So much of this is intensely emotional and thematic, pontificating on childhood, friendship, grief, and the meaning of art. What I think really marks Fredrik Backman's work though isn't thoughtfulness or tenderness or even a smugness about what deep observations he has on the meaning of life... it's his wry, lightly absurdist humor. It's a bit like if Douglas Adams wrote tragic coming-of-age stories instead of wacky sci-fi adventures.

The plot meanders a bit, but manages to closely stitch together what initially seemed to be very separate stories. Heavy handed foreshadowing throughout the book left me feeling the revelation of what ultimately happens is a bit anticlimactic. But all said and done, I'm not sure I would wish for the book to be any different than it is.

Like many excellent books, it leaves me at a loss for words.

As a long-time fan of Frederik Backman, I am not surprised how much I loved this book. The balance between deep and meaningful moments along with the funny, light-hearted moments is expertly maintained. I loved the overall feeling of nostalgia and the portrayal of art and grief.

My Friends felt like a warm hug of a book, Fredrik truly has a way with words 🥹🫶. He writes about being a human unlike any other!! His characters truly feel like your own friends 🫂

Themes of friendship, found family, loss, self-discovery, love, art, grief, and acceptance are woven truly through every page. I feel like Backman truly pours everything he has into the books he writes and it truly shows in the best ways!

Heartfelt, tender, and emotional storytelling!

Fredrik Backman never misses. His characters always feel so real and nuanced. His storylines are always deep, emotional and raw. They feel so real. Definitely recommend this book or any of his books honestly!!

Trademark Backman that melts your heart❤️‍🩹

Thanks Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

Synopsis -

A world famous painting - 3 tiny figures barely discernible sitting at the end of a long pier in it. Louisa, almost 18, is determined to find out the history behind this painting at any cost. 25 years ago in a remote seaside town, a few teenagers become the best of friends as they try to escape a difficult domestic life - learning to dream, live and love. It was during one summer that the painting emerged all those years ago. Now Louisa embarks on a long journey while she uncovers its roots and finding her own destiny through it.

Review -

What a beautiful book this was! Backman has gifted his readers an unprecedented story of friendship. Of course, it’s the classic language and his style of prose that draw us deep into this novel. This time the focus is on what true friendship is - how life changing it can be, the lengths true friends go to for each other and be each others rocks when the ground is shaking and lives are always teetering on edge.

It’s best to find out the complex dynamics that is created between these youngsters by reading the book, as no review can do it any justice. While there are tears, laughs, teasing and endless summer fun despite their grave circumstances, there is also an artist among them whose art will somehow bring meaning to life itself, as Backman says “Art is coincidence, Love is Chaos”.

There are several quote worthy sentences and each one will hit us hard while we try to decipher its hidden message and simple wisdom.
Louisa’s POV in the present timeline adds a layer of mystery and intrigue as we speculate just what happened to all these teenagers who were thick as thieves back then. The revelations that come towards the end are nothing short of soul rendering.

The only thing that bothered me was the sheer extent of violence the storyline deals with and it felt as though Backman tried very hard to portray negativity largely just to amplify the connection and bonding the teenagers shared. This also created a repetitive pattern that felt borderline tedious.

However, if this is the last piece Backman chooses to give us, I think its still a gem to be cherished without a doubt.

A story of true friendship centered around an unforgettable, youthful painting. Backman tells the events surrounding four friends who lose track of one another only for several to meet unexpectedly many years later. Told in true Backman style. Love and friendship never die!

A huge thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for an advanced reader copy of My Friends by Fredrick Backman. It’s out now!

It’s taken me a minute to formulate my thoughts for this review. I love Fredrick Backman’s novels…every single one of them. His ability to write stories that are so attuned to the human condition is unmatched. His newest book is no exception. I took my time reading this book, and tried to really savor the story. I laughed, I cried, and I didn’t want this book to end. I highlighted over half the book 😂. His writing style is incredibly distinct and this book, as all his books do, made me think about it long after I had finished reading it.

To summarize, READ THIS BOOK. A million stars. I loved it so so much!!

#bookstagram #bookworm #booksbooksbooks #booklover

another incredible story by Backman which proves his writing is so unique and powerful in a way I haven’t seen done by any other author. i loved how this was a story within a story within a story. the meta style of the book brought so much life and meaning to all of the characters. it felt like i was on a journey with the friends but also louisa and ted. i was experiencing the dualities of both stories while the characters felt them as well. what a wonderful book

I was thrilled to receive an eBook ARC of Backman’s newest book, and because I love Marin Ireland’s narration so much, I also purchased the audiobook. I read/listened in both formats, but of course, Ireland’s storytelling is fantastic. Fans of his writing have been waiting about three years for a new page-turner from him. In 2024, he published an Amazon Original Short Story, THE ANSWER IS NO, which I also loved.

