Sometimes I wish I could read a Backman book without knowing he wrote it. Do I love it so much because it's Backman? Or would I really love it so much anyway? (I think the latter is true.) This was my first time listening to a Backman book on audio, and the narrator was fantastic. I did read about 20 percent of the book on my Kindle, but I found I preferred the audio. This story is really about the characters, and I thought Marin Ireland brought the characters to life. Backman is one of the few authors who can write about very mundane, relatable things and make me care so much.

I adored everything about Anxious People! I have read a few books by Fredrik Backman, and this was my favorite by leaps and bounds. It was really a very sad story, but told with so much humor and heart. This is one of those books that I will recommend to all sorts of readers!!

What can I say? Another wonderful book by Fredrik Backman! I don't know how he does it, but he manages to create characters that you want to get to know. When I read his book, I am drawn in and become part of the world he creates. This book tells the tale of a group of people who are accidentally held hostage by a bumbling bank robber. Part how-not-to manual. Part character study. It is one of his best books yet. Keep writing Mr. Backman!!

The beginning of the book started really slow. I hadn’t decided I want to finish the book until I was almost halfway through and that was only because I hadn’t figured out the ending yet. The style of writing isn’t usually what I enjoy as the multiple narratives only make sense at the very end when everything comes together.

Despite this, I think this will be one of the books that I will remember the longest as it had me wanting to cry on the subway. This is definitely a book that calls to people still figuring out life at 20 or 40 or even 90. This has a cathartic release that is worth getting to the end to experience.

I had a little trouble getting into Anxious People, but I was reading it while watching election returns, so I may have been a little sidetracked. Once things started looking more hopeful for Joe Biden and I could concentrate a bit better I was rewarded with Fredrik Backman's wonderful combination of poignancy and humor. There is a robbery gone wrong, and hostages are trapped during an apartment showing. As the chapters progress, secrets from everyone are revealed, including the police investigating. I enjoyed the combinations of comedy and tragedy, believable and absurd, and this may be my favorite of Fredrik Backman's novels so far.

Is the is book optioned for a film yet? If not, it should be! Not a Hollywood production, but an indie film with British actors... I envisioned this comedy of errors inside the apartment as a Britcom as I read it!

I got this as a request *after* I had requested it as a Book of the Month, so I did not wind up reading the ARC. I hear so many good things about Backman, but I just don't think his writing style works for me.

Everyone is entitled to a “bad day”, even bank robbers. So says Fredrik Backman in his latest book, #anxiouspeople.

On the most superficial level, this book is about a botched up bank robbery. A bank robber fails to rob a bank, and the robbery turns into a hostage situation. And there’s a bridge, and different people on a bridge. And there are police 👮‍♀️ officers of course. And the best police officers are from #stockholm.

That is all I am going to say except that this book is a #mustread, it is so convoluted, it will have you laughing out loud. And yet, it is so tender at moments, you will want to cry for Backman’s characters.

I wanted to choose a favorite quote, but that is impossible, because there are too many. So I found the following:

From Shelf Awareness: “Rich with Backman’s pitch perfect dialogue, and unparalleled understanding of human nature, Anxious People is an ingenious constructed story about the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness and hope - the things that save us, even in the most anxious times.” - Shelf Awareness.

“We do what we can to help whenever we get the chance, sweetheart. We save those we can. We do our best. Then we find to find a way to convince ourselves that that will just have to ... be enough. So we can live with our failures without drowning.” - @backmansk

I highly recommend this book, and the #audiobook, @marinireland! #5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ . Thank you #netgalley for the e_ARC in return for my review.
#5👮👮👮👮👮 @backmansk

#housetricks #limes #estateagents #openhouse #pizzacapricciosa #suicide #priests #idiots @audible_ca @shelf.awareness

Thank you for the opportunity to review Anxious People, the most recent translated-to-English offering by Fredrik Backman. As is true for the earlier offerings, this is well-written and compelling read. Quite enjoyable. I appreciate having the opportunity to review this work.

I have nothing really to say except that this was an absolutely amazing read!!! Brilliant from start to finish.

Backman has a very specific way of writing. I've never understood the hype however from a critical eye, I can appreciate his style. I found this book from an objective standpoint to be very good, but I didn't really love it, if that makes any sense. Fredrick Backman is an excellent author and excels at his craft but his books are not always for me.

If you have always enjoyed works by Backman than I urge you to read this one. If you don't really like his style than you can skip it.

