I have been waiting for so long to find a book that I felt was as good as Backman’s Beartown series, and here it is. The story is so completely engrossing, the characters jump right off the page. It is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. It is so beautifully written and will make you laugh and cry. You will never want it to end.

I was provided an advanced readers copy by the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

The author of A Man Called Ove returns with a heartwarming exploration of love, grief, and friendship.
Fredrik Backman's latest novel, My Friends, is a touching story that revolves around four fourteen-year-old friends during one glorious, adolescent summer. In a working-class coastal town, Joar, Ted, Ali, and a boy only known as "the artist" bond over being misfits, odd ones out who are constantly attacked by their peers. Joar, the leader of the group, decides that the artist is the only one of them that has a chance to be something better, to escape their bleak future. He encourages—demands—that his friend enter an art contest, convinced he'll win and that the victory will be his ticket to a better life.

Twenty-five years later, the resulting painting has become world famous, and Louisa, a homeless eighteen-year-old who is a fan of the work, meets the artist. When the artist passes away soon after their encounter, he leaves his painting to her and charges his old friend Ted with making sure she receives it. Ted and Louisa end up on a train together, heading back to the artist's hometown, where Ted knows someone who will help sell the valuable piece. During the journey, Ted tells Louisa about his friends, how the painting came to be, and the story of that carefree summer.

The narrative contains quite a lot of heartbreak, particularly in the book's early chapters. Louisa is grieving the recent overdose of her best friend; Ted is mourning the loss of the artist, and his sorrow is palpable. "Ted's chest hurts, like crying without oxygen," Backman writes, "because grief does so many strange things to people, and one of those things is that we forget how to breathe." Backman also describes the mental and physical suffering inflicted on Louisa and the four teens by the adults who should be supporting them—the artist's parents constantly telling him to "just be normal"; Joar's father routinely beating him; Louisa's mother abandoning her as a five-year-old. I'm not easily moved, but even I must admit that some particularly affecting scenes had me in tears.

But Backman manages to find humor even in the midst of pain. "Soon Ted will stand up and discover that he's forgotten how to walk too…when the soul leaves the body, evidently the last thing it does is tie our shoelaces together," he quips. Some of the scenes on the train between the brash, sarcastic Louisa and the neurotic, cynical Ted are laugh-out-loud funny, providing much needed comic relief from the emotional weight of the narrative.

Backman's prose is simple, but he is profound and searching about ideas like grief, friendship, love, and the beauty of the world around us:

"[H]ealthy people aren't quite right in the head, the artist thinks. Surely taking life for granted is the whole point of being here…It's an act of magnificent rebellion to do meaningless things, to waste time, to swim and drink soda and sleep late. To be silly and frivolous, to laugh at stupid little jokes and tell stupid little stories…That's all of life. All we can hope for. You mustn't think about the fact that it might end, because then you live like a coward, you never love too much or sing too loudly. You have to take it for granted…That's the only courageous thing a person can do."

And Backman has the amazing ability to transport his readers back to their own youths, to those idyllic childhood years before adult responsibilities took over. In reading My Friends, readers may relive their own summers, when all they did was hang out with their friends and get into innocent trouble. The wistfulness he evokes feels almost magical.

My only gripe with My Friends is Backman's overuse of foreshadowing. He tells us early on that "the summer started and ended with death," and over the course of the plot we're repeatedly reminded that something bad is coming. ("That was the last time I swam in the sea with my friends," Ted tells Louisa, ominously.) As a device to keep the reader eagerly turning the pages, needing to find out what tragedy awaits, it's an effective one—but it's too obviously, and frustratingly, manipulative. There's one scene, for example, in which one of the teens shows up covered in blood… but Backman reveals several pages later that they'd simply cut themselves. There's this constant sense of anticipation followed by an abrupt letdown; and the overall effect, I think, is to weaken the story's impact.

During a pivotal scene, one character quotes the Mary Oliver poem "The Summer Day" (see Beyond the Book) to the artist: "Tell me, what is it you plan to do / with your one wild and precious life?" In My Friends, Backman shows us how one might answer that question, illustrating the beauty and fragility of life and friendship. The result is a charming, poignant novel with a huge heart.

'My Friends' is not what you expect - and that's the point. Fredrik Backman's latest novel is a layered, slow-unfolding story about grief, art, and the enduring imprint of friendship, told through the eyes of a teenage girl trying to make sense of a painting and, through it, the past.

