I usually love Fredrik Backman's writing and his unique look at people, places, and his witty remarks about everyday life; his characters leap off the page and find a way into your heart. This had all of those things but it fell short in that I could not connect with any of these characters. The jump between different timelines created a disjointed narrative that I found difficult to follow and I ultimately gave up on this one, which made me sad. It may be because it has so much to do with art and artists and, while I appreciate those things, I don't really make the connection with artists so this just wasn't for me.

Backman does it again. I will read anything he writes because his books leave me shattered but healed every time. My Friends is an exploration of love, friendship, grief, and art, so really it is about humanity and learning to be a human. The characters are complex and quickly yet so real that I cried for each of them, in sadness and joy, at some point throughout the book. Another beautiful work from one of my favorite contemporary authors.

This book was a deeply moving and heartfelt read. The characters felt incredibly real—each one carrying their own burdens and emotional wounds, yet finding strength and healing in the most unexpected ways. Their stories made me pause and reflect on the quiet resilience people carry through trauma. What stood out most was how heartwarming the relationships between them were—tender, honest, and beautifully human. The ending was everything I hoped for: satisfying without being overly neat, and filled with a quiet sense of hope. A truly touching read that stayed with me long after the last page.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for this arc in exchange for my honest review!

After the death of a world famous artist, his first ever painting is given to a homeless runaway teenager named Louisa. When Louisa is given the painting by the artist’s close friend Ted, she asks Ted for the backstory of the painting- who are the kids in the painting and where did they come from? With that, Ted tells the story of the artist’s childhood, and the group of friends from a rough small town that pushed the artist into world renowned success.

Backman is extremely talented at highlighting the beauty and simultaneous cruelty that exist within humanity. I am always so impressed by the care and compassion he brings to oftentimes dark subject matter. I would recommend his books to any reader- his writing is beautiful, yet easily digestible! Will continue to lookout for future works from him. 🎨🌊

I waffled between giving this book three and four stars because occasionally I find Backman's writing style almost unbearably schmaltzy and overwrought, but the narrative picked up a lot in the back half and didn't feel as overbearing, so four stars it is. Louisa is an aspiring artist who becomes obsessed with a famous painting of the sea with three kids in the background. By chance, she meets one of those kids (obviously now grown up), and they embark on a weird journey (hard to explain without spoilers). Along the way, Louisa learns the story of those kids, and of course she learns a lot about herself.

It's intriguing that Backman always chooses to write about people with unimaginable trauma - in this book alone, we've got characters who've experienced domestic abuse, homophobia, sexual assault, losing parents, losing friends, addiction, and much more. On the one hand, it's clear Backman views his characters with great empathy and compassion, but on the other hand, sometimes his books read as clunky and like he's never experienced any of those traumas himself. I don't believe authors need to have experienced the things they write about to do them justice, but sometimes there's something about Backman's writing that feels slightly voyeuristic or tokenizing. I don't know, it's hard to explain, but in the beginning of the book I just didn't feel connected to any of the characters. It also took a while for the plot to really pick up.

Of course as I've written this I've talked myself into giving this three stars. This book just felt a bit too cliche for me, and it dragged. I seem to be in the minority in my view of this book though, so take my words with a grain of salt ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

Frederick Bachman is a master at telling stories. This books follows the life and times of four friends as told by Ted, one of the friends.

It is an excellent reminder that, if you are lucky, the friends you have when you are younger stay with you your entire life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC for my honest opinion. Definitely a must read!

Another amazing read by Fredrik Backman full of quirky characters who feel so real. This book has a lot to unpack and all the emotions. I was fortunate to see the author in Dallas this week and it was very enlightening.

This is going to be one of my favorite books of 2025. I was completely and utterly blown away. My life is forever changed because of Fredrik Backman's writing. There's no other way to put it. I was hooked on his work from the first book I ever picked up (Beartown) and have never looked back. This book had me in literal tears (happy and sad) from beginning to end. Every SINGLE character in this book felt like my family by the end. I am always, always in awe of how Backman can put parenting, and motherhood and write about women in general. You'd never know he was a male writing this book. You can tell how much he cherishes the women in his life just by this writing. I have so much respect for that. He is also able to craft the most IMPACTFUL sentence in just a few words. Infinity stars. I'll be thinking about this one forever.

FB can truly do no wrong. this book had me crying from 5% in. i’ve never highlighted so many quotes in my life but that’s always how it is with backman. this made me feel so deeply and stop to think about the beauty and simplicity of life. will carry this story with me for a very very long time. a new favorite of mine by him. thank goodness for all the fart references as well i needed that deeply.

A wonderfully written piece of prose about the magic that is friendship and art. Well-written, evocative characters and an interesting storyline. Thanks for the privilege of an early read.

In My Friends by Fredrik Backman, artist Louisa becomes obsessed with uncovering the story behind three mysterious figures in a famous painting—a piece tied to a group of misfit teenagers who once found solace and connection on a distant pier. As she delves into their past, Louisa embarks on a journey that not only unravels the painting’s origins but also reignites her own creative spirit in this moving tale of art, memory, and the friendships that shape us.

You’ve likely seen the buzz around My Friends, and I’m here to confirm—every bit of it is well deserved. As one of my most anticipated reads of 2025, this novel not only met my expectations, it soared past them. Fredrik Backman delivers a story brimming with emotion, depth, and the aching beauty of youthful friendship. It stirred memories of my own childhood connections in a way that felt both deeply personal and universally resonant.

