Wow. I loved every single word of this beautiful book.

Like all the Fredrik Backman books that I have read, this one has all the humor, all the heart, all the depth, all the profound observation into what it means to be human, and gave me all the feels.

Unlike some of the others that start a little slower as they build toward something, this one "starts" immediately. I both couldn't stop turning pages and didn't want to keep turning them because then it would soon be over.

This is a book about many things: art, grief, laughter, family, struggle, coping, adolescence, farts... but primarily is a book about friendship- that deep, loving, trusting friendship we are only lucky enough to experience when we find someone who is "one of us,"- when we find people who let us be our true selves, who see the wings brushing beneath our skin, and who will enact really, really bad ideas in order to get us to the life we deserve.

Endless thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me an ARC of this gorgeous work. I will still be there at the book store on the day it comes out. I will buy my own copy to put on my own shelf so that I can share it with... my friends.

I was fully captivated by this book and didn't even realize that I had been sitting for hours and reading it.

It was very much in the Backman voice that I love, and full of moments that had me weeping and cackling, sometimes almost at the same time. I think the way the characters described art in the book is what Backman has achieved with this- which I really hope he knows. This book felt more personal in some ways than Bear Town did, but had more of that commentary about humans vibe than Anxious People.

The characters were beautiful and I want to be friends with all of them. I am also absolutely not cool enough to be friends with any of them. Even Fish, who wasn't in the story the same way, felt like a real person who I wanted to know.

I think the non-linear story could be harder to follow than some might like, but it gives the Backman twists such satisfaction when you figure them out.
One of the major themes is my favorite line that I say all the time- it's incredibly hard to be a human. It's broader here- it's incredibly hard to be alive. But it's also incredibly beautiful to be alive and this book made me feel all of this.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Net Galley for the e-galley of this book!

4.5 Stars!
My Friends is a tale of friendship and how the people we grow up with might see the most authentic versions of ourselves no matter how far we stray from each other as the years go on. The four friends in this book all have beginnings that are not pleasant but have led them to each other. Their collective goal for each other is that no one will stay in the town that they grew up in, even if they can't think or dream of that for themselves. You follow a 25 plus year friendship through loss, laughs and plenty of unexpected turns.

Fredrik Backman writes friendship as no other author I have read before. He goes beyond 'found family' and into something even deeper. He writes characters as someone we love, have loved and will love. And the way he delves into grief is powerful. His description of pain, loss and hurting of someone we love is poignant in this work. My brain instantly knows I will love whatever characters or storyline is coming next by how familiar his writing is to me. His writing style is almost nostalgic.

The only reason I took a half star off is because I didn't love the plot of the current timeline, but that was more personal preference. Everything else is 5 stars! A must read for 2025!

Thank you to #NetGalley and Atria Books for the Arc copy of My Friends! Forever grateful for the chance to read books early!

Fredrik Backman, You had me at page one!💗
Louisa feels so desperately alone in the world. One month away from aging out of foster care, she has nowhere to go. Her only wish is to see a special portrait of the sea (which really isn’t of the sea) in person. But what she finds is so much more.

Soon enough Louisa will find herself taking a journey with one of the characters portrayed in the painting. Where will this excursion take her? And what, or shall I say who will she discover along the way.

A life lesson…it’s a matter of fitting in. Finding your people and holding them so close that even miles and life cannot separate the bond.

Fredrik Backman has such a unique writing style that is instantly recognizable. His prose is mesmerizing, allowing you to find yourself swept away in the narrative of Louise’s most incredible expedition

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this eARC! My Friends by Fredrik Backman is a beautifully written and deeply emotional story about friendship, love, and the lasting impact of the people who shape our lives. The dual timelines weave together seamlessly, creating a heartfelt journey of nostalgia, loss, and hope. Backman’s signature wit and emotional depth shine through, making this a touching and unforgettable read. Fans of his work will not be disappointed!

I love Backman’s voice when he writes. It has such a dry humor and his characters are robust and unique while also being completely relatable. These characters in particular are so ridiculous and full of life you can’t help but laugh.

The beginning half of the book was slow. There was no urgency behind the plot and I had a hard time getting pulled into the story. I didn’t feel hooked until 2/3 through, so I think the pacing could have used some work.

The last third of the book had some unexpected twists and you weren’t quite sure how the story was going to end, so that was a nice surprise. Overall it was a beautiful ode to friendship. I think this will be a favorite for many of Backman’s readers.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is my favorite book so far by Frederick. I loved getting to know each of the characters. Along the way I felt like I was one of their friends. This heart warming story makes you laugh and cry right along with the characters. Even when the story ended I found myself thinking about the characters still for weeks after.

I always love this authors stories, he always manages to make a story that is so mundane into something that is almost magical. Reading about a character's normal everyday life is what I adore about his stories. I think especially with this one I loved the character dynamics and how he was able to bring life to characters that aren't in the main part of the book, telling a story within a story, While this wasn't my favorite book that I've read by him, each one provides something different and I enjoyed how simplistic this book was compared to some of his others. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me an arc of this book.

I am in awe. Everything Backman writes is brilliant but this truly surpasses them all. I fell in love with every single character and devoured the story as it was written. I laughed and laughed and laughed. I also cried. What a beautiful book about life and friendship. I can’t recommend this one enough.

