ANXIOUS PEOPLE
BY FREDRIK BACKMAN

I have read all of Fredrik Backman's books and have loved every one of them. "Anxious People," his latest novel does not disappoint either. At first I thought I wasn't going to like this one but the more I read, the more I became enchanted again with his writing. He can take a plot that seems like pure satire and through his character's interpersonal relationship's breathe pure love of humanity so that he makes a true believer out of me that his plot could happen. He writes with a philosophical style in his latest narrative. He was really able to transform me by his tender renderings of each character who treat each other in the end with so much love.

I went from thinking I was not going to like this one to loving it. He writes the absurd happenings and can turn the tables of suspended belief into making me a true believer. There are not that many writer's who can turn the ludicrous plot into making it seem from being preposterous into making me willing to automatically believing that he is really writing about reality and life.

"The truth? The truth about all this? The truth is that this was a story about many different
things, but most of all about idiots. Because we're doing the best we can, we really are.
We're trying to be grown-up and love each other and understand how the hell you're
supposed to insert USB-leads. We're looking for something to cling onto, something to
fight for, something to look forward to. We're doing all we can to teach our children how
to swim. We have all of this in common, yet most of us remain strangers, we never know
what we do to each other, how your life is affected by mine. Perhaps we hurried past each
other in a crowd today, and neither of us noticed, and the fibers of your coat brushed against
mine for a single moment and then we were gone. I don't know who you are. 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."

I am so enchanted by Fredrik Backman's writing. He has the power to make me believe that this world is a better place, especially in these difficult times. What more can you ask for when you curl up with a great novel? I highly recommend this book as well as all of his previous work if you have not had the pleasure to discover this very talented author.

Publication Date: September 8, 2020

A special thanks to Net Galley, Fredrik Backman and Atria Publishing for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#AnxiousPeople #FredrikBackman #AtriaPublishing #NetGalley

I am glad that I got to read this book early. It was funny and sad. Simple and complex. I enjoyed finding out more as the story went along and how everything was tied together. I will encourage patrons to read it if/when I am back to work at my library. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

There are hardly appropriate words to describe how much I love this book. It’s hilarious, it’s heartbreaking, it’s profound. If I start copying sentences while reading, I know a book is special, and I did it multiple times with this book. I loved the crazy, sad, weird bunch of “hostages” , and Backman writes in a way that is so real and relatable. This is truly one of the best, most moving books I have ever read. I can’t wait to recommend it to patrons.

I'm a firm believer in how a book will almost magically find its way into your hands at the exact right moment and when it does it can be an extremely powerful reading experience. That was the case for me with Anxious People. The message of the story is something I desperately needed to hear right now. Will everyone be a weepy mess like I was when I finished the book? Probably not, but I do think it is going to hit home with quite a few people. While this was my first book I have read by this much loved author, it certainly won't be my last.

The premise sounds fairly simple but yet the author created a complex tale. A bank robber holds a group of people hostage in an apartment building. After a standoff the hostages are released. Police enter the apartment but they can't find the bank robber. What happened? Well, police conduct interviews with the witnesses to get answers.

The author has a bit of a quirky writing style which took me a few chapters to get used to but I did grow to love it. I think a story like this could have gotten out of hand and over the top very easily but the author did a nice job staying in bounds. It wasn't too much of a stretch of my imagination to believe in the characters and plot. There's heart to the story which was a nice balance to the humorous parts.

While some readers are big on underlining quotes or marking them to read again later in books, I rarely do it. Maybe once a month or so I find a line that sticks with me and I want to revisit it later. With this book, I have six pages in which I doggy eared the page so I could go back and read the parts that strongly resonated with me. What I find amazing about this story is there's enough here in which each reader might pull something different from it. If you are asking each reader what was the message of the story the answers could vary. I found myself reflecting on my life while reading the book and when you have the opportunity to do that, it's often a meaningful reading experience which was the case here.

Thank you to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

"Anxious People" is a new book from the seasoned author, Fredrik Backman. The novel tells the tale of a botched bank robbery that turns into an odd hostage situation. The bandit just needs money to save his personal life and the hostages happened to be at a nearby apartment which becomes the thief's escape route.

Backman has delivered another outstanding novel in the form of "Anxious People." With a diverse cast of characters being held hostage, tensions are high but hysterical. Backman's writing is witty, comical and endearing. The characters are well developed throughout the story and the dialogue is extremely engaging. Backman crafts a tale that will have readers thinking about the importance of connection and community while enjoying some laughs along the way. With themes like family and friendships, this unforgettable book has solidified that Backman should be an "auto-buy" author.

