Backman’s ability to write about grief, pain and abuse in such a poetic way is so remarkable. I am not usually an annotating person, but I have hundreds of highlights from this book. It’s poetic but in a relatable way where I often find myself rereading sentences because he gave me the words to something I feel in my own life. He is the master of dark and witty humor where you will be crying, but also laughing out loud somehow. The synopsis of this book is hard to explain and do justice to the book, all I can say is you can trust Backman to deliver as always!
Thank you for this arc! It was a dream to receive an arc from one of my favorite authors.

Thank you for this ARC! I was thrilled to receive Backman's latest novel. Beartown is one of my all time favorites, I love that whole series. This reminded me of that because it centered around the friendship between teenagers. The story was told in a duel timeline and I thought the flashbacks worked better than the present. I have always found Backman to be really skilled at writing complex, interesting male characters. For that reason, the character of Louise, in the present, fell flat for me. She came across as underdeveloped and annoying, unfortunately. Overall, I did like this book and recommend it for any fan of Backman.

Thank you to Net Galley and to Atria books for allowing me to read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was very excited to find out that Fredrik Backman was publishing a new book this year and even more excited when I was approved for the ARC.

I have come to expect a lot from Fredrik Backman because his previous books have been some of my absolute favourites in the years that I've read them. My Friends definitely lived up to the very high standard and even surpassed my expectations. As usual the book is very quotable and I can't wait to buy the final version in order to write down the wonderful musings on the power of art, the resonance of small moments and the importance of friendship.

I have a feeling that these characters will stay with me for a long time to come. Ted and Louisa's journey is both far-fetched and extremely relatable. This book deserves the great success I'm sure it will have because it evokes a nostalgia that is universal. Strong friendships make all the trials of life bearable and you never know when a person like you will come along.

I look forward to May 20th when I can tell everyone I know to read this book.

What can I say other than this book is stunning! I cried several times, I laughed out loud way more. It was so moving and so uplifting but not at all obnoxious. It was genuine, pure and optimistic. Backman's writing was so precious and tender. Truly a treasure from beginning to end.

I have to admit I am a dedicated Fredrik Backman fan. I do not think he could possibly write a bad, or even marginal, book. His stories do not evolve in a linear fashion. As each character joins the story, you learn their piece of the history of the story and somehow........this "aha" moment makes the stories richer and more emotional. It's almost impossible to read a Backman book without laughing and crying at points in the book. If you have not read any of his books, I envy you the chance to discover this excellent author and the characters he has introduced to so many.

My Friends has no set background community. It's the story of a young woman, she turns 18 during the book's telling, who meets a man that will turn life onto a road she would never have had the chance to travel. The artist and his friends' lives travel roads that will set their futures but loosen their bonds.....or that's how it looks. Backman is famous for his surprises and twists.....the "but that's not how it worked out" moments......remember the "aha". As the description "one of us" is added to so many of their adventures, you'll see why Backman's fans keep coming back for his books. 5 stars because that's all I'm allowed.

Fredrik Backman has a unique gift for weaving tales that feel like a warm embrace, and I have not found anyone similar to him. This is a touching story of love, friendship, and self-discovery that captures the complexity of human emotions with his signature grace and depth. He writes so beautifully, turning simple moments into profound reflections on life and the connections we forge along the way.

While My Friends may not be my favourite, it still shines in a way that only Backman can achieve. Few authors possess his ability to balance humour and heartache, and fewer still can make you feel so seen and understood within the pages of a book. There’s a quiet magic in the way he portrays ordinary lives as extraordinary, and this book is a testament to that gift. For anyone who values a story that lingers long after the final page, My Friends is a must-read. It reminds us of the beauty of finding ourselves through the love and friendship of others—an ode to the people who shape us into who we are.

i looove beartown, it's one of my favourite books, so i obviously went into this with my heart wide open... but man i did not like it!! the writing was so irritating and the characters did not feel like real people at all... there was a weird fairytale-esque tone to everything that didn't match the content. the story wasn't very interesting and the friendship at the center didn't have any emotional resonance for me, louisa was annoying... ah i'm so disappointed! but so it goes...

I had to sit for 10 minutes to just process the ending of this book. Wow. This was beautiful. You can just tell from the beginning that this is a book that will break you. I miss being a little kid. I had strong emotions towards every character in this book but connected the most with Louisa. I love her entire personality so much and I absolutely adored her dynamic with Ted. The father daughter dynamic none of them ever really had was perfect. I also loved the friendship of the Artist, Joar, Ali, and Ted. The one summer they had together and how it ended so quickly really shows how you cannot let time pass you by. That one summer was all they had and yet they’ll never forget each other or the times they had. I loved every second of this book and the message it conveys. I believe everyone should read this book at least once in their life.