I have always been drawn to foster care stories and love a found family. In MY FRIENDS, we meet Louisa, who is grieving the death of her best friend and fellow foster care mate, Fish. Fish turned 18 and left the program, and Louisa is just a day away from turning 18. It’s Easter weekend and Louisa is attending an art auction. Why would a foster kid want to be at an art auction? Well, it’s a long story, but it’s so worth it.

“Friendship is special when you’re a teenager, you can feel in your skin when there’s something wrong.”

Eventually, Louisa’s story merges with Ted’s, Joar’s, Ali’s, and the artist’s, all best friends since they were teenagers. Louisa has been in love with a famous painting for most of her life. She’s carried a postcard of it in her backpack, and all she wants to do is see the painting up close. But she doesn’t exactly look like someone who should be at an art auction, especially someone with cans of spray paint in her backpack.

“When you’re fourteen years old, a single person can be like wind beneath a butterfly’s wings. ‘Art is coincidence, love is chao,’ Ted says.”

The story flashes back to 25 years ago and tells the story of Ted, Ali, Joar, and C. Jat (pronounced Sea Yacht) as teenagers. They see each other at the pier every day and support each other through life’s struggles and turmoil. In the present day, as Louisa enters Ted’s life, the story of the four friends is shared, and how C.Jat came to be a famous artist.

“The artist’s smile had been like sunlight between heavy curtains.”

When you read a Backman book, you know you are in for the long haul. There is no rushing his stories, and you might even want to reread passages a few times. I found myself listening to the story during the day and rereading chapters on my Kindle at night because the writing is just…that…good. I laughed. I cried. My heart hurt, then it exploded with love. As I entered the final chapters of the story, my emotions took over, and I was filled with the feeling of a warm hug because I knew that everything was going to be okay…or as okay as it could be.

“Because art is a fragile magic, just like love, and that’s humanity’s only defense against death. That we create and paint and dance and fall in love, that’s our rebellion against eternity. Everything beautiful is a shield.”

I highlighted so many sentences in the book, I couldn’t possibly share them all here. Backman knows exactly how to create a setting, describe an emotion, and create a scene like the movie is playing in front of you. There is a lot of sadness in this story, but there is also joy amongst the pain, hope amid the heartbreak, and love after death. It will definitely be an all-time favorite, and I won’t soon forget the characters I got to hang out with for a few days.

“Death is public but dying is private, the very last private thing we have…”

If you love stories of friendship, found families, or those who rise from the ashes, then this is the book for you. Be aware that there are numerous trigger warnings in this story, so do your own research, but domestic violence and violence towards children play a major role for one of the characters. The lives of these five characters will impact you for a long time.

“That’s the worst thing about death, that it happens over and over again. That the human body can cry forever.”

Thank you to Atria Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

I tried to get this review written in time for pub day, but I really struggled to put my thoughts into words on this one.

Backman once again proves why he’s one of the most emotionally intuitive storytellers of our time. With his signature blend of tenderness, humor, and raw humanity, My Friends is a story that lingers long after the final page, quite literally an unforgettable read.

Backman's emotional depth shines through every page. Each character is rendered with such intimate detail and compassion that they feel real—flawed, vulnerable, and unapologetically human.

This book is a testament to the enduring power of connection. It’s a novel that asks you to look a little closer—at art, at life, at the people around you—and to find meaning in the smallest of details.

If you have read and loved any of Backman's previously published books, I highly recommend adding My Friends to your TBR. Easiest 5 stars.

This book is a masterpiece, a modern classic. I finished reading this in March, and have not stopped thinking about it since. Backman, through both trauma and comic relief, explores the ideas of who makes art, who art is for, and the serendipity of art. And, of course, Backman considers the value of relationships. In this book, the friendships make the ordinary days extraordinary and in some cases are the key to survival. I did find some parts of the book to be slower than others, but the overarching message still leads me to 5 stars without hesitation. The last page was the best ending I could’ve asked for. Friends, keep supporting the arts and loving your neighbor.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Traditional format (digital) 📕

If there is one sentence from this book that sums it up it’s “You can’t abandoned people who need you”.

This book was a challenge for me to get into. I found it very slow and repetitive for the first 55% and I will admit I almost quit a few times. But at about the 60% mark the book took a huge turn and just clicked for me and I couldn’t put it down.

I don’t know that I have ever read a book that pulled me back from the brink of quitting to being a five star read. I ended up loving the dual timelines and the narration style and the characters (aka The Friends) just kept building and building.

I am going to give this one a 5/5. Not for the first half but for the feelings the book left me with at the end.

Thank you Net Galley and Atria books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Louisa has a postcard of a famous painting that has been her prized possession as she moves between foster homes. Now on the verge of adulthood, she ends up with the painting itself in her care and hears the heartbreaking story of the artist and his friends, who are the subject of the work. Backman’s prose is straightforward, yet so heart-wrenchingly poignant that almost every other page contains a line I want to remember forever. Themes include domestic violence, and it’s an emotional journey, but “My Friends” is a beautiful tribute to the power of friendship and art. (Recommendation sent to readers of WordSmarts.com email newsletter)

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This book was like a big warm hug, even though the over arching theme was grief. The friendships in this book were a masterpiece.