Please note: Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Backman has written another quirky, funny story about many disparate people and events which converge in Swedish town near New Year's. Some of the characters are a father and son police duo, a gay couple looking for a home for their growing family, an elderly widow, a man in a rabbit head, and a suicidal man on a bridge. Classic Frederik Backman!

Breathtaking!

Fredrik Backman never disappoints. Backman fills this novel with a cast of eccentric, lovable characters and a plot that keeps you guessing until the end.

The story is set around a bank robber, an apartment viewing, two policemen, and the potential buyers who have come to view said apartment. Seems simple enough, but in typical Backman style, things are not always as they seem.

Backman excels in character development and dialogue; I found something to empathize with in every single character and just as in "A Man Called Ove," I loved all of them. The story is filled with rich, evocative prose, lovely literary references, and beautifully turned phrases.

I don't want to say much more here because I don't want to reveal one single spoiler, and there are many. If you loved Ove, you will love this novel.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have been excited to read this book for a looooong time and let me say (once again) Fredrick Backman knocked it out of the park with Anxious People! There is just something about Backman’s writing that immediately draws you in! The storyline has many dimensions/layers and I enjoyed that the story is told from many character perspectives. As per usual, with all of Fredrik Backman’s novel not every character is initially what they seem and he’s a master at conveying that throughout the book! I love a book that makes you think introspectively and this 5+++ star novel most definitely had me thinking way after I finished the last page. Anxious People is a 2020 favorite for me and I already see a re-read of it in my near future!! If you’re wondering what your next book club selection should be, I highly recommend Anxious People—this is a book you can discuss for hours lol!!!

I have read almost all of Fredrik Blackman's prior novels and have loved them all. Anxious People was different from anything that he had previously written in my opinion. It was brilliant and yet so quirky in both the writing and the plot. This story was most definitely character driven and even though each character was uniquely different they all found a connection with one another. Blackman was able to put the most unlikely people together and have them be rewarded with the gifts of self discovery, human compassion, forgiveness, love, friendship, coming to terms with grief, loneliness and even trauma. I was so excited to read Anxious People and I was not disappointed.

As I already stated, the plot was brilliant. Who thinks to base their book on a bank robbery that took place in a cashless bank, about bridges, hostages and idiots? Fredrik Blackman was able to weave an outstanding plot around all those things. The unfortunate but desperate bank robber chose the wrong bank to rob. The amount the bank robber wanted was quite specific. It was not an enormous amount of money. The amount was just enough to pay a month's rent but no matter how much or little the bank robber intended to take it was useless in a cashless bank. Faced with being caught by the police, the bank robber escaped the bank and found refuge in an apartment building across the street from the bank. The bank robber took the steps in the apartment building looking for an exit. The higher the bank robber climbed the stairs the more it became evident that there was no other way out of the building. Quite by accident, the bank robber noticed that an apartment door was open. With no apparent choice left, the bank robber entered the apartment to find that it was being viewed by potential buyers. The bank robber, still wearing a face mask and holding a gun, joined the group of perspective buyers. All of a sudden, there was a hostage situation. Could it be described as a hostage situation in the true sense of the word, though?

All the characters in Anxious People were so real. I loved how they all fit together and had connections even if those connections did not come together all at once. Some of the characters were even comical like the Rabbit hostage. Some were definitely easy to relate to, and yet complex like elderly Estelle or pregnant Julia and her fiance Ro. I laughed out loud at some parts, rolled my eyes at other parts, and even cried. This was one of the best novels I have read in a long time. The human connection was what made it so real for me. The themes of suicide, metal illness and death were apparent throughout the novel and yet it wasn't at all depressing. Finding hope, having someone to talk to and working through difficult situations in life is key.

