Good short story, nice message. Not my favourite of his work. Many thanks for the ARCs in exchange for my review

As far as a short story goes, what more could a reader ask for.

Backman has created a fabulous character with Lucas. All Lucas wants is to be left alone to do his own thing. No one will allow Lucas to do that. I love comedy that takes familiar things and then goes to extremes. The scenario is relatable, while at the same time ridiculous. I laughed and could not help myself but to share.

The story could have been so much shorter and nowhere near as good if people had just been sensible, but what fun would that be and when was the last time you came into contact with reasonable people?

There is something about Backman’s creativity in this story that is irresistible.

*5 Stars

I adore Backman ALWAYS and this short story was no exception.

I didn't realize how much I missed his humour until I started reading it again.
One thing that I missed in this was the deep connection I usually make with his characters, which is just difficult to do in a short story. I needed more! But 10/10 writing as always,

This short story is told in Bakcman's familiar humorous yet poignant style. I found myself relating to Lucas and his feelings when things started escalating, starting with a single frying pan. If only it had been longer.

Published by ‎ Amazon Original Stories on December 1, 2024

Love is not for the selfish. Fortunately for Lucas, he is happy to be selfish and doesn’t care about being unloved. Lucas believes that “responsibility” and “commitment” are “two of the easiest ways of ruining any perfectly good day.” Lucas prefers to be free to do what he wants when he wants without considering the competing desires of other people. He also understands the danger of starting conversations. “If you ask people what they think, they start thinking, and that’s how wars start.”

Narrating “The Answer Is No,” Lucas tells the reader that there is something perfect about not having to share a pint of ice cream. He recommends “being really content with your life and not immediately thinking: Wow, now everything is really perfect, maybe we should have a baby?” Because a baby introduces another person in your life, and other people are the source of all unhappiness.

It's not that Lucas dislikes other people. He just has no need to interact with them. He appreciates the people who cook his pad thai and those who deliver it to his door, but he is happier if he doesn’t need to speak with them. To those who maintain that humans are herd animals who need to be together, he counters that “humans have historically proved to be in-need-of-therapy animals,” the need for therapy being triggered by keeping company with other humans.

Lucas likes to be left alone so he can drink wine and play video games. He feels sorry for people who want something to happen in their lives. Lucas “lives in an apartment, which he would consider the perfect form of storage for people, were it not for the great virus of civilization: neighbors.” His default response when a neighbor wants something is to tell them no.

Some of Lucas’ neighbors want him to help solve the mystery of a frying pan that a tenant discarded outside — almost on the sidewalk! — and Lucas has just managed to talk them into going away when his downstairs neighbor appears. She’s upset that he changed his internet password and is affronted when he accuses her of stealing his internet. It isn’t stealing, after all, if she only takes the little bit of the internet that leaks into her apartment.

Craziness ensues, primarily in the form of a large and ever-growing junk pile that originated with the frying pan, a committee of three crazy residents who place Lucas in charge of the pile, and a group of men who worship Lucas because they are convinced he is an angel. Eccentric people are Fredrik Backman’s bread and butter, the kind of people who make random comments like “I usually keep my peanuts next to a jar of peanut butter, so they understand what I’m capable of!” Other characters, like a woman who is hiding from an abusive husband by pretending to be in a coma, are more poignant. Backman also pokes fun at official and unofficial bureaucrats, protestors, middle managers, Facebook groups, and self-help advice.

Lucas might not be a reader’s ideal neighbor, but he sometimes expresses wise thoughts, including his recognition that some people are more interested in blaming and punishing people for the problems they cause (like a discarded frying pan) than in solving the problems (by, for example, picking up the frying pan). When the lone frying pan turns into a pile of trash (it’s easier to break the rules when someone else has paved the way), everyone in the neighborhood tries to guess at the culprits’ identities, “which somehow always seem to be people who don’t look like the people who are doing the guessing.”

Naturally, Lucas will feel himself making connections as the story progresses. He might despise himself for behaving socially, he might feel feverish as he comes down with a case of empathy, but working together with neighbors helps him solve some problems (although yes, other people are always the problem). But that doesn’t mean that Lucas needs to change his entire philosophy of life. His final plan to avoid responsibility and commitment is fitting and funny.

