I've read other books by Fredrik Backman, and although this isn't one of my favorites, I did enjoy it. It's funny, heart-warming, and incredibly moving. My biggest critique is that I struggled with the beginning, and the ending seemed to have multiple "this must be the last page" feelings only for me to swipe my Kindle and find another chapter. The book didn't seem to follow an organized plot structure. Although normally that doesn't bother me, I did feel a little lost at first. Other than that, I'd definitely recommend this one. It's a story about mistakes, second chances, loving people despite their flaws, relationships and human connection, and living in a world full of heartbreak.

There are some potential triggers involving suicide and suicidal ideations.

I received this ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.

This is a book about idiots. No really, that’s one of the first lines! When a bank robbery goes bad, and the robber mistakes someone outside for a cop and runs into the building across the street, they end up locking themselves in an apartment that’s for sale with several perspective buyers. Once the hostages have been let go, the cops enter the apartment to find it empty? How did the robber escape?

If you know me, you know I have been itching to get my hands on this book since it was first announced! Let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I flew through it in one day and adored it. It’s not quite Beartown, but still brings the lovable quirkiness that Backman is known for. Fedrik has a rare gift, at least in my mind, of making you love characters, but also sort of wonder why you love them so much. You never outright hate them, but I can just never put my finger on why I love them as much as I do either. Not sure if that makes sense to anyone besides me, but let me know if you agree! I think it has something to do with all of his characters coming across as real people, with real issues, with good sides, bad, beautiful, and ugly. They all just feel so real, I can easily say I have felt most of the emotions the characters face in this one, not being good enough, wanting to do the right thing but not having the means to do so, depression, anxiety, joy, love, grief, etc. Hell, I think I have faced most of this just in 2020 alone! In the end, this book is about friendship. About meeting strangers, learning a lot about them in a short time, and learning to love them for their flaws. The ending had me in tears, and wishing that the book would go on. There were several quotes I jotted down in this one and wanted to share in my review but didn’t want to give parts of the story away. I foresee that this one is going to stick with me for a long time.

4.5 stars

If you are a fan of Backman's work, you probably know the real power of his stories are the people and the human connection between them - more so than the plot itself. This is absolutely the case in Anxious People - if the story of a heist gone hostage situation seems outside of your realm, fear not, as this is the Backman we all know and love - the Backman that reminds us of the good in humanity and in the kindness of strangers - where words jump off the page and you wish the characters did as well so that you could hug them tightly and hold on to them forever. If you have yet to read any of Backman's books, I highly recommend you start now and enjoy the magic.

This was my first Fredrik Backman book and it will not be my last! What happens when a bank robbery goes awry and the bank robber ends up holding people hostage at an apartment showing? I adored the premise of this book, and the buildup to finding out how everything went down was amazing. I absolutely loved the fact that the robber was a woman! Especially since that is not the norm in the real world. This book was hilarious and emotional and one of my favorites of the year! I cannot wait to read more of Fredrik Backman's books!!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my complimentary copy of this one!

I'm a huge fan of Backman's writing, and I love that each of his books has the same reliable things: extremely relatable and interesting characters, excellent representation of aging characters, a plot with whimsy, and writing that pulls at your heartstrings throughout.

I laughed so much, and cried a little, while reading this one. As usual, his characters are just wonderful and cause the reader to be so invested in the book. While I loved all the characters, Zara stole my heart. She's like Ove and Britt-Marie.... she will be a character I think about for a long time and who lives on off the page.

I love that with Backman's books you know what you're getting and they're so consistent in quality that it's a safe bet to preorder his books ahead of time. This one, in my opinion, was no exception.

ANXIOUS PEOPLE-Fredrick Backman
I am a big fan of his previous work.This book starts slowly and for me initially confusing, but stay with it-I think it is his finest yet.At times I found myself laughing out loud, at other times misty eyed.Several-in fact multiple paragraphs I read and reread several times.Perhaps this phrase sums it up:” this is a story about a bridge, and idiots, and a hostage crisis, and an apartment viewing. But it is also a love story, in fact several of them.”
Suffice to say that it is a serious contender for my “ read of the year”.

I think this is the best book I’ve read in 2020 so far. It’s funny, honest and really touching. Kind of everything we’ve all come to expect out of this author. This is the best novel he’s written thus far, in my opinion. Backman has a really amazing ability to know people and it makes for some really powerful and deeply moving writing.

I really enjoyed this clever book. It is a funny, warm-hearted whodunnit. Lots of twists and fun plot devices. More in the vein of “Man Called Ove” than “Beartown”. It’s going to be a big hit. Thank you for the ARC!

Anxious People shows Backman’s humor and heart page after page. I laughed out loud, held my breath, and devoured this heartwarming comedy that explored the absurd, the connection of people, and the ripple effect of decisions in the most down-to-earth way. I’m already looking forward to his book!

