
Member Reviews

4.5 stars rounded up because once again, he made me cry...
If you're a fan of Fredrik Backman and you like his quirky way of slowly dripping information about the characters, then you'll love this one. As is usual for him, his focus is on the characters and he slowly builds him up over the course of the novel and some might find that to be slow pacing, but for me, I love slowly peeling through the layers of each of the characters. Additionally, Louisa is the perfect listener for Ted because he tells his story about his friends in such a meandering way, and you absolutely are with Louisa as she complains about what a terrible storyteller he is! But it worked for me. By the end, I loved every one of the friends, the ones who were "one of us". There were so many times when I laughed out loud and quite a few times when I shed tears. I loved that this story revolved around a painting and the idea that if you were the rest of the world, you saw the painting one way, but if you were "one of us" then you saw it another way.
There were definitely times when I was so angry at the town and the adults that "allowed" the suffering that these teens had to endure, but Backman had a way of showing us that even the adults were suffering because it was a hard life. Without excusing the choices people made, he helped us see why such situations had come to be, but he also allowed redemption to be part of the story. In the end, this was a beautiful story about friendship, found family, and artistic expression. As with all of Backman's books, I recommend this one as well.
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Fredrik Backman does it again. This man has an incredible gift of putting these feelings I cannot describe into words. Both of the timelines are captivating and intriguing. These characters slowly wedge their way into your heart and leave you with such a renewed faith in humanity. I would recommend any of his books and this is no exception.

So. I love Fredrik Backman. His quirky, specific, incredibly human way of telling a story breaks my heart every time.
But I struggled through this one for some reason. I generally like a multi-timeline approach with back and forth glimpses of what's to come, but this one didn't move forward fast enough. I found myself choosing other books instead of this one, and it took me something like two months to eventually finish. If it weren't Backman, I would've DNFed. I persevered for the trust I have in his storytelling.
And it did pay off! I'm happy with how it ended, and I was of course in tears in the final couple of chapters.
This will not be the Backman book I recommend to newcomers though.
Also. I know this book was about teenage boys but waaaaaay too many references to farts for my liking. *insert shrugging emoji*

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader eCopy of Backman’s My Friends.
This book is about friendship, found family, how impactful art can be, overcoming adversity and the power of resilience. In typical Backman fashion, there are many food for thought passages in this book. I did feel like there were too many. At one point, the redundancy seemed to me like reading Backman’s never ending stream of consciousness. At the 60% mark, I paused this book for a few weeks before picking it up again for a buddy read.
Please read trigger warnings, there are some heavy themes in this book. Backman adds some comedic relief here and there as a reprieve from the main characters’ tragic and traumatic childhoods. I will not say more as my fellow buddy readers are still reading.
3.25⭐️ Not my fave Backman but still worth the read if you’re a fan of his work. Set in a seaside town, in the summertime, this book will take you back to the innocent (or reckless) carefree days of youth.

This was the 3rd Backman book I’ve read and it’s by far my favorite! The characters had a cool spin on “found family” and I loved the connection of the two timelines. Excellent story!

I will read anything this man writes!!
This was a beautiful, heartfelt story with gut-wrenching moments, witty humour, and charm! I was captivated from beginning to end. The characters were flawed but loveable and so fully formed. I just loved everything about this book!

My Friends may be my favorite book I have read this year. Backman never fails to build a world and characters that you connect with in his emotional stories which are clearly written for the heart and about the human experience. The storylines in this story which take place in current day and in the past, will have you engaged from start to finish as you will laugh, cry, and find yourself heartbroken as the tragedy unfolds with an ending of hope.

This book was simply lovely. Fredrik Backman never disappoints and My Friends is no different—it was moving, heartbreaking, funny and just absolutely a must-read.

Gutwrenchingly beautiful, this Backman novel will make you cry, laugh and have hope. Louisa runs away from foster care and encounters a man she thinks is homeless. The Artist is not homeless, but dying, and recognizes himself in the young woman. When his friend Ted comes to give the woman the Artist’s painting, a quirky and wonderful relationship develops. There is much to love about this book that celebrates uniqueness, art, and friendship. The flashbacks to the four young friends, Ted, Ali, Joar and Kim, will touch your heart. I highly recommend this meaningful and well written novel. Thanks to. NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of My Friends by Fredrik Backman.
I absolutely loved this book. Backman once again proves why he is my favorite author. He has a rare gift for capturing the complexities of family, friendship, grief, and joy with such depth and beauty—often in just a single sentence. Every line felt meaningful, and I found myself highlighting passage after passage because the writing was so powerful and affecting.
I cried multiple times and couldn't put it down. The emotional resonance is strong throughout, and the characters feel so real, so human. Backman beautifully captures the complexity of relationships, showing how grief and love can live side by side. His writing is both simple and profound, and he continues to be my favorite author. I would read anything he writes. My Friends is another stunning reminder of why.

