the tail of four friends with an unbreakable bond. It is the story of them - the sheer joy of friendship, undying loyalty and all the things that make us human. It is a story of connection and how that connection can bring others into our lives. It’s the tale of resilience and compassion… and it’s beautiful. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

Fredrik Backman does it again! Backman has a way of writing that makes you invest wholeheartedly in the characters and story. My Friends is the story of a group of friends coming of age together, told alternately by Louisa, an orphan who has just aged out of the foster care system. My Friends is a masterpiece and fully captures what it is like to grow up with a group of friends who really understand all the things you don't say, who you are, and who you might become. Do not miss this one!