Eighteen-year-old Louisa is a foster kid haunted by the recent death of her best friend, Fish. When she vandalizes a prestigious auction house in a moment of grief and obsession, she inadvertently pulls us into a mystery: Why does a decades-old seascape mean so much to her? Who are the three barely-visible figures standing on a pier in the painting? And what story is being remembered - or erased?

Backman alternates between Louisa's present and the 1990s summer that bound four teens - Joar, Ted, Ali, and Kimkim (later known as the artist C. Jay) - together in a friendship shaped by neglect, loyalty, violence, and the desperate act of creation. The novel builds itself like a memory: scattered, nonlinear, emotionally raw, and at times purposefully evasive.

This is not the usual crowd-pleasing Backman, but a more challenging, introspective version. The writing is restrained and elliptical, more interested in impressions than conclusions. Readers expecting a tidy, heartwarming narrative may struggle with the book's fragmentary structure and emotionally distant tone - but those willing to stay with it will find something quietly devastating underneath.

It's a book about trauma - how it shapes us, how it hides in the details, and how it becomes the art we make and the friends we keep losing. Louisa's search isn't just for answers about the painting; it's for evidence that someone, somewhere, remembers what mattered. That's where the novel hits hardest.

Not an easy read, but a worthwhile one.

3.5

This was a beautiful book that I started out weeping over, then put off reading because it was vexing me, and ended up connecting with again at the end.

I really love Fredrik Backman's writing. But in this instance it felt almost... manipulative? The book was constantly hinting at and foreshadowing a Very Bad Thing that was going to happen in such a heavy-handed way. And this might partially be a me issue, because I struggle with multiple timeline stories for this reason, but still. It felt pretty over the top, particularly since the present storyline is much less eventful.

But also, I still really liked parts of it. I thought the beginning was beautiful, and it deals with grief in such a thorough and tender way. I'm glad that I ended up finishing it, but oof, I didn't want to for a minute there.

As per usual, when reading a Backman book, I vacillate between crying and laughing. My Friends is a stunning piece of work that explores friendship, found family and how art truly is in the eye of the beholder. I couldn’t get enough of these characters and how they all resonated deep within me. My Friends is a five star read and on my list of faves for 2025.

This book was nothing but incredible. Absolutely had me sobbing my eyes out for real. I enjoyed every minute of this book and just every book he writes is truly incredible.

My Friends is one of my favorite reads this year!
This is a heartfelt and deeply human story. Backman doesn’t shy away from the messy realities of friendship, loyalty, and the cost of standing up for what’s right. These characters feel like real people, flawed, brave, and painfully relatable.The writing is tender and filled with lines that stay with you long after you close the book.

Editor's note: This roundup is scheduled to publish in Georgia June 11 online and June 14 print in several newspapers. Will also publish in Mississippi and Alabama during the month in newspapers and magazines, timing up to local editors. Link below will be active June 11.

From new series starters (Michael Connelly’s “Nightshade”) to the tried-and-true (Kendra Elliot’s “Her First Mistake”) our beach bag is already overflowing, and what we offer here are just a few — OK, actually 25 — of the best beach reads published through the end of June. Later this season we’ll round out the list, but for now, find an old favorite, a debut thriller or just about anything in between — including a North Alabama favorite who you just might see dining at a Cullman restaurant.

“Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man” (Berkley) by Jesse Q. Sutanto: A lovable Chinese tea shop owner stumbles upon a distressed, young woman — and a murder, the investigation of which she decides to serve up herself. With lots of tea and nosy charm, Vera tackles the project unasked as a “favor” to her (hoped for) future daughter-in-law. Sutanto mixes cozy mystery with smart humor and heartfelt moments.

“When She Was Gone” (Blackstone Publishing) by Sara Foster: When a young nanny working for one of Perth’s wealthiest families disappears, a tense investigation unravels the secrets of a seemingly perfect family, forcing everyone to confront the lies they’ve told themselves and each other. Foster delivers a taut, emotionally resonant thriller that lingers. And as expected from Blackstone Publishing, the story itself is packaged beautifully with subtle and tactile cover art: Buy the hardcover of this one.

“Follow Me” (Thomas & Mercer) by Elizabeth Rose Quinn: An eerie digital breadcrumb trail leads a tech-savvy woman into a web of deception and danger. Quinn crafts a smart, suspenseful mystery that taps into our modern fears of surveillance and online identity. “Heathers” meets “The Stepford Wives” in this tale of twin sisters.

“The Book That Held Her Heart” (Ace) by Mark Lawrence: In this final chapter of The Library Trilogy, a mysterious book bridges love, loss and literary magic in a haunting story that defies time and tests the bond between Livira and Evar — one that has never been more taut. Lawrence blends fantasy and emotion in this lyrical, genre-bending tale.

