“All he did was to remove the one thing that makes almost all people unhappy: other people. Whatever they want, the answer is no.”

This was a fun and ridiculous little novella! Somehow Fredrick Backman was able to pack so much humor while still delving into emotional topics in such a short span of time. I am consistently blown away with Fredrick Backman’s simple yet beautiful writing style and have yet to be disappointed by anything I have read from him. I really enjoyed that he was a bit more experimental and silly with this one- it was unique while still staying true to his typical exploration of human relationships.

I found this short story pretty entertaining! I love the way Fredrik Backman can describe people in a way where I think "I know exactly who this person is, I have met someone like that." He just gets at the humanity and intricacies of relationships and describes the human experience in such a singular way. This is no exception. I loved getting to know Lucas and his neighbors (particularly Linda), and who knew a simple frying pan could be the catalyst for upending one's conscripted life?

This was a short story, and while I love the message that this story was conveying, I don't think the humor hit the mark for me on this one It had its moments but then fell flat in others. I think this falls more towards the individuals who are introverts but at times I did feel relating to the story, especially the lady in the green dress and being a mom, Sometimes you just want to have a moment to yourself without anyone bothering you and you want to feel appreciated. It definitely isn't hilarious as it intended to be. But besides that, I probably wouldn't read it again.

3.5 Stars! Perfect character study. It's probably wrong for me to feel this way but I love any and all permission to indulge the desire to be alone.

A very quick read. Did not really get the point I guess..didn’t bring out any feeling s for me for the characters … I respected the guy for wanting to be alone ..

The Answer is No is a beautiful story by Fredrik Blackman about community. Lucas loves his solitude and hates interacting with others. But when someone leaves a frying pan next to the recycling room instead of throwing it away, his apartment complex turns into a battleground, and no matter how much Lucas fights it, he’s drawn into the middle of the clash. How will he cope? Who left the frying pan out?

I thought this was a beautiful story and a quick read. I loved Lucas and his interactions with his neighbors. Would definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for access to an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

A new short story from Fredrik Backman is always a fun read. This books was fairly lighthearted and very short, so a nice quick book to pick up when you don't have much time.
If you enjoyed "A Man Called Ove" this book was very much in the same vein. Cranky guy wants to be left alone, but gets bothered by his neighbors who eventually bring him out of his shell.
This book was pleasant to read and written in the typical Backman quirky style. (You love him or you don't)
For Backman fans, this is definitely a book to add to your collection.

The book did feel a tad predictable and I admit the story did not have any big surprises.
3 stars for being a solid, though bit bland story.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As always Fredrik Backman does it again. Such a unique style of writing but one that is so easy to relate to and feel like you are in the book with the character. If you are a fan of his, don’t miss pit on this one!

I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of The Answer Is No by Fredrik Backman. This short story is a masterful blend of humor and introspection, showcasing Backman's exceptional storytelling abilities.

The narrative centers on Lucas, a man who cherishes his solitude, finding joy in simple pleasures like video games, wine, and pad thai. His tranquil life takes an unexpected turn when the apartment board confronts him about a misplaced frying pan, leading to a series of comical and thought-provoking events.

Backman's witty prose and sharply drawn characters make this story both entertaining and deeply relatable. He skillfully captures the absurdities of modern life and the challenges of maintaining personal boundaries in a world that often demands conformity.

The Answer Is No is a delightful read that balances humor with poignant observations about human nature. It's a testament to Backman's talent for creating stories that resonate on multiple levels. Highly recommended for those seeking a short yet impactful literary experience.

I am always game for a good book by Fredrick Backman. This was no exception. A short novella about a man who just likes to be by himself. But then the Committee comes, and being by himself become a thing of the past for a few days. But it also shows him that some interaction with people is not always bad. After a mysterious frying pan shows up "outside the garbage bin" it is the Committee that puts Lucas in charge of finding out whose it is, because he has good ideas. But then he meets the Lady in the Purple Dress and the Lady in the Green Shirt. They show him a whole new world and how it works. In the end his ideas do work, and maybe the Lade in the Purple Dress had more of a motive than she initially intended. But it all comes back to being yourself.

