Fredrik Backman’s writing is perfection to me and My Friends was absolutely beautiful.

Louisa, our aspiring artist main character, becomes entranced by deciphering the kids in a painting. It turns out, the children featured, were based on the artist’s real life crew of childhood best friends.

I laughed at out, I teared up. There were many lines that stopped me in my tracks. It’s not a short book but i would’ve happily consumed more.

5 big stars.

A big Thank You to Netgalley and Atria Books for the complimentary DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This coming-of-age novel was an absolute delight to read about these four friends growing up in a small seaside town, and a painting that became renown worldwide. My heart ached for the hardships that these kids had to endure on a daily basis, 0but was later remended with the secondary storyline of 18-year-old Louisa, an orphan and recent runaway from the foster care system and Ted, the older version of one of the friends.

This book is ideal for readers who appreciate emotionally resonant stories about the enduring power of friendship and art, blending humor and heartache to explore how unexpected connections can shape lives across generations.

A book of hope, loss, joy, sadness, basically there is not an emotion this book doesn't evoke. Characters with intense depth, a maturity in children that will break your heart. And love. Love, love, love! Friendships that are true and lasting. The minute I closed this book on it's final page, I truly just wanted to flip it over and read it again. This novel is perfect.

Louisa is a teenager without family who has lost her only friend. She meets Ted and follows him back to his town. Along the way he shares the story of his friends, namely The Artist, who left his painting to Louisa.
I absolutely loved this book and thoroughly enjoyed this emotional story of friendship. The characters were vivid and had depth. Louisa was my favorite! I enjoyed how the story alternated between the past and the present. Backman’s writing was original and entertaining. Some people may say his books are too wordy, but I enjoyed the voice he creates when he writes. If you have read and enjoyed other books by Backman, I highly recommend you read this one too! Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for this arc!

5 out of 5 Star

As per usual Frederik Backman proved once again why he's my all time favorite author.

I switched between the audio, physical, and kindle for this book because I needed to be reading it at all times. It’s by far my favorite book of 2025 and a new all-time favorite! I have never cried so much from a book, so proceed with caution. Thank you again, Atria and Simon.audio for my copies!

I might return to this at a later point, but the going was so slow that it was difficult for me to immerse myself fully in the story, especially as the features of Backman's storytelling that do legitimately get critiqued in his previous works also rear their heads here.

Backman either seems to be a "loooooove him or leave him" author. As I said in my review of Beartown, he has a way with words and the human condition that are well-suited for the social media reader. His observations about humanity lend themselves well to being decontextualized quotes that get shared widely online, in a way that's reminiscent of John Green and Matt Haig.

Unfortunately, in MY FRIENDS I think Backman goes the way of Matt Haig. I can't put my finger on it. Perhaps something about the overly forced cutesy/quirkiness of Louisa, or the scatterminded, haphazard way in which Ted attempts to recount his childhood memories to her on the train. Oh gosh, the train. They seemed to be on the train forever, and the entire time Ted struggles with his inability to tell a story chronologically, so that we get flashbacks, then interruptions, then flashbacks to explain the flashbacks, then flashbacks to explain the interrupts, and so on. I'll admit, it slowed the pacing down to an agonizing turtle crawl, and annoyed the heck out of me.

I still might come back to it, because apparently the second half is good? But for now, it was just not grabbing my attention.

4.25 stars

I just love Fredrik Backman’s quirky characters and the specific stories he builds. I loved being sucked into the lives of these characters and while sad, it was so hopeful too. My one qualm is that there were sections that were very repetitive and it didn’t seem to be for a reason. Entire sentences would repeat sometimes and I felt like it could have used a few more rounds of editing. Audio was great, Marin Ireland is perfection as the narrator.

Absolute perfection!!

This story will have you experience a wide range of emotions . From tears to laughter I was completely drawn into this amazing story of friendship, love, sacrifice and family. There are so many amazing quotes and passages in this book that resonated with me. It is rare to experience a book like this and I know I can always expect a great story from Backman. He has a true gift of story telling, this one is one of his best.

5 ⭐️

“If the artist is one of us, really one of us, you have to do whatever you can to help,” he says.
“I know,” she says proudly.
And so the next adventure begins.


There’s books that just make you question everything about the human experience and our existence. This books hurts and heals parts of your soul you didn’t even know you had.

This book tasted like true friendship, summers as a kid, the hardship of being a parent and adult, and the hardship of being little and a kid. It smells like summers by the ocean and late night treats smuggled down to your room with your friends on a weekend. It sounds like kids fighting to make their own place in this world and the importance of never giving up on your friends.

My first Backman novel and I cried through most of it.

“They would have liked you,” he laughs.
“Who?”
“All my people.”

