A Spellbinding Tale of Friendship & Art

Gather round, my friends, and let me tell you about a story that weaves friendship, love, and loss into a tapestry as rich and complex as an ancient spell. My Friends is no ordinary tale—it’s a story of broken souls and unbreakable bonds, a summer friendship that stretches across time.

The Painting That Captured a Summer

At the heart of this novel is a fragile artist who, one summer, is encouraged by his friends to create a painting—something that ends up capturing the raw intimacy of their youth. But this painting is more than just art; it becomes a symbol of transformation, of the way creativity can both reveal and heal. 25 years, and along comes Louisa, drawn in by the whispers of the past, unable to resist the pull of its mystery.

A Journey Through Memory and Friendship

Louisa embarks on a journey with Ted as he shares the story behind the painting. Through Ted’s memories, we meet each friend. They each carry their own darkness and struggles, yet what binds them together is something far more powerful—love, loyalty, and the kind of friendship that feels like a protective charm against the world.

Backman’s Spellbinding Storytelling

Fredrik Backman, as always, is a master witch of words, weaving magic into his storytelling. I find some stories are difficult to step into when told to me, but here? Oh, he casts a spell with his words—blending humor and heartbreak so seamlessly that I couldn’t help but fall under his enchantment. His characters are flawed, deeply human, and utterly unforgettable.

The Rhythm of the Story—A Slow Burn with a Fiery Payoff

The pacing? Ah, now there’s a tricky bit. The beginning lures you in with the suspense, its slow unraveling of what happened between these friends. The suspense kept me turning pages long past the witching hour. But then, the middle—ah, it slows, the momentum falters like a candle flickering in the wind. And though the magic dims for a moment, it reignites, pulling you back in with its emotional depth and quiet revelations.

Themes That Linger Like a Ghostly Whisper

Themes of transformation and healing through art shimmer like moonlight on water. And the friendship—oh, the friendship! Messy, raw, imperfect, yet steadfast to the very end. If you, like me, revel in the power of human connection, this book will leave its mark on your soul.

A Story to Savor

A long read? Yes. But worth it? Absolutely. So brew some tea, settle in, and prepare to be spellbound by a tale that lingers long after the final page is turned.

A Witches Words buddy read with Norma, Debra and Dorie. Thanks for sharing the magic while I completely geeked out over this one!

Fredrik Backman is an accomplished storyteller whose characters leap off the page and become stuck in the reader's brain, never to leave. Such is the case with Louisa, Ted, Ali, Joar, and the artist, outcasts whose friendship binds them together.

When eighteen-year-old aspiring artist Louisa sees an exhibition containing her favorite painting by the artist C. Jat being held, she sneaks in, only to be chased into an alley by security guards. There, she collides with an apparent homeless man, and together, they spray-paint a wall with their art. Only then does she realize that the man is her idol, C. Jat. This is the start of a cross-country journey with the artist's friend Ted and her quest to find the meaning of the painting.

Told from the present day and twenty-five years earlier through the trials of a group of fourteen-year-old friends, the story of the painting and the friendships depicted in it emerges. Louisa, now serendipitously the owner of the painting, feels burdened by the enormity of the painting's value and its historic beginnings. Her life is now intertwined with those of the artist and his friends.

This story is about love, trust, and the powerful bonds of friendship. Told with wit and compassion, the novel is heartwarming and sometimes gut-wrenching but never dull. I read the book in record time, unable to part with the characters and their lives. It was only toward the end that I slowed down, not wanting the book to end. This is another out-of-the-park homerun from Backman. 5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is May 6, 2025.

I have an unevenly relationship with Backman--LOVED Man Called Ove and Anxious People, HATED My Grandmother....., felt meh about couple others....this one just meh. Narrative was scattered, seemed to meander, and tedious and longer than it used to be.
However, Backman has a knack for quirky characterization, which i love, so I will always read him.
I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This is one the best books I have ever read. I wish I could go back in time and start it over fresh. I will be recommending it to all my friends.

I really loved Anxious People, so maybe this suffered in comparison for me, but I found it rather repetitive and longer than it needed to be. Lots of superfluous F bombs, too. I almost felt like Backman was channeling Gary Schmidt, but it didn't quite land. Maybe a translation issue?

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

This was actually my very first book by this author, and it definitely won’t be my last. This book… there are some books that change readers, and this is one of them. This is such an impactful story, it will stay with me for a very, very long time. I absolutely loved it and cannot wait to read more from him!!

Fredrik Backman does it again—delivering a story that hits deep, right where it hurts. Let me start by saying, his writing is truly some of the best I’ve ever read, and I’ve studied the classics, so that’s saying something. The way he masterfully builds tension, foreshadowing events and repeating key phrases that only make full sense the second or third time they’re used in the book is nothing short of genius. It adds such depth to the narrative and makes the reading experience incredibly engaging.

As for the plot and characters, it’s classic Backman brilliance. He has an unmatched ability to write imperfect, deeply human characters in such a way that you fall in love with them, flaws and all. This story was emotionally rich, beautifully capturing the innocence of childhood and the relentless perseverance of teenagers. You follow these kids through one unforgettable summer, and by the end, you feel like one of them.