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

One of my all-time favorite authors has now written my current all-time favorite book! My Friends is just that, a saga of the intertwined lives of a group of young people, how they met, how they formed their own alliance, how they allowed others in who seem to be part of their tribe, and how it all played out into adulthood. These are a group of flawed people each with their own issues, just like the rest of us and how they struggled to make it through this difficult life. I love the characters, the story, the somewhat staccato style of writing, and the way it drew me in and kept me there I would most definitely, and already have, recommend this book to others. Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

Fredrik Backman never disappoints. My Friends is a deep and meaningful book exploring friendship, grief, love, and all aspects of the human condition. So beautifully written, so heartfelt and philosophical, so real and so raw. It's a book I couldn't put down, despite never wanting to finish it. I highly recommend this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

Over the last few years, Backman has been one of my favorite authors and a consistent 5 star read every time. That being said, My Friends fell short for me. I believe the beginning of this novel could've been a bit more condense, it felt very repetitive and like going in circles. It's clear that it was meant to be that way, however it didn't quite work for me. Because of this, I struggled to get into it. This may not have been the case if I hadn't gone in with such high expectations. All that being said, halfway through I really began to get invested in the story and characters. Louisa was a very slow burn for me as she read more like a child than an 18 year old girl. I loved the use of found family.

I couldn’t put this book down! It was written so beautifully and was a definite tear jerker. I will continue to recommend this book to friends! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

Fredrik Backman--need I say more?! He does it again in this newest book--what a fantastic read! The characters stay with you long after you finish the book. Highly recommend!

I have so much love and respect for Fredrik Backman and his creative genius. If you share that feeling, please stop reading reviews an go pick up this book - you don't need to know anything more. The Beartown series will always hold a special place in my heart, but this is unquestionably my next favorite of his books, and truthfully the distance between Beartown and My Friends isn't letting much daylight through. I laughed, I cried, I ignored all of my adult responsibilities. Backman creates a singular reading experience where the real world around me just falls away and I am ALL IN and focused on his characters. My heart breaks with them, we all laugh together, and I walk away with lifelong friends held tightly in my heart. I'm so grateful that he continues to share his words with the world.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria, for allowing me this time with these people in exchange for my short but honest review.

I love Backman, he has such a unique style, it’s incomparable really, but this one was missing the grittiness I have come to love in his books and was far too sentimental for my taste.

I have no doubt this will be a popular book, it’s lovely and human and tugs at the heartstrings, it was a bit too much for me, I wanted more raw and less nostalgia bordering on fluffy. The main characters felt a bit too much like caricatures, I kept waiting for deeper emotions. This is all very much a personal preference and I remain a fan but this wasn’t my favourite.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

I was so happy to have been granted an advanced reader copy of this book. I honestly love this author so much- and this book was no different. I don’t even feel I can come close to expressing how lovely this book was . But I will say it quickly became my favorite Backman book yet!!

It was so beautifully written. The characters were well developed I felt like they were actual friends of mine. I was so invested in knowing all of their stories. I laughed. I cried. I loved!!

Their friendships brought me so much joy. It had me remembering when I was 14 and how much fun I had with my friends. I think with life being so much heavy right now that it was just the escape I needed. It was a beautiful love story, with much heartbreak but so much strength and resilience.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Fredrick Backman for allowing me to read and review this masterpiece. It will be one of my top books of the year. Hands. Down.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early read. Has Backman written a bad book? The answer is no!

This was yet another winner for him. Highly recommend!!

Wow!

I have enjoyed many books by Fredrik Blackman over the years, but My Friends is my favorite, by far - which is impressive when you realize I gave two other Backman books 5 stars.

One summer, four teenagers spend their days laughing, swimming & farting together. An artist, a troublemaker, an intelligent, quiet boy, and a girl who never stays anywhere for long are each other’s refuge from the lives they’ve been born into and forge a friendship that is strong enough to span decades. Alternating between that defining summer and 25 years later, we see how the events of that summer affect the friends and ripple outward over time.

My Friends is about the indelible bond of childhood friends; your first found family who know and see all of you - your truths, your lies, your triumphs, your pain, your quirks - and who love you anyway. I was instantly in love with the characters in this story and their unfailing love for and support of one another. The journey that this book takes you on will inspire you, break your heart, and stitch it back together again page by page. I laughed out loud, I cried, I gasped in surprise… there is not a moment of this book that I didn’t love.

Not just about friendship - as if that wouldn’t be enough - My Friends is also about the beauty and healing power of art and how it connects people. Backman’s writing in this book is its own art - painting a vivid picture of each scene, the characters and their feelings. In some ways the writing reminded me of Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief; it paints a picture of a time filled with pain and it handles difficult subjects with beauty and empathy.

I found it impossible to read this book without thinking about my own childhood friends- those kids I spent 8 weeks with every summer at camp who, 40 years later, are still some of my favorite humans. Who would I be without them and our experiences together, after all.

Read this book. Thank me later.

Thank you to Atria Books, NetGalley and the author for the advance reader copy. My Friends will be published on May 6, 2025.

I was up into the wee hours of the night reading this book. This book had me smiling, laughing, it made me mad, I sobbed while laughing. It just hit me in all the feels. It's so beautifully written. I want to hug every single character in this book. If I could give it a million stars I would. This is my book of the year and I can't wait till I can purchase a physical copy. Please go buy and read this book. You won't be disappointed. It's perfection ❤️

Book Releases May 6, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the E-ARC

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.