My Friends by Fredrik Backman: It is difficult to describe what this book is about because it is so much more than the story. The story is about an artist at the end of his life and the teenaged girl Louisa he meets and wants to help. She is a foster kid trying to get out and start a life of her own. The artist’s friend Ted tries to honor his wishes and connects with Louisa. The story within the story is the one Ted tells to Louisa, set twenty five years prior, about four teenaged friends who have lifelong bonds. One has an abusive father, one has a father dying of cancer, one lost her mother and one’s family just doesn’t understand his talent.
The timeline continually switches from past (the friend story) to present (the Louisa-Ted story). Themes include friendship, the power of art, the bonds of mothers and sons (my favorite part of the book), hate and cruelty.
Written in typical Backman fashion of simple sentences and clever quotes that say so much more. The wit and humor readers expect is ever present along with a host of quirky characters.
While I enjoyed the laughs and the characters, I did not get as fully invested in them as I usually do. There wasn’t as much heartache as I thought there would be, and I do love a good heartache in a book. So while this made me laugh, it didn’t make me cry.
This is not to say I didn’t enjoy this read, but it will not go down as my favorite in terms of characters (Beartown) or situation (Anxious People). There also was a significant amount of domestic abuse so could be a trigger for some readers. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for my ARC.

***Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this upcoming book***
An artist who changed the world with a painting of his friends has a chance encounter with a troubled girl that will change both of their lives forever. This is the second Backman book that I’ve had the pleasure to read, the first being A Man Called Ove. I really enjoyed this book! It was a little sappy and manipulative at times, but overall an incredibly satisfying read. Give it a try!

Wow what a special and deeply important story this was—Fredrik Backman will forever stand as my favorite author of all time. His storytelling makes you feel SEEN and deserves to be read and felt deep in your heart. My Friends is a heartbreakingly beautiful story of grief, belonging, survival, art, but most of all friendship. I want to give every single character the biggest hug! Fredrik once again shares how truly difficult it is to be human—so much hardship but so much hope. Thank you Fredrik for sharing this story with us, I see your heart in every word.

Thank you so so much NetGalley for this ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up. Backman is a master storyteller, but sometimes it just feels overwrought. Thanks for netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

"That's all of life. All we can hope for. You mustn't think about the fact that it might end, because then you live like a coward, you never love too much or sing too loudly. You have to take it for granted, the artist thinks, the whole thing: sunrises and slow Sunday mornings and water balloons and another person's breath against your neck. That's the only courageous thing a person can do."

Backman is one of my absolute favorite writers; he writes heartwarming stories without them feeling saccharine, his wit is pitch perfect, his characters are always complex and flawed, yet utterly lovable, and he demonstrates such insight into human nature. This story jumps between two timelines, but is primarily a coming-of-age friendship story, wherein Backman absolutely nails the feelings of adolescence. 

There is also a strong thread about the importance and impact of art, which I really loved. I happen to be in a season of appreciating art in a new way, and this spoke to me. This story was just gorgeous. If you're a Backman fan, absolutely add this to your list. I look forward to adding a physical copy to my beloved Backman shelf when it publishes on May 20th.

My thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fredrik Backman is the one author that I always know I will read his books as soon as they come out. He never disappoints! I love that all the characters are fully fleshed out and it feels like he left no stone unturned. You feel like you've gotten to inhabit these characters.

Thank you for the ARC of my Friends by Fredrik Backman.

Backman never disappoints with a story that will hit you in your core. Again, a phenomenal read and reminder of life with a bit of humor and realness in the storytelling. Anytime I am on the struggle bus of life, I reach for a Fredrik Backman book and am reminded I am not alone in the journey of life.

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a Backman book but I’ve loved every one so I came into this with fairly high expectations. I’m bit shocked that this wasn’t an easy 5 stars for me. The writing felt repetitive and immature and I just couldn’t connect. I normally find Backman to be hilarious and it hurt me to feel a cringe as I read the jokes here. I felt this pushing me into a reading slump and decided I simply didn’t care where the rest of the book was going to go. I accept by the glowing 5 star reviews that I’m vastly in the minority so take this with a grain of salt. Not every book is for every reader. I’m happy it resonated for so many others, though!

in what i think could be fredriks best book, there is nothing not to like. i might start a petition to create a genre called fictional self help, because even fredrik book reminds you how to breathe and understand why you’ve become so grumpy, angry or sad as an adult. the key to life is being able to experience all emotions and that’s what you get in “my friends”. dark sunshine at its best!

**ARC Review
PUB Date: May 20th 2025

Fredrik Backman delivers yet another masterpiece with My Friends. The book is an emotional and raw exploration of human connection, packed with the incredible writing that has become his trademark. Backman’s ability to weave complex emotions into simple, everyday moments is truly extraordinary.

The main character initially comes off as irritating, but as the story progresses, she slowly reveals layers of vulnerability and strength, making her transformation deeply satisfying to witness.

Backman’s storytelling is both heartfelt and thought-provoking, drawing you into a narrative that stays with you long after you turn the last page.

Highly recommended for those who love deeply human stories about growth, friendship, and redemption.

Backman proves once again why he is one of the best story tellers of all time. He just has a way of making you feel every emotion. This book really makes you feel like you are in the story. Everyone should experience this book it’s such a masterpiece.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! My Friends by Fredrik Backman is a witty, coming of age novel about a young girl whose aged out of the foster care system and a grown man whose aged just lost his best friend. Throughout their journey across miles by train, they learn about each others pasts, their hopes and their dreams. They realize that they have more in common with each other than either could have imagined. Though they grew up worlds apart, their stories are so similar that one might think they were from the same town. Their only common link was the artist of the famous painting but their time together will create a bond that is as strong as that of family which they have both desperately wanted their whole lives. Overall, a touching, true to life story that I would highly recommend.