I would highly recommend Anxious People by Fredrik Blackman. My rating is 4.5 stars. It is set to be publish on September 8, 2020. I received a complimentary digital version of this book from Atria Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

ANXIOUS PEOPLE by Frederik Backman
A theme of ANXIOUS PEOPLE is that people are idiots doing the best we can.
I’m grateful to be one of the idiots lucky enough to read this book. I still won’t remember all my passwords---but I will always remember this book.
The world’s least likely group of people are held hostage, after a failed bank robbery the day before New Year’s Eve, at an open house for an apartment for sale. That group, and those involved in investigating the events of the day, are the core of the book. Their stories are sort of like people; sweet, inspiring, implausible, hilarious, frustrating, not quite what they seem.
Fun topics include: financial failure, divorce, loss of job, death by suicide, loneliness, addiction, cancer, family fissures, and infidelity. In Backman’s hands, those stories make you laugh as much as they make you cry.
And the way he tells the story: so the idiots reading get it.
Who’d think you would read a book and come out cheering for the bank robber/hostage taker? (Did you ever consider the toll moneyless banks must have taken on the bank robbery business?)
I am in love with the characters; I’ll mention three.
Banker Zara is one of my favorite new characters. She is judgmental, self-absorbed, unfiltered, unkind, and hilarious. She goes to apartment sales as a hobby, largely to mock the lives of those who live in those apartments. She tells her therapist she has cancer just to prove how people will believe anything.
Are there uncomplicated mother/daughter relationships?
Married couple Julia and Ro are nervous about their relationship, and the birth of their first child. Julia’s mother asks her how they decided which of the couple should carry the child. An annoyed Julia says we played rock, paper, scissors. The mother asked who won.
During labor, Julia squeezed Ro’s hand so hard that both Moms needed pain killers, one before the birth and one after.
If you are a reader notes of a passage you want to remember, you might find this book exhausting. To say it is a charming read downplays how smart and how funny it is. This book is a treat to read.

This ARC was provided by ATRIA BOOKS via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"All we’ve managed to find out about the boundaries of the universe is that it hasn’t got any,"

Backman really knows how to write. He has a particular style and it might not resonate with you but his books have so much heart that it's not possible to not love his people by the time you finish his books.

This book is no exception.

This is the story of a bank robber who ends up having to run away from the robbery and ends up taking a bunch of people at an open house hostage. Backman tells you that part from the very beginning.

As it seems common in his books, the characters don't seem all that lovable on the surface. Some are downright annoying. And yet, as he often does, he slowly unwinds the story to show you how we are all connected to each other with invisible strings that tie together all of humanity. How we are each only a handful of steps removed from each others' lives.

How each of us is struggling and striving to make a life for ourselves in different ways and coping with loss, grief, fear and anxiety.

"But she found ways to cope, to tunnel her way out of herself, to climb down. Some people accept that they will never be free of their anxiety, they just learn to carry it. She tried to be one of them."

As is always the case, you can't help but fall in love with each of his characters and they, of course, fall in love with each other too. Each other's humanity. Each other's frailty. Each other's flaws. They see the beauty of each other and help each other. And in return they end up less alone, and more healed.

As if all that wouldn't be enough, the writing in the book is also so beautiful:
"the sky doesn’t seem to bother even attempting to impress us, it greets us with the color of newspaper in a puddle, and dawn leaves behind it a fog as if someone has been setting fire to ghosts."

And here's the other magical thing about Backman: he leaves no loose ends. Everything ties up in this book, even the things you didn't remember, he does. Everything comes full circle. There are surprises, sadness, happiness and of course hope. So much hope.

I cried big, fat tears as I finished this one. I am so so grateful I got to read it, especially in the middle of all that is going on in the world right now, I needed a book with this much hope and heart in my life. Thank you, Frederik Backman.

with gratitude to netgalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. Do not have the words to describe or do justice to the story, Wow, incredible, fantastic seem too mild. One of those books that will have each reader feel and take away something from the characters' stories. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

A Man Called Ove changed my life!
I have been a big fan since reading that book. I tell everyone who asks me for a
Top Author- Fredrik is in my Top 2 Best Authors!! I have his books on my home bookshelf.
I keep referring patrons, friends, even strangers to read his books.
I have been waiting 1 year, 2 months for this book to be translated.

Now, I am opening the book,
I can hardly breathe …
I am feeling faint with excitement …


...YES, YES, another winner by Fredrik Backman!! This book is so superb, I can't wait for others to read
it so we can talk about it. Fredrik, you have a talent that I treasure!
I will be excited to buy this book and read it again and again.
I will also be counting the days until your next book.

I couldn't read this book fast enough! A wonderfully witty and heartfelt title from Fredrik Backman. He weaves a tale out of very different threads. At times you may wonder where it is all going but it comes together so beautifully! The day before New Year's Eve a desperate and not very good bank robber accidentally takes several people hostage at an apartment viewing. Strange premise but amazing story. I'd give it 10 stars if I could! Wonderful, funny relatable characters, excellent reminder of the power of community.

