I have to say, I definitely enjoyed this story more in the beginning, so thank goodness it was a short story. It was very odd, and I did not find it as humorous as others. However, there were times I smiled and let out a little chuckle. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Everything Fredrik Backman writes is genious. Even his social media posts feel like literature. The same is true for this short story: The Answer is No.
Lucas is thirty-something and living his dream life. He lives alone and is perfectly happy because there are no other people in his life. Other people are the reason for unhappiness and he is happy. He can do what he wants, eat what he wants and no one comments on his method of loading the dishwasher.
But then a frying pan ruins his life.

I tore through this story on a Sunday night, with a cup of tea sitting under a blanket near my Christmas tree. Backman’s views on social media portrayed in this book are hilarious. If you fell in love with his writing style after Beartown, or after reading Ove, this is a wonderful short story to spend an evening with.

Thank you to Amazon and NetGalley for the ARC.

Plot: Lucas is kind of a loner - but he’s content. He is never very happy or very sad - he lives life thinking simply about each day, and he doesn’t leave his apartment. But a frying pan could force him out of his comfort zone and change everything.

Review: After LOVING A Man Called Ove and not loving Anxious People, I was ready to see where this one would land for me. I liked it. Backman writes a good loner - his musings make me think and appreciate life. I loved the side characters and the fact that the main character was the only one referred to by name - I felt like I was in Lucas’s head. This is definitely a short story that packs a punch, and I’ll be thinking about it for a while!

4⭐️

i mean if fredrik backman doesn’t make you cry because an isolated (and 9 times out of 10 grumpy) mc learns that sometimes the chaos they feared can bring joy and new opportunities, i don’t know what to tell you.

i forever adore his satirical sense of humor, as well as the way that he can rip your heartstrings out and then give them back to you

Backman has this unique ability to take a character that most would find prickly and unwelcoming lovable. Once again he makes the story of Lucas, a man who is permanently happy because he does not interact with others, something cute. This short story is about how a frying pan destroys Lucas's life. One night someone leaves an old frying pan outside the door of the recycling room cause a chain reaction starting with the "board" trying to find the culprit.

If you like Backman, you will enjoy this one. It is a short story that you can read in an hour or so, so it also gives this nice break in your reading schedule.

I don't know one person that didn't like Backman's A Man Called Ove. I've read many of his other books and enjoyed each one. I was excited to read this and wasn't disappointed.

This book was more than I expected. It was witty, funny and full of satire. I enjoyed it very much. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy. This is my honest review.

I found Backman’s latest short story to be a bit allegorical and while not laugh out loud comedy, I did find it humorous and honestly thought-provoking. I related to Lucas probably more than I should, and the other characters and storyline shone a light on a lot of how the world is.

A rollercoaster that had me laughing from page to page. It’s a masterful blend of humor, thoughtfulness, and emotional depth that manages to hit all the right notes.

It all begins with a frying pan—a seemingly ordinary object that sets off an extraordinary chain of events. What follows is a whirlwind of head-shaking moments, perplexing board meetings, and a hilarious "how did I get into this mess" saga. The controversy over Pad Thai with and without peanuts adds an extra layer of absurdity to the mix, making every page a joy to read.

Backman skillfully explores the essence of friendship and the convoluted ways we sometimes try to escape the world for a bit. Amidst all the chaos, there's a tender examination of what it means to have friends and the lengths we go to for them.

The story comes full circle with another frying pan moment, bringing a satisfying and humorous conclusion to a tale filled with ridiculous yet endearing situations. I loved every word and found myself laughing out loud at the absurdity and charm of this short story.

This is my fourth book by Fredrick Bachman and i am really loving his writing style. The author typically starts his books of with a weird but intriguing cliffhanger that instantly makes you want to read on and this was no different. I always enjoy a good short story and "The answer is no" was the perfect length for a quick but memorable read. I love the way Fredrik Bachman always manages to build a story around many different characters but still really dive in to their different character traits. He is very good at bringing out both the good and the bad in people that leaves the reader with a lot to think about. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline around "the pile" and would recommend this if you are looking for a quick read (especially if you are an introvert). I will leave off on this quote from the story "Lucas is happy. It's not as hard as one might think to become, the hard part is just to keep being it. It's hard because it's so easy to get in your head that if you are to be happy, you have to be happy exactly all of the time. And who in the world has the energy for that? happiness can be exhausting. Honestly, it's most often enough to just be the opposite. So, Lucas isn't unhappy. That's the secret"... This stayed with me:)

It's very rude of Fredrik Backman not to include the doctors name and number on the back 🤪. I'm just kidding...sort of. This was delightful and the perfect short read. Highly recommend everyone pick this up.

This was a quick, easy read, but it was not overly impressive to me. It’s perfect for someone who is just getting into (or back into reading), but for an avid reader like myself it just didn’t quite hit the mark.

Honestly, nobody does satire and the complexities of human experience quite like Fredrik Backman. This had some relatable quotes

Fredrik Backman is a pretty well-known author here in Sweden. So, of course, I've never read anything by him. That was until I read The Answer is No and totally loved it. It's a short story, but it took me forever to finish it. Not the book's fault—crazy week at work, etc. But every time I returned to the story to read a chapter or just a page or two, it made me happy. So, if you get the chance to read it, do it!

This book was suck a fun and quick read, but also very provocative. It's quite mesmerizing the way the author writes 60+ pages about such a otherwise silly theme, but makes it so funny and deep as this book is. The only thing I'm sad about is that this book is only available to buy on Amazon, making it possibly unavailable in libraries, which kind of limits the access to it. That's sad because a short story with this quality should be broadly available!

Link to review will be up soon.

This is classic Backman. It reads like Lemony Snicket with heart for adults! I wish this short story was longer 10/10 recommend!

This was a nice little read and had that signature Fredrik Backman feel. I really want some pad thai (with peanuts) now.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman, and Elizabeth DeNoma the Translator was a hilarious short book from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control. This was a book that will make you laugh out loud and it was a joy to read.

A uplifting small book that will make a grey day outside my window a sunny day inside.

I loved it. It made me small but it warmed my heart!

Big thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for my ARC.

This is an entertaining short story by a favorite author, Fredrik Backman.

In The Answer is No, Lucas would just like to be left alone, thank you very much. Lucas lives a quiet life, working from home, having as little interactions with people as possible and he believes this is the secret to happiness.

Lucas makes the critical mistake of answering his door one day though and, as life is wont to do, Lucas soon finds himself thrust into the drama of his apartment building and the other tenants who feel compelled to include him in things. With Backman's trademark wit and some entertaining characters, Lucas - for lack of a better word - grows.

This is a fun, quick read when you don't have time to settle into a longer novel. This time of year, I found it particularly enjoyable to see a story about generally good people trying to figure things out.

Thanks to Amazon and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Fredrik Backman’s short story, The Answer Is No, has his quirky flair while commenting on society and the pressures of motherhood wrapped up in a story about a discarded frying pan. Lucas is a loner living in an apartment when his solitude is interrupted by the building “board,” a woman trying to steal his WiFi, and the new lady across the hall. It was a quick, cute read with a heavy undercurrent of sentiment. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the ARC!

This is the quirky short story I didn’t know I needed in my life. Funny and thought provoking. Full of relatable quotes and characters who remind you of the people in your own life. I think I need to go and find some more Fredrik Backman books to read!