*Thank you #Netgalley for the opportunity to pre read this enchanting novel.
Louisa has always been captivated by a painting she's only ever seen on a postcard, which she keeps close to her heart. When she gets the opportunity to view the artwork in real life, serendipity brings her face-to-face with the creator behind it. After some unforeseen events, the artist’s friend is entrusted with delivering the cherished painting to Louisa, setting them off on a heartfelt journey to the artist’s hometown. Their intertwined stories, marked by hardship and resilience, are both moving and inspiring, with an unshakable bond of friendship at the core. This book will haunt me.

Release date May 6th, 2025

I don't know if I can articulate how much I loved this book. Louisa is a young woman, who has been dealt shitty circumstances throughout her short life. A chance meeting changes her life and the lives of those she meets. This book had it all - the laughs, the tears, the hope, the despair. I loved watching both timelines play out and how they ultimately intertwined in this beautiful novel. Backman remains the king of pulling on my heartstrings while providing thought-provoking and beautiful 5 star reads.

A little worried that this will make me seem dead inside, but I didn't care for the present-day timeline. The dynamics were strongest and most urgent in the past, and so the present just felt watered-down and repetitive. This book is sodden with its message--one that is certainly true and meaningful, but not one that I felt had to be hammered home.

That being said, the love between our four friends is playful and palpable. I enjoyed my time with them! Backman always writes with heart and skill, and so I will keep coming back to his work.

A literal masterpiece. I bought the physical book on release day. I devoured this book. This is my second Fredrick Backman book. I had high expectations and he exceeded them. This is easily one of the best books that I've read this year. Backman's characters are so vividly drawn that they feel like real friends—flawed, funny, stubborn, and heartbreakingly human. What makes My Friends truly special is how it balances humor and heartbreak with such grace. One moment you're laughing out loud at a perfectly observed quirk; the next, you're holding back tears at a line so honest it cuts right through you. Whether you’re already a fan of A Man Called Ove or Anxious People, or new to Backman's work, My Friends is a must-read. It’s not just a book—it’s a reminder of the deep value of friendship and the ways we hold each other up, even when we don’t know how to say it out loud. Thank you so much for the ARC!

Another fabulous read by Backman. The parallel between Louisa and the artist and the divergence of their story is absolutely beautiful. 10/10 read.

This was actually my first book by this author and I can finally say I understand what all the hype is about! He has such a way of writing characters that come to life and emotions that you feel. This was a really sweet, heart warming, and tragic story. I was hooked the entire time. I loved the unique way the story was told to us. Highly recommend!

LOVED IT!! If you are a Backman fan you will love it. If you are a BEARTOWN Backman fan you will love it. It might seem from the general description that it would lean more Anxious People--but this is a story of misfits and community and family and the myriad ways they find us outside of traditional boundaries. It is a story of a small town and its pull on people who might need to leave to survive. It is a story of connecting with people when you don't know what to say. "Art is what we leave of ourselves in other people." SOooooooo good! Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC and the opportunity to share my review.

Another five star read from Fredrick Backman! My Friends reads like poetry with heart wrenching descriptions and characters that jump off the page. A coming of age story that’s an ode to friendship, love and art. Four friends from a small town form a friendship illustrated in a world famous painting. When Louisa, an aspiring artist, notices the three small figures in the painting she is determined to learn the story behind these figures.

I can’t say enough about Backman’s writing - he eloquently puts feelings into words and describes flawed and funny characters so well. Such a beautiful story about a found family and broken people told by a flawed narrator on a journey of healing.

Emotional, brilliant writing with dialogue that is funny one moment and gut wrenching the next. A must read for 2025, perfect for fans of Elizabeth Strout. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced reader’s copy.

There is a reason why I say that Fredrik Backman is my favorite author. No other author can make me laugh, cry, and think so deeply about my own life all in one sentence. The way he writes is so very emotional and real that I was choking back tears within the first few chapters. I connected deeply with the characters in My Friends..their past, personal development, and emotions, all felt like someone I know has experienced or have experienced myself which made the book even more powerful. This book was a beautiful story about friendship and found family that I will forever cherish.

Thank you so much for this ARC. I am sorry for how long it took me to post this review but I am very grateful for this chance to read my new favorite Backman book.

Fredrik Backman has a talent for crafting stories that are equal parts heartbreaking, heartwarming and hilarious. My Friends is no exception.
We meet Louisa, an 18-year-old homeless artist who, despite immense loss, radiates with wit and an infectious spirit. Her chance encounter with a famous artist leads to a precious gift, one that not only changes her life but also introduces her to Ted. Their connection takes us on a remarkable journey through Ted's childhood, revealing the emotional origins of this extraordinary gift. Backman's signature blend of sarcasm, humor, and deeply lovable characters shines through every page. This book made me laugh out loud, and also broke my heart. My Friends made me reflect on the complexities of childhood, growing up, the joy art can create, what it means to be a parent and simply a human in this messy, beautiful world.
If you loved Beckman's other books you will enjoy this one as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.