Fredrik Backman does it again....tearing my heart out and making me fall in love with his characters and all their flaws. I knew 13% in that this book would be one of my favorites for 2025. Told in alternating time lines, this is the story of The Artist, his three best friends, and the summer they turned 15. This is also the story of Louisa, who has just turned 18 and has decided to run away from the foster system. The two stories collide in an alleyway behind an art auction. Beautiful, heart breaking, funny...this was perfection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Publishing for this ARC. I've read and enjoyed all of Fredrik Backman's books and this one is just as enjoyable! Five big stars! It is beautifully written and a joy to read. I savored every word on the page and found myself going back from time to time to reread a paragraph and relive the story. We follow the friendship of four friends and each of their lives over the years as their relationships deepen and become more intertwined. The story is centered around the main character, Louisa, and a painting that gets auctioned off for a large sum of money. This is all about friendship and love.

Fredrik Backman writes the most profound, yet authentic, depictions of the human experience and what it means to be human. Full of joy, loss, grief, pain, friendship, strength, and how they all intertwine, My Friends is yet again another work of Backman that had me laughing, crying, and screaming all at once.

I truly believe Backman will go down as one of the best writers of our time, and this book only further solidifies that belief!

FIVE STAR BOOK REVIEW

Four teenagers whose deep friendship, captured in a piece of art, changes the life of a stranger years later.

I loved this book so much. MY FRIENDS captures the same emotional depth that makes Fredrik Backman’s books so unforgettable. His unique ability to explore the complexities of the human experience with profound insight and compassion is what makes him one of my favorite authors. This story didn’t just touch me—it found a permanent place in my heart.

The narrative shifts between present-day life, following Louisa and Ted’s connection through a painting, and memories of Ted’s childhood friends. Every single character felt incredibly personal and real, and I found myself completely invested in their lives—feeling every ounce of fear, joy, pain, and hope alongside them.

For fans of Backman’s other works, this book will feel familiar in the best possible way, but also offers something new. I was laughing one moment, crying the next as these wonderfully complex characters turn moments of grief into something beautiful and everyday moments into lessons of love and resilience.

Overall, a beautiful, poignant story about the power of friendship and art, and how both can inspire us, heal us, and change our lives in unexpected ways.

I had the privilege of this incredible book being my first read of 2025. As with all of Backman’s books, MY FRIENDS was an incredibly moving and powerful story. While the character’s stories were heavy and heartbreaking, they were also full of hope and wisdom. I was laughing one minute and crying the next.

The characters were so lovely and genuine and I loved with them with my whole heart. We got little pieces of each of them as the story progressed, which came together in the end in an emotional and through-provoking way where each character is significant. Backman’s unique voice and storytelling will forever be my favorite.

+ love and profound friendship
+ heartfelt and genuine
+ exploration of grief
+ adventures and art

Oh wow. I am in awe of this book, the story, the characters, the subject, the plot, everything. Fredrik Backman just knows how to make you laugh, make you cry, and do both at the same time. He has mastered his own individual voice through this book. Backman reminds the reader so many times of how we keep living through grief, our own insecurities, and family troubles. This book is so incredibly human it hurts. I have so many highlighted quotes from this that I will continue to look back on. This book is for artists who need a reminder of why they do what they do.

My only qualm with this book is the lack of content/trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. The subject matter is NOT for the faint of heart, and I think it would be irresponsible for someone to go into this book without knowing what is discussed. Think "A Little Life" but not so in your face.

Thank you so much to Atria Books for this e-arc!

4.5 stars!

Fredrik Backman can do no wrong! I've loved every single one of his books and My Friends is no exception.

It starts with a girl named Louisa and the painting she fell in love with, but really it starts 25 year earlier between four friends during the summer that changed their lives. Backman's writing style is so special to me and I'm absolutely confident that I could pick it out if asked to. It's simple but occasionally he'll slip in the most devastating truth and it'll hit me like a brick. Louisa, Ali, Joar, Ted, and the artist are all so quirky and interesting in their own ways, and layers of their characters fall away to reveal the complexity at their cores. Stories about childhood friendship, particularly between characters with rough home lives, are a favorite of mine and I love the author's take on it. The painting and the train ride and Louisa's recent loss and newfound relationship with Ted are just such a gorgeous frame for that type of story. As expected, there are Backman's trademark fake-outs which kept me on my toes and some of the lines will really stick with me. I can't wait for everyone else to get their hands on this.

Amazing all around! I'll always look forward to Backman's next work.

Thank you to Fredrik Backman and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!

Happy reading!

My Friends by Fredrik Backman 🌅🌅🌅🌅🌅

I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on May 20, 2025.

Reading a new book by your favorite author is a great way to start off a new year! Backman is back with his first novel since finishing the Beartown trilogy in 2022. What a beautiful and brilliantly written novel this is.

