Wow, he's done it again. In a most unconventional way, Backman has woven together a touching story of friendship. I loved the multiple POVs used to tell the story. I have given this 5 stars, which is rare for me. One of the things Backman does so well is develop characters (Beartown series is a great example as well). Through his unique storytelling method, he makes the reader fall in love with these people. Incredible.

What an emotional ride. This depicts friendship in the most amazing way. The characters each stand out in their own way. Easily could see this being the best book of 2025.

In this beautifully crafted coming of age novel, Backman illuminates the mantra "friends are the family we choose." (Although more than once that choice began after literally running into the person.). Backman once again shows his deep understanding of neurodivergence and the impact of childhood trauma. He has a unique way of infusing humor and hope into a potentially heart breaking and depressing story.

Thanks to NetGalley, Fredrik Backman and Simon & Schuster for an ARC of My Friends! My Friends is a brilliant masterpiece of fiction. On the surface, it is a story about the summer that a group of friends lost the glow of childhood. But it’s so much more than that. The emotional depth and breadth of this novel is both uplifting and crushing all at once. You will feel everything while reading this book. Louisa, Ted, the artist, Joar, Fish and Ali are written so clearly that you leave the book feeling like these are people you have known for years.

I really enjoyed the storytelling format that Backman used for My Friends, where it felt as though I was sitting in the train car with Louisa and Ted and got to experience the story in the same way as Louisa. This is one instance where time jumps truly added to the story vs. taking away.

Even though they lived decades apart, Louisa has a special bond with the artist, Ted, Ali and Joar.

“She’s one of us.”

Many reviewers are gushing about My Friends. I completely agree. Its impact is deep. It’s a darker, complex story with moments of happiness.

The novel covers sad subject matter, but Backman writes so beautifully you won’t want to miss a sentence. It’s so amazing. I paused and reread so many paragraphs. Sigh. I will reread this book again.

I come from a large reading family. I’m always thrilled to tell them when a new Fredrik Blackman book is coming out.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC of My Friends. I received this complimentary ebook in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

Fredrick Backman writes stories and characters that sneak under my skin and bones and shove me face first into my feelings. My Friends might have been the story that made me feel the most. By the second chapter, I felt seen. By the sixth chapter, I was in tears. This is a beautiful story that is simultaneously heart-warming and heart-breaking; I’m sure it will be one of my favorite books of 2025.

My Friends is a book for those who
- Love Beartown with everything they have
- Need another character like Benji
- Are fine laughing and crying in the span of one page
- Feel a connection to art
- Would do anything for their friends
- Love annotating/highlighting their books

Once again, Fredrik Backman knocks the ball out of the park with another incredibly powerful story. My Friends shows the lengths that a person will go to for those that one loves. A truly moving story about friendship, grief, love, and the life-changing power of art.

17 year old artist Louisa's entire life fits in her worn-out backpack. Inside is a postcard with an image of a world famous painting that has become her motivation and hope. When she unexpectedly meets the artist of the painting while she is on the run, and the priceless painting ends up in her care, her world is changed. Now on a new adventure, she is given the true meaning behind the three figures in the piece of art. Four teenagers each with tragic backstories who give each other a reason to dream. Backman's writing style makes the story come to life before your eyes and gives every character such depth that you feel their emotions personally. I laughed, I cried, I celebrated with the characters, and I will never forget this memorable experience of a book.

4.5 stars rounded up.

“My Friends” by Fredrik Backman is a highly emotional and brilliantly written novel. It’s about a teenage girl who has been in foster care for most of her rough life and has just lost her best friend. As an aspiring artist her drawings and love of art are what’s kept her alive. She has one treasured item that she has kept with her, a postcard of a world famous painting that she identifies with. As she flees the foster system to see the painting with her own eyes in a museum, she very unexpectedly meets the artist in a back alley. This is the begining of the fantastic and sad journey told in dual timelines about the artist’s life, the masterpiece he painted and the important humans that kept him alive. This encounter will forever change her life as she comes to terms with her own tragedies and uniqueness.
Nobody has the ability to describe human behavior and flawed characters like Mr. Backman. The book is an extraordinary lesson in friendship, loyalty and the power of love even through the darkest moments of one’s life. I highly recommend this book to everyone!

Thank you NetGalley and Altria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Backman, consistent with his distinctive approach, adeptly crafts a narrative and characters that elicit a range of emotions, from humor to sorrow. I hold a deep appreciation for this author, as he is my preferred choice when seeking respite from the intensity of thrillers.

My Friends is ultimately the story of friendship and how it shapes, and sometimes saves, us. From the first page; Backman reaches in, grabs your heart, and doesn’t let go until the last page. He is one of my favorite authors and the way the story unfolds, often in unexpected ways, is masterful.

The story is told both present day and with flashbacks and is the story of a group of friends, as well as a new friend in present day. It was at times quite sad but in others very funny. I love how he writes his characters; whether good, horrendous, or somewhere in between they all play an important role in the story.

It’s really rare that a book makes me cry, the reticent Swede I am. This one had me in tears by chapter 8, a record for me. Mildly embarrassing too as I was reading while dining solo in a restaurant in Porto.