Fredrik Backman is a master at running you through the gambit of emotions-- searching for tissues one minute, only to be snorting in laughter the next. Anxious People is no exception to this and falls very much in the same path as A Man Called Ove and Britt Marie was Here (two of the most adorable characters in all of contemporary literature). The book is essentially set over the course of one very long day when a bank robber completely blunders the holdup and then inadvertently takes a group hostage while they are looking at an apartment for purchase. Then, there's father/son cop team attempting to thwart the thief, but instead are humorously bungling it from the beginning. The best, as always with Backman, is his cast of loveable characters-- the funny one, the depressed one(s), the curmudgeon, the romantic one, plus a few more that slowly becoming irrecoverably interwined in such a way that they will be altered permanently because of the relationship formed.

This book, however, should probably be read by all human. The author's light and funny narrative is heavily laced with deep mental health awareness issues. Suicide plays a prominent role throughout; however, not in such a way to depress the reader... But rather the opposite. The book gives a great perspective on the importance of human connection-- and how it is the one true healer for our disconnected, online world.

If you've never read a Fredrik Backman book, I heavily suggest them all. You'll get all the feels and meet some very memorable characters along the way!

*I received this ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.

Is it possible to fall in love with an author’s work, EVERY SINGLE TIME ???? Apparently so! I have just been WOWED again. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 @atriabooks 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐤 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐦𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐮𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝘈𝘯𝘹𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦! Not only is this one of the most anticipated reads of this fall (𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟎), but Backman @backmansk is my all time favorite author.⁣ There is a chance that I may be changing the name of my blog from Dear Mr. Hemingway to Dear Mr. Backman 😂🤣😂!
⁣
Though all of Backman’s books are different, they have one thing in common...PEOPLE. 𝘈𝘯𝘹𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 is no exception. Backman’s gift is that he allows his readers to view the world from someone else’s perspective. 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲. He once again turns his characters inside out on the pages of his books exposing all of their flaws, all of their most vulnerable sides. Whether you are fond of his characters or not,you will no doubt understand them at the end of his story. What I love about his new book (and all the rest of his books), is not only his talent for meshing together quirky and oftentimes struggling folks, but that 𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬. From everyday life to the absurdities that are thrown our way, Backman will get you to smile. ⁣
⁣
Back understands the human spirit. 𝗪𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝! At the end of the day...𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. ⁣

I love the way that Fredrik Backman makes you think about bank robbers, policemen, real estate agents, bank managers, actors, retirees, flower shop owners, and lesbians. He says they are all idiots, which I don't doubt. In his story the bank robber flees the bank because it is one that doesn't use money. We're talking Sweden. The robber runs out of the bank and across the street up into an apartment which is showing with a lot of people in it. The bank robber holds the people hostage. This is how the story goes with all the people and their stories told to make you believe each and every person, but you wouldn't believe what they tell you. It makes for an interesting story. You learn why Backman says their all idiots. Each one in a different way makes mistakes that lead to other truths and funny and sad stories. Each person knows something about some of the others and that's as far as I will go. Read it for yourself to find each person.

Backman has such a beautiful way of writing about humankind. This book was heavy, but the quirky characters and eloquent writing make this a great read. The storyline is done in a unique and intriguing way and comes full circle at the end (which is a craft hard to master) but Backman is a true storyteller and Anxious People did not disappoint. Thank you again to @atriabooks for the free copy. This one comes out 9.8.20 and I anticipate it will be a Fall must read!

Backman is such a crafter writer and author, and I have thoroughly enjoyed his previous books, so I was excited to read his upcoming release, Anxious People.

Just as I’d hoped, the writing sweeps you up from the start, and I felt so connected to each character, as the reader gets glimpses into just exactly happened that New Years Eve day of the alleged hostage situation.

Little by little, the mystery opens up and you get to see how each person is connected, and I just loved this book.

*thank you Atria for the gifted copy for review. All opinions are my own

The writing was MAGNIFICENT! How very clever was Backman to weave the story and the characters the way he did. It is easily 5 stars!

What a perfect title to a book that will leave you a bit anxious at the start of each chapter, and just when you get to the close of it another little hint is dropped and you start all over again with the next chapter. I simply love this about Backman's writing.

You will fall in love with all the characters and still think of them when you turn the last page. This book was that good! I am so very thankful to be given the opportunity to read this prior to release day, as it is my most anticipated read of 2020!