It’s set in two timelines: current and 25 years ago. In the current timeline, Louisa has had a rough life. She’s been in foster care for most of her life, and her one and only best friend has just died. An aspiring artist, drawing is the only thing that has kept Louisa alive. When she goes to a museum to see a world famous painting, she has a chance encounter that will change her life.

In the timeline from the past, we find out about the artist who painted that world famous painting and the friends he had as a teenager who kept him alive.

A major theme in this book is depression, so…trigger warning. Backman has battled depression, and he’s able to put that struggle into words with so much heart that anyone who has fought against it will understand and feel seen. The characters and relationships are where Backman shines, though. The way he writes humanity, the good and the bad, is unlike any author I have ever come across. I laughed and cried and loved all of these characters. They will remain in my heart and mind for a long, long time.

I have 17 quotes saved from this book, but I can only give y’all one. (Yes, it was hard to choose.) You’ll have to read the book to enjoy the rest. Mark your calendars. May 20, 2025. Ten out of five stars. All my thumbs way up.

“[A]rt 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.”
— Fredrik Backman, My Friends

Such a beautiful read. The amount of highlighting I did in this book has outdone any other book I've read for quite awhile. How does Backman come up with such poetic and real thoughts for his fictional characters? Who needs poetry when you have Backman?

This story is somewhat slow and methodical and such a beautiful journey of revisiting the past with friends but also moving forward with new friends. The idea of connection, struggles, trials, decisions and artistry is so poignantly shared. When I closed the last page, I had tears rolling down my face, not in sadness, but more because of the connection Backman gave me, the reader, to his characters.

An easy recommendation!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the gifted e-ARC.

I've read every one of Fredrik Backman's books, and while each explores vastly different themes, they all share a distinct, familiar warmth. Whether he's writing about the elderly, an eccentric neighbor, a struggling hockey team, or a criminal on the run, his stories consistently remind us that beneath even the most overlooked individuals lies a deeply human heart.
My Friends beautifully embodies this same essence, touching on all these characters in one way or another. The story unfolds across dual timelines: Louisa, through a chance encounter, discovers a priceless painting and embarks on a cross-country train journey (the locations are never explicitly mentioned but feel distinctly European). Along the way, Ted recounts to Louisa—and to us—the story of his childhood friends. Their tumultuous upbringings are filled with hardship, yet Backman's storytelling never veers into despair. Instead, it feels tender, hopeful, and achingly real.
As the narrative unravels, we learn about the painting’s creation, the inspiration behind it, and the legacy it carries. Ultimately, My Friends is a celebration of art, unlikely friendships, chosen family, and the beauty of imperfect people finding connection.
There’s mystery, intrigue, and Backman's signature humor woven throughout. Poignant yet playful, this novel is sure to be another standout hit in 2025. I can’t wait to see how readers respond.
Bravo, Backman—you've once again delivered a masterclass in storytelling.

Thank you much for this ARC. Fredrick Backman is one of my favorite authors. This book was funny and a joy to read. I will highly recommend it to people!

Only Fredrik Backman can have me crying on one page and laughing on the next. This story is an absolute masterpiece. Backman has such a way with his writing that no matter the subject (Hockey for Beartown, Art for My Friends) you dive in and care so deeply about it because you realize it's not at all about art or hockey, it's really just about the relationships. Already preordered this and cannot wait to reread it once it comes out!

I ADORE Fredrik Backman. He is such a unique 'flavor' in the literary world, and this was no exception to that. Backman continues to perform surgery on the little intrinsic pieces that make us human, and serves them up in a way that is digestible and almost 'chewy'. This is Backman at the top of his game.

I’m going to start using Backman as an adjective. It will mean pristine, best, fucking perfect. For example, getting tacos is always a Backman idea. Or, it would be so Backman if I was still sleeping right now. And finally, My Friends is a Backman book.

Backman is an instant read author for me, if he writes it, I will read it. I fell in love with Ove a decade or so ago and I never looked back. He has a style that’s all chaotic whimsy, but with a purpose. He is funny, witty, gritty, and is unmatched in making complex, deeply flawed, heartbreaking characters that you will love for the rest of your days (I’m looking at you Benji Ovich). I was ecstatic to get an ARC of his newest book, My Friends, out in May. And friends, it was everything I hoped it would be.

A story that jumps through time to tell about 4 young friends and the summer that changed their lives. Through a series of quirky twists Ted, one of the friends who is now an adult, is paired up with Louisa, an 18 year old art lover and foster child who is suddenly the owner of one of the most famous and coveted paintings. The two go on an unexpected journey to reveal the past and accept the present. As we learn more about Louisa it is clear she is cut from the same cloth as Ted and his friends, a rambunctious bunch of outcast misfits who manage to love each other fiercely in a life that has consistently pushed them down.