Just a caution for my fellow tenderhearted readers. If there is content that is an issue for you, I highly recommend checking the content warnings for this one. There are several very difficult subjects covered that were at times an issue for me. I’m very glad I read it and think it is a really important book, but wasn’t always an easy read.

I highly recommend the newest book by Fredrik Backman, and I am sure fans of his Beartown series will love this story.

Thank you to the publisher Atria Books, author Fredrik Backman, and NetGalley for the gifted digital ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for an ARC of this e-book in exchange for my honest opinion.

All I can say is "Wow"!! This book met my expectations and more. I wish it was possible to give this book more than 5 stars. I am going to go out on a limb and say this even if this is only the start of the year, that this will be my favorite book of 2025. I have been a huge fan of Fredrik Backman for years, but this may just be my favorite. No one writes like Backman. If someone gave me one of his books without a cover or title page, I am positive that I could identify his writing. When I read his books, I can't devour them in a short time because I have to savor his sentences. I have so many of his passages bookmarked so that I can go back and reread them. Years from now, I am sure that I will remember each one of his wonderful, quirky, flawed, but lovable characters. Ted, KimKim, Ali, Joar and Louisa feel so real that you will feel their pain and joy as if they were your own friends. If you are a Backman fan, you are in for a real treat when the book comes out later this year!

5 ⭐️

As a huge Backman fan, I was both excited and nervous to read this latest book. I can happily say that it did not disappoint! I am already looking forward to a re-read when it is published in May. I will say that the subject matter is a little darker than other Fredrik Backman reads, but this is definitely one of my favorites.

Like his other books, Backman once again excels at creating a storyline and characters that make the reader laugh out loud and cry easily. I lost count at the number of times I teared up while reading. I also had a few moments where I had to set down the book, cry, process what I just read, and then continue reading. This one will give you all the feels and, if you’re anything like me, that’s your favorite part of a Backman book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this novel.

I was so excited to be approved for an early copy of My Friends by Fredrik Backman. I was almost nervous to read it as my expectations were so high. My Friends absolutely did not disappoint!! Fredrik Backman continues to amaze me with his writing. Characters to cheer for, an amazing grasp of the human experience and absolutely beautiful writing. This story of a group of teenage friends and their impact on a lonely stranger had me laughing and crying. It is a story I won't soon forget. Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Fredrik Backman for the advanced copy.

A postcard of a famous painting is one of the few possessions nearly 18-year-old Louisa has carried with her through the foster care system. She's looked at the postcard countless times, so when the opportunity comes to see the real thing in person, she comes up with the perfect plan. Unfortunately, she's never been great at sticking to plans and soon she's being thrown out of the auction and literally running straight into the person who completely changes the course of her life.

Louisa's journey to uncover the muses for the painting takes her on an adventure that proves kindred spirits exist, and you often find them in the most unexpected places. Told from the present to reflections of the past, the dual-timeline flows beautifully as the full story unfolds from the friends 25 years ago who depended on each other through the tragedies they faced, to Louisa who has no one to count on.

Full of humor, heartache, and hope, Fredrik Backman pens a beautifully written story about the impact of love and art. It's been a long time since a book left me feeling so attached to its fictional characters. The weight of their struggles, the pain in their losses, and the pull to each other felt so authentic, that I felt lost when I finished the last page. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time and has become my first favorite of 2025.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with this eARC, I'm so grateful!

My Friends by Fredrik Backman is so good I would give it a bonus star if I could! I absolutely adored this coming of age story about a group of friends secretly featured in a famous painting. It had me from the first chapter when we meet Louisa, who is trying to make her way in the world and has been inspired by the painting. If you are familiar with Fredrik Backman’s books, you know that his characters are quirky, and his stories are rich and emotional. My Friends lives up to those expectations. I always find it harder to write about a book that I love because I want to do it justice without giving anything away. I know it’s only January, but it might be my favorite book of the year. You should just read it when it comes out in May! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

Perfection! Fredrik Backman writes in such a way that you feel everything the characters are feeling. He has a way with words unlike any other author. I just adored Ted, Louisa, Joar, Ali and the artist. It was such an incredible story of friendship and love. I can't recommend this book highly enough. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I was concerned when I started this book because it is so sad. I almost stopped reading! Then I was nervous: how could I not love a Fredrik Backman novel?!? So I stayed the course and was rewarded with a brilliant story of friendship, loss, hope, and the beauty of art. And yes, sadness. The story of these characters will stay with me for a long time. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced digital copy of this book.

My Friends is mostly told through Ted’s point of view, as he tells Louisa the story of the summer he and his three closest friends turned 15, and how his friend, “the artist’s”, world famous painting came to be. The story is told in a back and forth timeline, which focuses on friendship, true love, trust, grief, and selflessness.

Backman, as always, hooks the reader with his poetic descriptive writing style and his character building. I laughed. I cried. I reminisced and felt nostalgic about my own childhood summer days.

This is a typical Fredrik Backman book - beautifully written, well-developed characters and five stars from me! The book goes back and forth between current day and twenty-five years ago when the friends were 14-year-olds. I enjoyed all of the relationships in this book. Backman's characters always feel so real to me.

There is a lot of grief in this book. So be prepared for that but I think if you have enjoyed his other books, you will enjoy this one as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.