“The Great Pyramids: Collected Stories” (Arcade Publishing) by Frederick Barthelme: This sharp, wry collection captures small-town oddities, human longing and ironic twists with Barthelme’s signature minimalist flair. A masterclass in short fiction that’s both grounded and subtly surreal.

“The Boomerang” (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Bailey: Big Pharma is on trial as Eli James, chief of staff to the president, attempts to rescue his daughter from a cancer diagnosis while simultaneously stumbling upon a cover up that could affect millions of lives — and more importantly to the bad guys, billions of dollars. Bailey keeps the thrills high and the emotional stakes higher. He also lives with his family in Huntsville — and has been know to visit Cullman County now and then. Let him know what you think of his latest if you see him around town.

“A Thousand Natural Shocks” (Blackstone Publishing) by Omar Hussain: A reporter fleeing his past while investigating a serial killer becomes entangled in a cult that promises a pill to erase his memory. The story turns to a test of time as dark secrets about the cult and the serial killer surface in an attempt to reconcile everything he’s learned with his past — before his memories evaporate.

“My Friends” (Atria Books) by Fredrik Backman: Backman returns with a moving meditation on friendship, aging, the quiet heroism of everyday people and a famous painting picturing an isolated moment of time of three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier. Tender, funny and unmistakably human, this is Backman’s most eloquent and lyrical story to date about how lives intersect in unknowable and unpredictable ways. An engaging read from the author of “A Man Called Ove.”

“The Language of the Birds” (Ballantine) by K.A. Merson: Arizona is no average teenager and when she finds a cryptic ransom note, she sets out to solve the riddles — and save her mother. Unwittingly, she becomes entangled in a worldwide treasure hunt that involves a centuries-old secret her father took to his grave. A quirky, surprising story soars in an introspective mystery.

“The Eternal Warrior” (Blackstone Publishing) by Ari Marmell: An immortal fighter who defies even death — an Eternal Warrior — is caught in a conflict that spans centuries, grappling with his past sins and the future of humanity in an attempt to reclaim everything that has slipped from his personal history. Marmell delivers epic fantasy with grit, heart and unrelenting pace.

“Nightshade” (Little, Brown and Company) by Michael Connelly: Done with Bosch and Ballard, at least for now, Connelly’s new series starter centers on another one-name detective, Stilwell. Due to department politics, the Los Angeles County sheriff detective has been exiled to a low-level post on Catalina Island, where he promptly begins to ruffle local feathers as he unearths secrets the natives would rather keep to themselves. Hopefully Connelly’s flair for backstory and depth will surface in future offerings, but for now, our first meeting with Stilwell offers a familiar, fun summer read.

“Kaua’i Storm” (Thomas & Mercer) by Tori Eldridge: In the lush Hawaiian landscape, a repatriated national park ranger uncovers a mystery surrounding the disappearance of her two cousins. Unfortunately for her, it’s a mystery and investigation that neither the family, the locals nor the police truly want exposed. Eldridge blends action and cultural depth in a uniquely tropical thriller.

“Rockets’ Red Glare” (Blackstone Publishing) by William Webster and Dick Lochte: A high-octane political thriller unfolds against the backdrop of a potentially explosive Fourth of July. Lochte’s sharp storytelling and fast pacing make for a perfect July 4 holiday page-turner. The book is the first in a series with Tribal Police Deputy Sage Mendiluze. Reacher and Pickett fans will find common ground here.

“Written on the Dark” (Ace) by Guy Gavriel Kay: Kay returns with an evocative, elegant historical fantasy set in a world where poetry, memory and fate collide. Centering on a tavern poet who must cater to both rogues and courtiers, Thierry Villar must also navigate churning political waters in a game of assassins and armies. Richly imagined and beautifully told storytelling.

“A Dead Draw” (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Dugoni: In book 11 of the Tracy Crosswhite series, a pair of cold cases stir ties to the murder of Tracy’s sister in the form of suspect Erik Schmidt. When Schmidt is freed due to an investigative error, the lives of her friends and family are under direct threat. Schmidt is a master of taunt and tease as he draws Tracy deeper into his dark world. Wonderful character building in this story and the sensitive drawing of Lydia, a young woman on the spectrum whose mannerisms echo those of Tracy’s murdered sister, is exceptionally done. One of Dugoni’s best works, the author brings in just enough backstory to both start the series here, and reward long-time readers with vintage Crosswhite.