This book is beautiful. Backman really is a master with characters. Louisa, Joar, the artist, Ali, Ted, Fish - they are all so vivid and individual on the page. I love his style, it’s just so… so… well, it’s just so Backman. I don’t know how he continues to write such bangers, but My Friends deserves all of the hype and then some. First book of the year, wouldn’t be shocked if it’s my favorite.

I absolutely adored this book! It’s incredibly brilliant. Fredrick Backman’s writing is unparalleled; no other author speaks to me like he does. He possesses the extraordinary ability to breathe life into his characters, making them feel real and relatable. Unlike other authors, he manages to transform the darkest aspects of humanity and life into a tapestry of love and hope. This book is both heartbreaking and beautiful, capturing the essence of friendship, trust, sacrifice, vulnerability, and love. I can’t find a single negative thing to say about it. Might be my favorite read of 2025 and the year just started.

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Backman's next book! He's become a top author for me and I typically chew each book slowly to savor its wit and compassion. This one moved a bit too slowly, however and I found myself wanting him to move it along, especially thru the present timeline. But when he did, it was breathtakingly beautiful. Louise is a gem and Ted a loveable curmudgeon. Thanks for letting me read this one in exchange for an honest review.

Fredrik Backman writes, once again, a beautiful portrait of humanity in My Friends. Despite the heavy themes, My Friends is a heartwarming, uplifting tale of friendship and the lengths we go for those we love.
One of the aspects of Backman's writing I love so much is his ability to unravel the layers of his story with impeccable timing. He almost always lies by omission in some way, but never to the detriment and only to the benefit of each storyline. He enacts this same storytelling style in My Friends and it lends itself particularly well to this story and its unfolding.
The cast of characters is a heavily flawed, extremely likeable bunch. I enjoyed each individual story and each character's development.
Backman once again has a really unique ability to write a story that overall feels heavy and leaves you with a very melancholy mood but, if asked, I would probably call this a feel-good novel. Backman cuts straight to the heart of whichever idea he chooses to tackle- be it grief, friendship, addiction, or love.
I enjoyed this immensely as I have all of Backman's other works. I am so grateful for the opportunity to read this!

40%
I’ve highlighted something on every other page.

47%
I keep taking breaks. Heart breaks. Actual breaks for my heart. Not heartbreaks. Heart breaks. I’m procrastinating going back to see what happens to these beautiful people. Clearly. Like, breaks for my heart in anticipation of the heartbreak.

52%
This book is going to kill me.

66%
Oh god. Something so so so bad is going to happen.

67%
I can’t believe I have to live through this.

67%
Heart break.

81%
It’s that sort of story.

82%
Joar’s got a point.

88%
Oh god. His dad didn’t even know.

88%
You can't be in a bad mood if you've got a bunch of monkeys. Especially if you've also got drugs.

88%
I accidentally made Siri read that and it was awesome

95%
It’s cool that we happened at all

4.75⭐️
Fredrick Backman arc!!!!!

i am going to stay vague because i went into the book mostly unaware of the plot and really enjoyed that experience. i also don’t want to give any minor (but important) details away. if you’ve read anything by Backman before, you know that he has a way of twisting the story slightly at random points, soooo i’ll just say that main themes include friendship, love, art, and grief.

the other Backman books i have read are the Beartown series (all time fav) and Anxious People. this story felt like a mixture of both in my opinion. i had a great connection with the characters, and although heartbreaking at times, there was still humor to be found. this book was a warm hug. i laughed, teared up, and some of those Backman one liners really felt like a punch to the gut.

i’m a sucker for story’s about friendship and youth, and i’m having trouble finding any constructive feedback for this novel, other than the inevitable comparisons i am making with Beartown (annoying i know). although there were really sad and powerful scenes, i didn’t cry and feel as attached to characters as i have in the past with storylines such as this one. i’m definitely being picky but everything felt so big and over-consuming until the end. (but also maybe that was the point, idk)

regardless, i love Backman’s writing and he stays an auto-buy author for me forever. i’m already debating rereading this one when it’s released in May to annotate and see if i have any altering opinions heheh

thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

there are simply no words to fully express what this book did to me. this was, without a doubt, one of the best books i've ever read. period.

this is a story about the summer that changed the lives of four best friends and the lasting effects it had twenty-five years later. this was a story about friendship, love, loss and grief, and everything beautiful in between. every line was pure fucking magic. this was a masterpiece. i'm honestly in awe of the pure and raw emotions i felt reading this. no one can quite hit the way fredrik can. the man is unmatched and unrivaled.

these characters have my heart but their hearts belong to each other. i wish i could explain exactly what i'm going through but the best way to understand is to simply read this fucking book. oh my god. i will never be the same.