ugh so good! I should've trusted Backman for a happy ending but this book had my heart breaking!! Books rarely move me to tears and this one did. I love every single character and the ending was so sweet and so good. No notes.

My first 5⭐ of the year 🎉🎉🎉

Fredrik's writing style is like sitting down with a really good friend and having the longest, best talk. There is so much comfort in it. This book felt the same.

This is the story of four friends and how they help each other survive a pivotal Summer during their teenage years in a small seaside town. It's also a story, told 25 years later about a girl that inherits a famous painting that is tied back to these four friends. She finds herself on a cross country journey towards this seaside town to uncover more than she thought she ever could about these friends, the painting and herself. 

This novel reminded me that you should never underestimate the timing of when people come into your life. It's usually for a reason and when you're lucky enough to look back, the why is so obvious. You'll be dumbfounded that you didn't see it the day you met. But just like all moments, we find out everything when we do, for a reason. Pay attention, it's a long long life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria Books for an advanced copy of this novel. I always enjoy Fredrik Backman and his writing. This new novel is a moving tale of loss, lasting friendships, and finding family. I loved the characters, the talk of art, and the present timeline. The story line that takes place in the past, for me, was less engaging and a bit too redundant. Overall, an enjoyable read.

AHHH to be back in the absolute magic of Fredrik Backman's writing. Nobody tells and unfolds a story like Backman. Here he takes a story that seems like it just going to be about the story behind a very famous painting of the sea and turns it into a gripping masterpiece. If you have ever wondered why an artist chose to paint or create something, Backman gives an emotional in-depth story of how his characters ended up where they are today. The backstory and current storyline is interwoven flawlessly. You will find yourself so very emotionally attached to the characters in a way that only Backman can do. It was that emotional connection that drew me into Beartown, and it is the same here. I cannot wait for this to receive all the accolades it deserves.

I am a huge fan of Fredrik Backman and this book absolutely doesn't disappoint. It has all the beautiful life lessons and stories that you expect from Backman but told through a dual timeline, which made for a compelling narrative. I loved it!

Another master full story from Fredrik backman, this time a coming-of-age story that tones in on friendship and found family. I won’t be selling this at my roommates bookstore, but will recommend it to all of the non-romance fans I know. Backman is a remarkable author, and I feel like each book he writes demonstrates that in a new and beautiful way

I've been a fan of Fredrik Backman for a while now, so I always have high expectations when a favorite author has a new release. Overall, I enjoyed this one. It was sad and hopeful, funny and dark. It had all the elements I've learned and love about Backman's writing. He has a way of describing human nature and life events that is so accurate and raw. I loved getting to know this group of friends and truly didn't know which direction their lives would go. I don't think Backman fans (or new readers) be disappointed by this one,

Ever since Beartown, I’ve been reading every Backman book and hoping for the magic he created in that book. I’m still searching and while I appreciate the sentiment of My Friends, the story didn’t capture me. Backman’s signature quirky, heartfelt writing is present but the story overall felt disjointed and I was hoping for more.

I’ll continue to read everything he writes but I just didn’t love this one. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Backman never fails.

“It’s a long story” (but perfectly executed) & “how am I so lucky” (to be able to experience this beauty)?

The way Backman captures humanity is unlike any other. He gives voice to the innermost thoughts that seem hard to express but flow effortlessly from him.

Art has never seemed more beautiful. Friendship. Grief. Love. Trust. All can be housed in one piece of art. And maybe farts and chili sauce can coincide too.

His storytelling methods are so unique with interwoven storylines. There are no clearly defined boundaries but yet it flows beautifully and is easy to follow. The artist’s name and identity being revealed the way it was is also a testament to Backman’s craft.

A true artist.

Fredrik Backman does not disappoint. I want to go back in time and read this again for the first time. Like his other books, this is a story about friendships, family and relationships, told in a non-linear way, with some misdirection that somehow totally makes sense and had me falling in love with all the characters. Luisa is a teenage graffiti artist, about to age out of foster care, when she comes across her favorite work of art. I wish I could see the art in the book, but it's written so descriptively, I feel like I did. Joar in particular has some pieces of Benji from the Beartown series, who will always have a piece of my heart. I don't want to give anything else away, but if you have love Backman's books, of course you will read this one and you really don't need my review.

Absolutely incredible. Backman is such a great story teller who really knows how to pull on your heart strings. I think I have cried in every book he has written and this was no different. Loved this story of friendship and protecting it at all costs. The fart jokes were funny and this book made me laugh out loud so much. Cannot wait to purchase for friends when it is released!

This is one of those books that I had a love-hate relationship with. I did not like it at first, then the author left a hint of sometime to come so I kept on reading and liked it. Then it turned and I did not like it again, then I liked it again and so on. This is the story of four school friends and how they spent their summer vacations as told from 25 years later with flashbacks to when they were 14-year-olds and told from multiple POVs. The friends all came from abusive families so all are flawed. The book was too long and was very far-fetched and childish in places. This book should be categorized as a YA or a middle school read.

Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster/Atria Books for the ARC of this book.