There's no other way to say it: I adored this book. My Friends is beautiful, heartfelt, and so deeply human that I had to keep putting it down just to sit with it for a while. It's the kind of story that doesn't rush you and doesn't want to be rushed.

At the center is Louisa, nearly eighteen and completely taken by a painting—specifically, three tiny figures on a pier tucked in the background. What follows is a journey—part mystery, part self-discovery—as she tracks down their story and the complicated past behind the art. But this isn't just Louisa's story. It's also about a group of teens, decades earlier, who found family in each other on a forgotten pier by the sea.

Backman's writing is never flashy, and that's exactly why it works. He knows how to tug at your heart without ever overdoing it. There's warmth here, sadness, and so much love—for art, friendship, and the people who get us through.

I read this slowly on purpose. I didn't want to miss a thing. My Friends is absolutely a 5-star read. I highly recommend it to anyone who's ever loved deeply, lost something important, or just needed a reminder that we don't have to go it alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Fredrik Backman has a gift for seeing into the hearts of flawed, hurting people—and My Friends is no exception. This novel is drenched in pain, grief, and the weight of trauma, yet somehow, it’s also a celebration of love, loyalty, and chosen family.

At its core, My Friends is about four individuals whose lives are steeped in sorrow, disappointment, and loss. Each character carries heavy emotional burdens, and Backman doesn’t shy away from the rawness of their inner worlds. Yet in the midst of that pain, something beautiful happens: they find each other.

Despite their differences—and maybe even because of them—they form a bond that is fierce, loyal, and unshakable. They become each other’s lifeline, choosing one another over and over again in a world that has often failed them. Their friendship isn’t perfect, but it is real. It is messy, sacrificial, and deeply moving.

Backman’s prose is, as always, stunning—balancing sorrow with hope, despair with wit. He gives us characters that feel like people we might know, or even parts of ourselves. And in doing so, he reminds us that sometimes, family isn’t about blood—it’s about showing up, staying, and loving through the worst of it.

My Friends is a powerful, emotionally complex novel that lingers long after the last page. It’s a tribute to the kind of friendship that can hold a person together when everything else is falling apart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my advance reader copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

"Surely taking life for granted is the whole point of being here, because what else are we doing? We're a bunch of lonely apes on a rock in the universe, our breath consists of 80% nitrogen, 20% oxygen, and 100% anxiety."

Oh, no one writes like Fredrik Backman. No one else makes me sob about the beauty and unfairness of life roughly 10% into a novel. I can't think of another author that so perfectly captures how gorgeous and devastating it is to be alive at all. My Friends is quite possibly his most incredible novel yet and that is saying something. It feels a bit different from his past works, but it is still a Backman book through and though.

On the surface, this book is about a world famous artist and his first piece of work going to auction. It is also about a girl who has grown up in a long string of foster homes with a crumpled postcard that has that piece of art on it. But at its core, it is a story about life and death and art and what makes a life worth living. It is about the monumental friendships that carry you throughout this long, long life we live. It's rambling and genuine and stunning.

I feel like there are no words that I am able to string together eloquently enough to do this book justice, so I will just beg you to read it. It is also quite anti-capitalist by nature which makes me love it even more. I think it is very easy to get caught up in the chaos and hatred of the world we're currently living in, and this novel reminds you how small a life can really be and how important the connections we make are to us and others.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced ebook in exchange for my honest opinion. Sorry it's coming after the publication date but this is certainly a book to be savored!

4⭐️ My Friends ,as you can guess by the title, is about friendship. How it changes us, molds us, sees us, and can also break us. While there were times this book moved a little slow for my liking, the story was beautiful. I forgot just how talented of a writer Backman is. His prose is lovely and keeps me interested. The end threw me for a loop but I was so pleased. Another winner by Fredrick Backman!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.5/5

I enjoyed this novel about friendship and love by Fredrick Blackman. I just didn’t give 5 stars as it felt a bit slow at times, but his writing style is absolutely beautiful and def made me want to both cry and laugh at times. I thought I knew how it was going to end but some parts of the ending surprised me which was nice.

I am so lucky to have had a chance to read Fredrik Backman's newest book as an advanced copy. It was everything I had hoped it would be and more! His writing style is detailed, beautiful, and real. There are so many topics explored in this book including friendship (as the title suggests). Each character feels so well-rounded and easy to connect with that you become invested in their storylines from the first page. The pacing of the story (as with all of Backman's books) is slower and that is part of his magic as an author. You need to just settle in and savor every page. This will take a spot as one of my favorite coming of age stories and I hope everyone gets a chance to enjoy it. Thanks to Fredrik Backman, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.