“The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club” (Ballantine Books) by Martha Hall Kelly: In a story told through dual timelines, Kelly’s narrative is a personal ode to her mother’s heritage. Involving a contemporary mystery, set at Martha’s Vineyard, whose only answers will come from the past, the story taps a wartime romance set in 1942 — and a beach read written for today. Kelly is touring extensively for this book through the end of July. Meet up with her at marthahallkelly.com/events/.

“The Turn” (Blackstone Publishing) by Christopher Ransom: An heirloom, of sorts, following his father’s death sends Casey Sweet into his dad’s past — and a current country club where Casey might just have met the long-lost son he never knew he had. Written in the tradition of “Caddyshack,” Ransom’s new novel is an engaging summer break.

“The Afterlife Project” (Podium Publishing) by Tim Weed: Humanity is facing extinction. A group of scientists with the capability to send a test subject 10,000 years into the future. One of the last women on Earth capable of getting pregnant. All of this portends that the survival of humankind is at stake in a futuristic setting evoking the ills of today.

“It Takes a Psychic” (Berkley) by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle: A psychic investigator — actually, a para-archeologist — with a flair for romance and the paranormal dives into a case filled with danger and sizzling chemistry. Castle delivers her signature mix of mystery charm in a story centering on a long-dead cult leader and illicit paranormal experiments. “It Takes a Psychic” is No. 18 in Castle’s A Harmony Novel series.

“The Ghostwriter” (Sourcebooks Landmark) by Julie Clark: An author’s past returns to haunt her in the form of a ghostwriting project undertaken for her estranged father. When the project turns out to be just another one of dad’s lies, writer Olivia Dumont is forced to confront her relationship with her father … and a web of family secrets.

“Stop All the Clocks” (Arcade) by Noah Kumin: Kumin’s debut is a meditative, poetic novel about time, grief and the modern-life moments that define us … in ones and zeroes. The death of a colleague and the collapse of her AI company send Mona Veigh’s life in directions not determined by any algorithm.

“Plays Well with Others” (Blackstone Publishing) by Lauren Myracle: A bout of social media betrayal forces Jake Nolan from her job, house and husband and into a receptive bungalow on Sweetwater Lane. There, she befriends those just like herself — people itching to act on entrenched thoughts of retaliation.

“Her First Mistake” (Montlake) by Kendra Elliot: Elliot has written nearly two dozen thrillers set in her home state of Oregon and this latest offering features a minor character from the Columbia River novels: Here, Deschutes County sheriff’s detective Noelle Marshall gets her own origin story. A cold case murder mystery, this is the tale that explains what happened to Marshall to make her the detective she is today, or at least what she becomes in later storylines. A fulfilling storyline delivers much more than backstory in a captivating summer read.

“Jill Is Not Happy” (Scarlet) by Kaira Rouda: In this darkly comic tale, Jill and Jack live an enviable life in South California and, as recent empty-nesters, an unbearable marriage. A road trip “to reconnect” is really a cat-and-mouse game unknown to each other as they unwittingly match their cunning to pull one in … and push the other over, the more-than-metaphorical ledge.

“The Farm House” (Poisoned Pen Press) by Chelsea Conradt: Looking for a fresh start after her mother dies, Emily Hauk and her husband depart for a farm in rural Nebraska. Learning nothing from centuries of thrillers (“The Amityville Horror,” anyone?), they should have asked why the asking price was so low. Unknown to them, everyone who has ever lived on this farm has died. The lure of the soil is compelling, though, as Emily digs into the mystery enveloping her new home.

Reach book reviewer Tom Mayer at tmayer@rn-t.com or tmayer132435@gmail.com.

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Beautifully written in classic Backman style. I read this book slow so I could savor and mark my favorite lines. That being said, it's not my favorite Backman book, because it was a bit more character driven than I prefer. Overall though, you can't go wrong with Backman!

"He's never been able to explain that all his paintings are an attempt to show how beautiful he wishes he actually was. He's dreamed of being able to say: 'Being human is to grieve, constantly.' Because what he really wants to know is: 'How the hell do all the rest of you cope?'"

"What I hate most isn't that people die. What I hate most is that they're dead. That I'm alive, without them."

When Louisa inherits a mysterious painting featuring three small figures on a distant pier, she becomes determined to uncover their story. Her search takes her back to a summer decades earlier, when four troubled teens found solace, friendship, and purpose on that very pier.

My thoughts: I loved this one by Backman so much. It felt different than some of his other books but I'm not sure I know how to describe it. He always hits the nail on the head with a mix of depth and humor while slowly revealing more of the story. He captured so well the mind of a teenager.
This did feel a bit long to me at times but generally I was interested and captivated by the story.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

This is one of those that will make me wish that I could erase a book from my memory so I could read it again for the first time. I'm glad I waited to pick it up until I was in a place to truly enjoy it. Found family will mess me up every time.

very character driven but like always, this author delivers a story that is worth it. lots of valuable quotes about life and parenting.