This is a short story, but sufficiently long — and sufficiently entertaining — that readers in need of a laugh might not feel bad about paying a couple of bucks to enjoy it.

RECOMMENDED

First off I would like to thank Netgalley and Fredrik Backman for an ARC. This book was trippy and shows that everyone is going through something all the time. There was some hilarious points to this short story that I was not anticipating. I found the key to happiness is stick to your word and mean what you say. This is my first Fredrik Backman book and it will not be my last. I recommend if you need a little pick me up about life with some added humor.

I don’t read a lot of novellas, they often feel incomplete but to me . But this one was a definite pleasure to read . Then again I love anything the author writes

My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An interesting absorbing short story that potrays the issues of the modern society like loneliness,mental health, lack of self love, self care and the need for healing.The well drawn characters felt quite relatable especially Lucas.

The answer is no by Fredrik Backman is a brilliant short story. Fredrik Bakman is my autobuy author. I read almost everything by him. I can’t recommend Backman’s work enough.
Really enjoyed this short story and am looking forward to "My Friends" later next year.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a delightful quick book. Really enjoyed it. It was silly and profound at the same time.

I need to read more from this author! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher.

The Answer Is No is incredibly entertaining.

Lucas, the protagonist, was instantly relatable. His need for peace and quiet, his desire to avoid people, staying home, playing video games, and eating Pad Thai – I completely understood him. It felt like he was voicing thoughts I have regulary.

What I really liked, was how Backman portrays human dynamics. The way he shows how relationships, conflicts, and situations unfold is spot-on and, at the same time, absurd that I often found myself smiling. It’s that mix of humor and seriousness that makes his work Special.

Funny, clever, and deeply human.

A fun read in true Fredrik Backman style. The main character is quirky, and some of the supporting characters are just ridiculous, in the best way.

Spend an hour or so with Lucas, you will not regret it.

Thank you to Fredrik Bachman, Amazon Short Stories and NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’ll read anything Backman writes. This one was too short, but filled with his signature style of downplayed wit. The words flow off the page and you’re left wondering how you were so interested in reading about a frying pan. But that’s what’s magical about his style! Lucas is your typical slightly awkward Backman character. But that’s what makes him relatable and someone I wanted to keep reading about.

Backhand knows how to write about people and for people. He knows how to touch the reality of life. He always makes me smile and cry a little. I’ve read almost all of his books and all of them were 4 and 5 stars. This one is a 4 stars and I won’t lie, but I wanted a little bit more.
It’s nice to see how many different things are making us happy and how different, yet the same we all are. A cat, friends, a pan, family, pad Thai, peanuts..

Fredrick Blackman knows how humans are.

3.5★

I had fun reading this one. With laugh-out-loud moments this short story was enjoyable and can be read in one sitting. Recommended. With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.

Synopsis: Lucas has a perfectly happy solitary life. Until it spins out of control.

Thoughts: This short story is labeled “hilarious,” which I did not agree with. It’s cute and I smiled, but was not laugh out loud hilarious like I was anticipating. Regardless, it was a cute short read by a well loved author.

Thank you to Fredrik Bachman, Amazon Short Stories and NetGalley for the copy.

Come una caramella: la consumi in fretta, ma ti lascia un buon sapore in bocca (frizzante, in questo caso) molto dopo che è finita. ;)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

This book was everything to me. It reminds me soooooo much of my best friend and myself, but in book form. I cannot stop thinking about this book or recommending it. I wish so much that I could find a hard copy of it.

MY FAVORITE AUTHOR! This was such a wholesome short story by Fredrik Backman. I love how he writes realistic characters and their growth, journey, and connections throughout the story.

THE ANSWER IS NO by Fredrik Backman, New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, and Anxious People is a new novella/short story (just 68 pages) about Lucas, a late middle-aged man who is perfectly happy with an isolated life. He has his rituals and enjoys his "treats" – playing video games and Pad Thai with peanuts. However, things start to happen in his apartment building and he is suddenly involved in the changes. A quick read that may cause some personal reflection, THE ANSWER IS NO is funny, absurd, and entertaining.