Another one of Fredrik Backman's well written novels with sweet characters that make you want to know what happens to them. The two main characters are so lovable. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of My Friends by Fredrik Backman. This one hit me right in the feels. Backman has that same knack for balancing warmth and humor with moments that leave you genuinely moved. The story of unexpected friendships and quiet, profound connections felt so human and relatable. His writing is deceptively simple but packed with emotion, and I found myself both chuckling and tearing up along the way. If there’s one downside, it’s that a few plot threads felt a tad rushed, like I was ready for a bit more time with the characters I’d grown attached to. But even that didn’t take away from how much I ended up caring. My Friends is a lovely, heartfelt read that reminded me why I always look forward to anything Backman writes.

Leave it to Fredrik Backman to make me laugh and cry, usually in the very same sentence. His storytelling is quirky, genuine, and overflowing with emotion, and this book is no exception.
Backman has a rare talent: he pulls you in with lighthearted, often silly humor, and before you realize it, you're knee-deep in something unexpectedly profound. Just when you think you’re reading something fun and breezy, he hits you with a line that makes you pause, reflect, and reach for a tissue. His words are clever and bright, yet always carry surprising depth. I wish I’d highlighted more; I may need to reread it just to savor some of those lines again.
This book is classic Backman: honest, uniquely heartwarming, and quietly devastating in the most beautiful way. It’s filled with flawed but lovable characters, meaningful friendships, and emotional truths that linger long after the final page. Four friends, with an incredible bond and love. A tender, moving reminder of how complex, heartbreaking, and extraordinary human connection can be. It seamlessly weaves serious emotional themes like grief, loneliness, abuse, forgiveness, and loyalty into the narrative, without ever losing the warmth or charm of the story.
While a few parts felt a bit slow, it didn’t take away from the overall experience! Highly recommend to fans of character-driven stories, emotional journeys, and Fredrik Backman’s unique blend of humor and heart.

This is a coming of age tale for several different characters. Similar to "Beartown" series, this book tells the story of complex characters, neither all good nor all bad characters. Backman's story telling does not disappoint in this much anticipated novel.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 5/6
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I will never not be a Fredrik Backman fan; he just writes the most addicting, mysterious, wonderfully heartbreaking but at the same time uplifting stories that you cant help but read in one sitting.
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My Friends is no different than the others that I have read by him.. I was immediately intrigued. I couldn't help but want to know more about Louise and her situation but also who this artist was and how this story will unfold. My Friends follows the most beautiful and poetic story of Ted telling Louisa the story of the painting and the story of the artist while the reader simultaneously reads about Ted and Lousia's travels. I loved both aspects of this story. The themes of grief, art, friendship, mental illness, abuse and addiction just emanate off the pages, You see these themes withing both the stories that Ted tells but also through Louisa as well. The theme that will pack the biggest punch is the theme of found family. Found family that will do anything for one another, who found their forever home within each other and would do anything to help one another. The story was so touching and again heartbreakingly beautiful. The pacing of My Friends is both slow burn but also fast paced. The pacing changes is pure perfection for this because it really makes you slow down and really savor the beauty and quirkiness and uniqueness of the story. My Friends made me feel all the feels.
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I know for a fact that this is going to be a very loved book in 2025. I know that I loved it. I recommend it to all of my friends. It was the perfect blend of mystery / coming of age / general fiction. Be sure to check this one out. Huge thank you to NetGalley, Fredrik Backman and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A beautiful, heart-tugging read that celebrates the lifelong bond between childhood friends. Like many of Backman’s stories, this one is filled with quirky, complex characters and emotional depth. It touches on tough topics (TW: domestic violence), but also highlights the power of art, second chances, giving people a chance and the quiet ways we show up for one another. Themes I loved: friendship, belonging, resilience, and the deep roots of love that stretch through a lifetime. I found it a little slow at times but overall enjoyed the story. 💛
A big thank you to @Atriabooks for the e-copy to read and review.

As always, Fredrik Blackman writes an emotional, wonderful story. It kept me glued to each page wondering who the artist really was, what happened with each of the friends and how he would wrap up their friendships and that one summer.

Oh, Fredrik Backman. You have such an interesting, quirky, and charming storytelling style that I absolutely love. Your curmudgeons who discover their heart and worth by interacting with a young person and the outside world are my favorites.
Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the advance reader copy.
#MyFriends #NetGalley #AtriaBooks

Backman is a must-read for me, and this book is included.
Focused on the “outcasts”, My Friends is a story about the bonds of friendship, and the lifelong impacts these relationships have for years to come.

Louisa, a troubled orphan teen on the verge of adulthood, is gifted a famous painting worth millions and meets not only the artist but the artist's best friend. After the artist dies, the Louisa and the friend go on a journey to find a home for the painting and in turn, find something within each of them that heals their brokenness. Fredrik Backman can do no wrong in my eyes and this book was no exception. It was a hauntingly beautiful story of love and loss, pain and healing, and most of all, the perseverance of the human spirit and the need for human connection. All the stars for Backman's latest.