When people look at the first painting of legendary artist C. Jat, “The One of the Sea,” they think it is simply a stunning depiction of the sea. But Louisa knows that the painting is really about the three kids barely visible at the end of the pier. Ever since discovering the painting on a postcard, she has fantasized about their lives. Grieving her best friend's untimely death, she devises a plan that goes horribly wrong to see the painting in person. She runs, literally, into the mysterious artist who bequeaths the painting to her. Louisa ends up on a cross-country adventure with one of the painting's enigmatic figures, who, at Louisa’s insistence, has no choice but to share the happiness and tragedy of that summer 25 years ago.

My Friends by Fredrik Backman is a beautiful book about childhood friendships and the power of art. As always, Backman seamlessly integrates other themes, such as class discordance, gender socialization, and cycles of abuse. He also does this with a thoughtfulness and silliness that I love to see in exploring the human condition.

I loved this book, but I don’t think it’s a new favorite like my other two books I’ve read by him (A Man Called Ove and Anxious People) have become. It was a touch too long for me and was repetitive at times, which reduced the emotional impact. I would like to state on the record that I am pro-fart humor. This book has A LOT of fart jokes, and I didn’t mind but I certainly noticed it. So if that bothers you, I don’t think this book is for you, unfortunately. Don’t let my few critiques dissuade you; this book was a worthwhile read.

I cried throughout this entire book and seemed to find lines on nearly every page to highlight. Beautiful, emotional, inspiring. I am excited to recommend this book to my patrons. I think it would make for a wonderful book club book as well.

Fredrik Backman has such a beautiful way of telling stories and connecting each of the characters to something bigger. I felt this book so deeply with its portrayals of grief, community and how its important to step up for those we love deeply (family or not). I really enjoyed this one and will be recommending to others.

I am a massive Fredrik Backman fan and My Friends only solidified my belief that it’s impossible for him to write a bad book! My Friends is just one more life changing read from Fredrik Backman. It details a beautiful, heartbreaking yet healing story of friendship, life, love, loss, grief, and trauma.

My Friends follows two stories of friendship. One born in youth between four teenagers, told through the eyes of Ted. And one born of unexpected circumstances that allow Ted and Louisa–two lost and sad souls–to create an unlikely friendship. To me, it was both beautiful storytelling and a beautiful depiction of how storytelling can change the lives of another.

The four teenagers we meet consists of the Artist, Ted, Joar, and Ali. Each of these teens have their own stories of trauma, grief, anger, love, and joy. The Artist is a depressed, quiet boy with a passion for art & creation but feels suffocated by the world around him. Ted is a quiet and kind, struggling to feel whole after a loss in his family. Joar is an angry, loving boy who is constantly broken down but never stops fighting (literally). And Ali is a broken, outspoken girl who has never felt like she’s had a place to land. All of them highlight a vast array of struggles in their own ways, but one thing is evident through it all: the power and beauty of friendship. These four teens find solace, safety, and love in their small group. A place for each of them to be themselves, a place to be vulnerable. They all love each other with all they have, trust each other more than anyone else, and support each other through it all.

Louisa is an 18 year old girl and aspiring artist who has never had a true home in the legitimate form, but did in the metaphorical, human form. When she loses that, she finds herself lost and desperate to feel something. To find a specific painting and to learn more about what that painting entails. She’s angry, sad, outspoken, caring and loyal. She is curious and kind. Louisa is a beautifully written character and I absolutely loved getting to know her. I loved getting inside her mind.

Getting to see the story of these four friends unfold in such a unique, gripping way was absolutely incredible. The way that Fredrik tells the story through Ted’s eyes is so beautifully done. In Ted’s perspective you can practically feel the love, sadness, joy, and longing radiating through his words as he tells the story of his friends to Louisa. It’s a beautiful tale of friends changing each other’s lives and the world, shaping each other through the sheer power of love & trust.

This book, just like every other Fredrik Backman book, had me feeling every single emotion in the book. I cried, I laughed, I was shocked and angry, I was happy and sad. I felt for and with these characters. I felt pride for their accomplishments, for their growth. I cried for their hurt and loss. I laughed with them. I think it might be nearly impossible to leave this book without feeling deeply connected to these characters and their stories.

If you haven’t already picked up a book by Fredrik Backman, I’m begging you to. Let this be your first!!!

This was my first Backman book, but it won't be my last! Right away, I was very curious as to how this story would go. I'm a sucker for emotional books that make you feel something and this is one of them. The storyline was done so well and it was truly interesting to see how this author creates such characters. The writing flowed, and I just loved this beautiful story about friendship and life itself. It's going to be a buzzy book once it releases, I just know it!

Fredrick Backman has done it again. My Friends is a beautiful story of childhood friendship and how that shapes your entire adult life. How small decisions when you’re young can set of a chain reaction for the rest of your life. This story is told by “Ted” (an old man) on an adventuresome train ride to Louisa (a young adult) about his childhood friendships. But it’s so much more than that. Fredrick has a way of telling a story from different perspectives but make you feel as if you’re part of the story. This is not a light read, but a wonderful story.

This is one of my top 5 most favorite books of all time. Fredrik Backman does it again. Manages to make me laugh and cry and love these characters so much that I was devasted when the book was over. Do yourself a favor and read this book. You won't regret it.

This new book is everything you want from this author. It’s funny and emotional and sad and happy. The friendship between the boys are realistic and deep.