In short, Backman’s storytelling pulls you in, tugs at your heartstrings, and leaves a lasting impact. Truly, a masterpiece of character, emotion, and the beauty of life’s simplest yet most profound moments.

I'm DNFing it don't do this often but this book really just did not capture my attention, did not feel like I wanted to read on. Don't get me wrong Backmans writing style is original and I loved it but the plot just wasn't doing it for me

Every time I read a Fredrik Backman book, it becomes my new favorite! 💙

This one was extra special because one of the main characters shares my name, Louisa,—what a fun bonus! Backman’s characters are always so deeply layered and unforgettable, and this book’s cast was no exception. His writing allows us to truly know them—their flaws, their hearts, their humanity.

I’ll admit, with so many characters, I was a bit confused at first—but as the story unfolded, everything fell into place. Yes, it’s a long book, but every word, every story, every moment is essential to the journey. Be prepared to set aside the time to read this book in it's entirety. You might need a weekend alone!

This book has it all: friendship, love, heartbreak, secrets, and humor—but at its core, it’s about the power of friendships, both new and old. Once again, Backman delivers a story that demands to be read the moment it hits the shelves.

Fredrik Backman is one of my favorite authors and this book did not disappoint. He has a way of writing so honestly and bluntly, infusing even difficult subjects with light. This is a story about different friendships that follows multiple timelines. It jumps around quite a bit, which bugged me at the beginning but really works brilliantly, almost like different strands of a friendship bracelet coming together. The characters are well-developed and were fun to read. Backman has captured the magic of an adolescent summer in a way similar to Dandelion Wine. Read it with more hope than the story seems to ask for.

Aside from the last 20% and a few gems here and there, this was a bit of a disappointment for me. I was excited when I heard this was about a group of teens as I loved the author’s Beartown. But the writing style for this one was nothing like that. I found much of the book depressing and quite a bit redundant. But I’m a bit of an outlier on this one. And I will still likely read whatever he writes next.

I honestly think this is Fredrik Backman's best book yet!

Fundamentally, this is a story is about the enduring nature of friendship. Backman is so good at capturing the how two people connect and become a part of each others lives. It is impossible not to connect with these characters! I was heartbroken at the end of the book because my time with them had come to an end. This novel has dual timelines, and I think it makes the story all the more powerful.

This story is so good! I cannot wait to hand it to every customer I encounter! I think his fans are going to absolutely love this story, and readers who haven't discovered him yet will also be delighted by this story.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for the ARC of this title. Fredrik Backman has been one of my favorite authors for a long time now. His storytelling abilities are among the best in the world and yet there's humility and so much humanity in his writing.

My Friends is another just absolutely beautiful story that made me laugh, cry, think, yearn, dream, and sob. The book switches between present time where a young woman struggles to find reasons to survive and the past history of a group of friends whose survival seemed to depend on their finding each other when they did. And it all starts with a painting that only reveals its secrets to those who take the time to really look and connect with it. One would hope that we all have friends in our youth that we truly connect with not in spite of our idiosyncrasies but because of them. Sometimes it feels like they are all we have that is meaningful and, perhaps we view those times through rose-colored glasses. But the beauty of Backman's friend story is that the glasses are off and the sad, painful reality is stark and pointed. But almost simultaneously, there are moments of purest joy and love.

Synopsis: When Louisa has a chance encounter with the artist of her favorite painting after being thrown out of the museum where it hangs, she has no idea that she is about to learn all the stories behind the painting while also finding a new family with some of the artist's closest friends.

My Friends by Fredrik Backman is a wonderful story about four fourteen year old children who help each other survive through friendship, humor, sadness, love, commitment and art. The children are each different in their own way and each are rejected and bullied not only by their fellow students but some of them by their parents as well. They have found each other. They love and trust each other and through this love and understanding they sacrifice for each other. One of them is an artist who is encouraged to believe in himself and becomes famous and successful. Art is a major part of this story and the wisdom that is conveyed through this story contributes to the value of reading this book. It has so many stories within the story which continues 25 years later and touches and includes the life of Louisa who fits right in with the former children as she meets them as adults. This is a story definitely worth reading!!

Fredrik Backman has a magnificent way with words as he tells unique stories that deal with real-life topics. My Friends is a story told in two timelines surrounding a famous painting. The story in the present involves an 18-year-old artist, Louisa, who has long loved the painting “The One of the Sea” and the details she sees in it. She wants to learn the story of the friends featured in the painting. She meets Ted, now 49 years old who was one of those friends. As Ted tells her the story behind the painting and the friends depicted in it, the novel takes the reader back to learn “firsthand” about the four friends, their difficult lives, the hardships (verbal and physical abuse) they have endured, and how they found safety and refuge with each other. The unique way that the story unfolds captured my attention and kept it throughout. As in his previous novels, Backman drops hints foreshadowing what’s to come; but things don’t always turn out the way one might expect based on those hints. What a heartfelt story! What remarkable and true friends! Highly recommended.