I am a huge fan of Fredrik Backman and have read all his books (except his one non-fiction) and enjoyed them all. My Friends was a bit different from the others, but I still enjoyed it. The story opens with Louisa, an artist, visiting a pre-auction showing of art. She wants to see one of the most famous paintings in the world, one that she has been carrying a postcard picture of for years. She gets herself in trouble and has to run from security, where she meets "The Artist". Thinking he is a homeless man, she shares her story with him, not expecting this meeting will change her life. The painting is thought to be of the sea by most people, but Louisa sees the three bodies on the pier looking out over that sea. The rest of the story is about those three individuals: Joar, Ali and Ted, and the artist. While learning about them, we also learn Louisa's story about herself and her friend Fish. This is a story of friendship and how it shapes out lives.

This is a powerful story about friendship. The characters all have situations in their lives that they are dealing with and the support they receive from their friends. Joar is a big guy, the protector for his friends and those picked on. Ted is small and bookish, often a target of others, Ali's family is always on the move and every time she finally makes friends, they are on the move. She is very defensive and uses anger and teasing to show how she feels about someone. The Artist has a natural talent, but a father who is abusive. He is reticent to show his talent and only his friends encourage and support him. Besides this, I will tell you no more about the story. As we learn about these characters, my heart broke many times. Fredrik Backman creates characters that we recognize from those we know or who we've known in the past. Having been an educator for over 30 years, I saw these kids as ones I knew and worked with. I became invested in their stories as well as Louisa's. The story is beautifully written and although the beginning was a bit slow to start, I was pulled in and stayed up late in the night finishing this one. My Friends is real, emotional, full of vulnerable characters and a story about life and the importance of friendship in the various times of those lives. I highly recommend this one.

Another blockbuster by a great author!

The compelling story of young friendships of a group of outsiders. No judgement, no motives - just the truest bond of love and affection. A group of cast offs - finds each other and relies on each other through the toughest years - their teens.

Not always pretty - but always real.

Another hit!!! Fredrick Backman writes about the human experience so so beautifully, I will never get enough!

"My Friends" tells the story of four friends and the painting that connects them twenty-five years later.

Fredrik Backman's prose has a gentle flow, full of humor and sharp wit. His work delves into the complexities of friendships and growing up with insight. Backman's prose has a lyrical quality to it. He describes characters, settings, and emotions with lovely resonance and authenticity. The thought-provoking nature of his writing gives the reader a lot to reflect on.

Backman has a gift for connecting his readers with his characters. This novel tugs at the heartstrings, giving readers opportunities to laugh, cry, and celebrate along with the characters. He balances themes of grief with messages of hope. He evokes and explores a spectrum of emotions with authenticity.

Empathy is at the heart of the novel, as Backman finds unique ways to describe his characters in ways that allow his audience to connect with them universally.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Backman never disappoints. As usual, his writing grips me from page 1, and i am always enamored by his writing and character development. Hope he keeps writing!

Once in a blue moon, you read a book that stops and starts your heart over and over a million times during the course of reading the book. My Friends by Fredrik Bachman is one of these books. The story of four friends who grew up to become the physical manifestation of redemption, hope, and love. I hesitate to give more of a description of the book than this because, in many ways, it is doing the book an injustice to try to simplify the author’s words into any kind of summary. Even the simple title can be the only possible title because anything more would be inauthentic. The prose is beautifully written so much so that I reread countless sections just to soak up the words again. This is a book for anyone who has ever felt. It contains tragedy, buoyancy, magic, and insights. Read this book. Absorb it into your very being and consider it a blessing that it was written. Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this opportunity to read My Friends. .

AMAZING! "My Friends" by Fredrik Backman is a profound, deep, interesting, magnificently written novel. Layered with much depth of characters, history, childhood friendship and trauma, magic of art, and loyalty. Was truly a masterpiece. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

This unfortunately took me waaaaay too long to finish.
It's clear that Backman can write. There are points where I felt emotional and was touched. However, I did find the writing a little too verbose, and I felt detached from the characters. There's a quirkiness to the writing that didn't make the story flow well for me, so when I would put the book down, I didn't have the urge to pick it back up. That being said, I can see I'm the minority, as the reviews rave for this book, which I can see as objectively good. Overall, it was good, but not my cup of tea.
Thank you so much to Atria for the advanced e-copy!