I enjoyed this quick little read, reminiscent of Anxious People in some ways. Loved the interaction of strangers and how a simple problem becomes everyone's problem for a couple of days.

Thank you to Netgalley, Amazon Original Stories, and of course Mr. Backman for another read that made me giggle.

Classic Fredrik Backman: deep and introspective without being heavy or didactic. A really quick and short read, great place to start if your just getting into his work. Very much enjoyed, big recommend.

Lucas is wholly-content with life the way it is. He lives in his apartment in just the way he likes. His nighttime routine is red wine, pad thai, and video games, without any disturbance or interruption from other people. In fact, he quite enjoys the lack of people in his life--the less interaction, the better. One day, the simple issue of recycling in Lucas' apartment complex upends his solitude and his routine, all in one sweep. To Lucas, it's all downhill from there: until something unexpected happens.

Whether a full novel or a novella (or in this case, something even shorter) few writers today have the ability to imbue a story with the kind of heartstring-tugging, laugh-out-loud humanity in the way that Fredrik Backman can. These pages are teeming with a familiar simplicity that represents everyday life in its most honest form, and in that form, its impossible not feel every scene (and every word) deeply.

"Lucas doesn't really know how to respond to that. He doesn't think much about death. Not much about life either. He has found that the easiest way to be happy is to think about time in about eight-hour increments, and to always have something to look forward to at the end of those hours: pad Thai, video games, wine. Small great things. But then again, Lucas has never loved a cat, so what does he really know about life?"

A perfect story. Happy reading.

A lovely little story from the amazing Fredrik Backman. The main character, Lucas, is a matter-of-fact, rather introverted apartment dweller. He is happy with the predictability of his solitary life. That all changes hilariously when the apartment board approaches him about— wait for it— a discarded frying pan. This is a madcap “Who’s On First?” sort of adventure with a lot of heart.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This book was hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud on multiple occasions. This is the second book of Backman's that I have read, and I must admit, he is quickly becoming a favourite author. This is a very short read, but full of life, and humour and a little bit of sadness. A must read.

Fredrik Backman doing Fredrik Backman things. Only he can pull off something like this - the combination of his distinct observant narrative style that is simultaneously sweeping and intimate, his humour, and the plots that range from mildly to wildly ridiculous but also feel so real and human. I'm excited for his first new novel in a few years that's out in the summer.

While I am a big fan of Fredrik Backman, this, in my opinion, isn't his best work. He is so much better when he focuses on the darker themes rather than going for the light-hearted. But I would still recommend the book to anyone looking for a nice reading experience, something light and good-feeling.

Out Now - "The Answer is No" - 5 Thousands Stars

Fredrik Backman can really do no wrong in my eyes, but this quick story (coming in just under and hour of reading time) was the kind of story that other writers probably hate him for being able to write.

I recorded 13 quotes in my Bookly app. I never record quotes, like, EVER. But this time I got 13 out of 60-some pages of story. It's frigging amazing.

Chef's Kiss Mr. Backman. Keep up the great work.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this great story. I was not paid for this honest review. #butidigress #butidigressbookclub #fredrikbackman #theanswerisno #netgalley

This was my first book by Fredrik Backman, but definitely won’t be my last. This short story was under 100 pages long, yet still made me laugh and feel connected to the characters in such a short amount of time. Truly phenomenal writing and I cannot wait to see what Fredrik can do with more words and more pages. I can only imagine the emotions he will make me be able to feel in his longer works since he was able to make me feel truly apart of this world in such a short book.

Fredrick Backman is able to take something so small and yet a uniquely human emotion and turn it into the most heartwarming novella out there. We follow Lucas, who is admittely a loner but quite happy about it. Until people in his building decide to start bothering him about everything, we get to join as Lucas' definition of happy expands.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

Fredrik Backman always has a way of taking a curmudgeon character and making them lovable while weaving in a life lesson.