This is the first Fredrik Backman book I have read and it very much lived up to my expectations. It was beautiful, heartbreaking, and full of nostalgia. Backman’s writing is insanely thoughtful. By reading this book, I felt like I was taken back to my days of teenage woes and reading John Green. If you are an artist of any kind, I definitely recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley!

I don’t know how he does it. Frederik Backman has such a unique way of writing. Each book is different yet you can tell who wrote it. Every story he tells causes you to feel so many emotions. In “My Friends”, I felt like I was peering through a window watching every moment of the story take place. It’s a story I read slowly, not wanting it to be over. As we enter in, an artist is dying. He befriends an 18 yr old girl, destined to be more than she thinks she is capable of. How she finds out she is special is a large part of the story. In turn, she shows others how important they are as well.
It’s a story of redemption and friendship, a story of courage and strength. Each character has a unique place in their friendship, each one a special person in their own right. My Friends is filled with humor, sarcasm, but also sadness and hope. It is a coming of age story which very much reminded me of the movie “Stand by Me” (based on the story, “The Body”, by Stephen King) but extends much further.
Fredrik Backman can make the ordinary seem extraordinary, which is exactly what I felt about this book. Thank you Fredrik for another truly wonderful story. I look forward to many more. PS I love the ending.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Anytime I pick up a Fredrik Backman book, I know I should be prepared with tissues. Sometimes there just aren't the right words for me to portray to others just how BEAUTIFUL his writing is.
My Friends is the story of four teenagers, and the summer that changed them all forever. It's a story of grief, loss, friendship, family, and life.

"...our teenage years have to simultaneously be the brightest light and the darkest depths, because that's how we learn to figure out our horizons."

A story of an artist, a tom-boy, a tough kid, and an introvert, they come from different backgrounds, including domestic violence, sick parents, emotionally unavailable parents, and single parents. But they meet up on the corner every morning.

"Life is long, Louisa. Everyone will tell you that it's short, but they're lying."

I loved the dual timeline of this book. We get the current day story from the POV of one of the teenagers now grown up. And in turn he shares the story of the summer their lives all changed. Flashbacks to adventures, shenanigans, and the events that bond them together forever. It was interesting in a way how the story was almost told in reverse. It was like knowing that a train is going to crash, but you don't know how or when, until it happens, then BAM! cue the tissues.

"I love you and I trust you."

From the very beginning, to the very end, silent tears throughout. So beautiful and will have a special place in my heart for a long while.

"Being human is to grieve, constantly."

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this early copy in return for my honest opinion.

Pub date: 06 May 2025

Goosebumps and tears within the first few chapters of this book... yeah it's safe to say that My Friends is another HIT from Fredrik Backman!

"Art is a coincidence; Love is chaos."

It feels impossible to capture all my thoughts about this book in a single review. Normally, I listen to Backman's books instead of reading the physical or e-copy, but I am so glad that my eyes got to read every word in this book. Every sentence packed a punch.

As with most of his books, this story had so many layers and characters that you became invested in over the course of the novel. There is this kind of cloud hanging over your head the whole time because you know something terrible is going to happen, but you don't know which characters are going to be impacted or how. The suspense was so good, and I was left hanging on to every word, looking for clues.

Louisa, Ted, Joar, Ali, and The Artist all took a little piece of my heart with them. Their undeniable love and support for each other was beautiful and I wish I could squeeze every single one of them and tell them that they are amazing and so loved.

” I love you. I trust you.”

My chest hurt the entire time I read this book (that's a good thing IMO lol). I was savoring every second that I was enveloped in the story and didn't want it to end. I will absolutely be doing a reread of this book in the near future.

*thank you to NetGalley and the published for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This story is about the world that breaks you and the ones that save you. Your humans. Your friends.

There is so much to this book. I’m tearing up recalling what happens in this book to form even a semblance of a review.

Each character in this book was a child given far too much responsibility. In a world where adults must take responsibility so the children don’t have to, the children only had adults who failed to do so. These children had too much to bear.

Yet they still managed to cling to life. How? Their friends. The friends saw the light the adults in their lives were blind to. When their adults were intent on destruction, their friends encouraged creation. To create their art, build their legacy, and continue living.

The entire read was emotionally devastating. I felt that the parts with Louisa in the present-day were meant to provide some comic relief, but it didn’t quite do it for me. While I completely understood Louisa’s anger, it was hard not to find her overall demeanor a bit annoying. By the 50% mark, I wondered why she was even a necessary character in the story.

By 80%, though, she and I were on the same page: “Can someone PLEASE finish the story??” I was genuinely so exhausted at that point LOL

The ending, though, was so moving. I now understood why Louisa was here. These friends have saved and strengthened each other for decades. It is time for them to be the adults they wished for - to be the adults who take on responsibility so the children don’t need to. To be adults that encourage small lights to shine bright.

In a world that gave them nothing but each other, they became the cycle that gives and keeps giving. There is nothing more beautiful than that.