Wow! Thank you for the opportunity to read this book before it comes out. I love every book I have by Fredrick Backman. This one is no different. I love the story of Anxious People and the way the characters’ own stories and past are woven in through out the book. I cried and I laughed and I didn’t want this book to end. Such meaningful messages in this book that really made me think and will stay with me. Everyone should read this book! Thank you NetGalley!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Heartwarming novel about desperation, forgiveness, and acceptance. An suicide, a suicide attempt, and an attempted bank robbery bring a group of people together. Their interactions are unexpected and inspiring. I love this novel.

While I struggled to get into this one, I did like how all of the characters were connected. The story was heartbreaking (needing to rob a bank to pay rent to not lose children), yet there were lighthearted moments and some pretty funny ones as well. The ability to interconnect so many characters and make it seem plausible is the mark of a good writer. Backman is still one of my favorites and I look forward to his next book.

This was the second book I’ve read by this author and I’m definitely curious to read all of his others at some point. It’s a quirky, unique story about the human condition that makes you think, laugh, and want to cry all in the same chapter. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

No one writes with beautiful prose and knowledge of human nature like a Frederick Blackman. With the usual cast of rich characters and insight that staggered me time again, Eight people held hostage examine their lives and open up to each other, and you will find yourself resonating with these anxious people.

This was definitely an interesting read. It was all over the place but the plot was meant to be that way considering that the people who were held hostage were either in shock, in denial, or just funny.

I thought Anxious People was excellent; I love Fredrik Backman's prose. I have read both Beartown and Us Against You and knew I was a fan of his writing, so the premise of a bank robbery gone wrong was very enticing. There was quite a cast of characters, but they are all carefully developed throughout the story. Sometimes when there are so many characters it is hard to keep everything straight, yet that is not the case here- it is easy enough to keep track of everyone.

While still tackling some hard subjects, this story is told in a more lighthearted and humorous way than previous novels I've read by Backman. The way the stories of the characters overlap is so coincidental that it can only (likely) happen in a fictional story. This tidiness might frustrate some readers, but I loved it. The way the story unfolded was masterful. I would absolutely recommend this book.

A powerful, comical, heart-wrenching and beautiful novel, Anxious People is a book about life, death, love, marriage, parenthood and other human anxieties. This awe-inspiring book will take you on an emotional roller coaster, and you will love every minute of it!

Within a few minutes of the reading this book, I knew I was going to love it. A bank robbery gone wrong, a hostage situation with the “worst hostages ever”, a group of human oddballs stuck together in an apartment, tender reflections and conversations on life and love – everything about the plot sucked me in. The chapters alternated between the actual hostage situation and the police questioning of the hostages after release, which kept the element of mystery alive. The unexpected twists and turns had me completely gripped. I devoured this book in less than two days and loved every minute of it.

The varied, flawed, funny and utterly human characters of this book stole my heart. On the surface, they look like a bunch of goofballs with their weird and slightly annoying habits. As the story progresses, their deepest fears and anxieties are laid bare, and you fall in love with them gradually. Backman has brilliantly captured the vulnerabilities and anxieties of human life and relationships. His characters feel refreshingly alive and complex - complete with human oddities and tragedies.

I immensely enjoyed Backman's quirky writing - it had me in splits one moment and a crying mess the next. He manages to write about some very hard-hitting facts of life in a breezy, almost unsuspecting manner.

Anxious People is easily one of the best books I've read in a long while. Definitely recommended!

Wow! This book was truly incredible! It was funny and lighthearted, but surprisingly meaningful and poignant. I laughed, I cried, and I definitely struggled to put this one down. This book explores relationships, mental illness, death, and hardship. It also explores the idea that people are layered (just like ogres), and how you may perceive someone on the surface, doesn't necessarily reflect what's going on inside. Bank robbers aren't necessarily bad people.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Anxious People by Fredrik Backman.

Jack and Jim are a father and son police duo who are dealing with the most puzzling case. After releasing hostages from an apartment building covered with blood, the hostage taker is no where to be found. Through a slew of even more confounding interviews, they are able to put the pieces together of this strange case.

Listen, Fredrik Backman can write a phone book and I'll probably read it. This probably wasn't my favorite of his, there were a lot of joints to it, so I got lost a few times, but it was still very enjoyable.

I loved the cast of characters. There were lines like "will you please stop rubbing your eyebrows like that, it's freaking me out" that made me laugh out loud. I loved the subtle twists and turns, overall a colorful and lighthearted read.

With Anxious People my favorite author Fredrik Backman has written another winner. When a bank robber fails at robbing a bank and runs into the closest building, we're introduced to a lovely cast of characters that make for one of Backman's best books. Some of the characters are in the building to honestly view an apartment that's for sale and others are at the viewing for other reasons. The bank robber has no choice but to hold these characters hostage. In the meantime detectives Jim and Jack need to solve the crime in their own town without help from Stockholm.
This story made me laugh aloud and cry it was so cleverly written. I received an advanced copy of Anxious People from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity. I'm eagerly looking forward to Backman's next book as he never fails to entertain while bringing up fascinating insights into the human spirit.