Backman does it again! Somehow he has me cracking up on one page and either tearing up or pondering deep thoughts on the next page. This book is not one to be missed. I loved it!

At first, the style of Anxious People really, truly annoyed me. The long paragraphs that seemed to just be endless rants felt random and obnoxious. But once the story started to connect, I really began to enjoy it. I liked the interconnectedness of the entire plot, the seemingly random hilarious rants, and witty societal commentary. I initially thought this would be a book I needed to take in doses, but I ended up reading the last 200 pages in one sitting, completely engrossed in the story and the lives of all the characters. I liked that it was quite a light and funny story but still dealt with some heavy topics such as suicide.

What a beautiful story of hope and humanity. I loved Backman's Beartown books but this one is special in its own way. I highly recommend it.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit that Backman is one of my favorite authors. I love his writing style. I love his characters. I love the way he makes a story come together. This book was hilarious and heartbreaking and everything you expect from the author. The worst part of a Backman book is when it’s over. You truly feel like you’re leaving some friends behind. And, this book had the absolute best lines of an ending I’ve ever read: But when you get home this evening, when this day is over and the night takes us, allow yourself a deep breath. Because we made it through this day as well. • • • There’ll be another one along tomorrow..

A bunch of strangers, one bank robber, two idiot cops. When a bank is being robbed around the corner from an apartment viewing, what could go wrong? After trying and failing to rob a bank, a bank robber stumbles into an apartment viewing that inevitably turns into an accidental hostage situation. As the hours pass, strangers become friends and each person realizes there is more that meets the eye about their company and that they all may have more in common than they think.
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Wow, I have never felt more understood about my anxiety than I did while reading this novel. Through each character, all forms of anxiety and depression was explored and it was beautiful how Fredrik Backman weaved their stories together as strangers became friends in a highly stressful moment in their lives and their lives are slowly exposed. Anxiety is no joke and I loved how each character’s shortcomings was brought to light and perfectly developed towards the end of the story. I also loved the comical whodunnit aspect of the story with the “hostages” and policemen.
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*trigger warnings: anxiety, depression, suicide is mentioned
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🍷to sum it up: mental illness, whodunnit mystery, multiple perspectives, heavy but worth it read, comedy, love and family, highly recommend 🙋🏻‍♀️

Author #Fredrik Backman is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. It's always nice to know so when you finish the new novel you can backtrack.# 'Anxious People is his new wonderful novel. He is comical, charming and just fun to read. For more on his novel head over to my Instagram blog #Maddie_approves_book_reviews this week please.
Thank you,
#Netgalley, #Fredrik Backman, and # Atria publishing 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🐾🐾

<i>This is a story about a bank robbery, an apartment viewing, and a hostage drama. But even more it's a story about idiots. But perhaps not only that.</i>

Possibly the worst bank robber ever tries to rob a bank only to discover it's moneyless. Then, while trying to escape, ends up in the middle of an apartment showing with probably the worst hostages ever. But sometimes the worst situations can turn out to have very unexpected outcomes.

No one does quirky but likeable characters or the human condition better than Fredrik Backman and that is nowhere more true than in his latest, Anxious People. He deals with some very important issues like suicide, hopelessness, and mental health with humour but always with kindness and empathy. This is a wonderful story full of great characters who will entertain and frustrate the reader in equal measures but will always make you root for them. it is well-written, uplifting, and, at times, even laugh-out-loud funny but always always insightful into humanity's foibles. Loved it.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

My most anticipated book of the year..I received an early copy from both netgalley and libro.fm but I have put off reading this.. Why? I get so nervous when I read a book that I"m so excited about. I just want it to be perfect. 

What happens when a bank robber, who doesn't want to be a bank robber- ends up taking a group of strangers hostage at an open house? What happens when all these strangers start to unravel?

Backman's writing is so special, so unique. I have yet to encounter another writer that has his same way of storytelling. It is subtle and beautiful. He peels back and the story and the characters slowly and so in depth. I really find few faults in Backman's books. 

This book was so relatable, it was about being human and making mistakes. Every character brought what was needed to the story. I really loved this book.

As I started reading this book, my first by Backman, I didn't know if I was going to understand the hype. It felt like a slow start, I was a little confused, and I found all the characters annoying. I really am not sure where it happened when I started falling in love with this band of quirky characters. Maybe it was when the ladies were drinking wine in the closet together, but I finally saw the depth of them all and what made them who they were. I finished the book really appreciating the differences we all have and that sometimes you need to learn the backstory of people to fully comprehend their personality and life choices. Definitely a book that will stick with me!