From the very first page, I was captivated. Louisa’s encounter with The Artist is tender and unforgettable, a spark that ignites the novel’s quiet magic. But it’s the unfolding of the past—the lives of The Artist, Ted, Joar, and Ali—that left the deepest mark. Their story, framed through the mysterious painting that ties them together, is mesmerizing and heart-wrenching. Ted and Louisa’s bond is especially poignant, but it’s the friendships forged long ago on a distant pier that truly stole my heart.

My Friends is a masterclass in storytelling: rich, layered, and emotionally raw. It’s my favorite book of the year—one that I’ll be thinking about for a long, long time. If you’re searching for a novel that blends art, memory, and the kind of friendship that stays with you forever, this is it.

All the stars, hands down.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve long been a fan of Fredrik Backman’s work. Few authors create such deeply relatable characters the kind you feel for, root for, and carry with you long after the story ends. His novels like A Man Called Ove and Beartown made me weep, and his short stories never fail to wow me.

So, when I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of My Friends, I knew I wanted to savor it. This book is filled with Backman’s signature warmth, heart, and whimsy, but also tackles heavier themes of love, loss, and trauma. At times, it felt overwhelming.

The story follows a group of four friends as they (three of them) rally around a painting competition they want their friend (the fourth) to participate in. The heart of the novel is a journey with Ted and Louisa as they make their way to the birthplace of the painting. Along the way, Louisa discovers the story behind her favorite painting and the artist who created it, learning more than she expected about herself in the process.

While the pacing did feel slow and the story long in parts, I could see the intention behind it. Is My Friends my favorite Backman novel? No. But would I recommend it? Absolutely. His ability to capture human connection remains unmatched.

Another wonderful book by Mr Backman, I find his book so unique. They are so different from other books I read, but I love it. I loved the depth of this book. It is so simple, but at the same time very deep, covering hard issues. This is a book that will leave you thinking and with many feelings. It is not an “easy”, light book, but it is so very worth a read.
I will highly recommend this book to my library patrons.

This story is overflowing with raw, honest emotion, and I absolutely felt every bit of it. I’ve always been fascinated by human nature, and C Jat’s outlook on life—while it might come off as depressing to some—felt incredibly real and grounded to me. There's something comforting about a story that doesn't try to sugarcoat life.

One line that stuck with me was from Ted: *“We hardly ever start at the beginning.”* That perfectly captures the way this story unfolds. It jumps back and forth in time, never quite starting where you’d expect, but somehow that makes it even more powerful. The pacing and structure felt true to how we actually remember and process relationships.

The love and deep friendship between the characters is beautifully done. You can feel the connection in every scene, every moment they share. And by the end, it all comes full circle in such a satisfying way.

If you’re looking for a story with emotional depth and an authentic portrayal of friendship, this one’s for you. It’s not flashy or dramatic—it’s real, and that’s what makes it so special.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to Atria Books and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about an amazing painting, a unique teenager, and an unforgettable group of friends.

This story is heartbreaking as much as it is heartwarming. It makes you reconsider the importance of our teenage years and the value that generation has to offer.

Fredrik Backman is one of the most talented writers I’ve ever read (in my humble opinion). However, I also have a complicated relationship with his writing because I don’t always like reading his books. It’s like, I know his writing is amazing, I know I will probably laugh, and cry, but I won’t always enjoy actually reading it. It’s mentally taxing for me, and my brain is lazy lol. His art of storytelling is so detailed, so drawn out, so personal. He creates such insightful imagery of humanity that it’s impossible to not take pieces of his stories with you. I’d compare his writing to a difficult therapy session - where I leave the session exhausted and in pieces - but learn a lot in the process. This is how I would describe the experience of reading Backman, and I will keep reading everything he writes, just like how I keep going back to therapy.

Some of my favourite quotes:

“A lack of self confidence is a devastating virus. There is no cure.”

“They were like two colours. Once they were mixed together, there was no separating them.”

“Stories are complicated, memories are merciless, our brains only store a few moments from the best days of our lives, but we remember every second of the worst.”

This book has left me utterly speechless, and that last chapter just took my breath away. I honestly do not know how Mr. Backman does it. How does he recall how painful and uncomfortable it is to be a teenager? Let alone a teenager with a terrible home life or no home at all. And he does it poetically with such beauty and sensitivity. I loved all these characters; it truly gave me those same magical feelings I had while reading the Beartown series. The witty dialog and back-and-forth banter between the characters is just priceless. How did he make me laugh when these characters were going through so much and experiencing such torment? I honestly cannot rave about this book enough. The book is both character- and plot-driven. The storyline was so good that I couldn’t wait to get to the end. It is the best book I have read so far this year, and I have a feeling it will be the best book I read all year. I did listen to the audiobook, and the narrator, Marin Ireland, was phenomenal. She gave each character their own distinct voice and personality. Her voice truly brought this book to life. This is my sixth Frederik Backman novel, and it definitely will not be my last. I can see myself rereading My Friends this summer. I think this book would be a perfect gift for someone graduating from high school or college.

“The most remarkable thing about losing a parent is that you don’t even need to miss them for their loss to be felt. The basic function of a parent is just to exist. You have to be there like ballast in a boat. Because otherwise, your child capsizes.”

🔵 Genre: Literary fiction
🔵 Profanity rating: Mild
🔵 Steamy rating: Mild

The Beartown series is my favorite, with the final book being my all-time favorite. So, I was eager to read Fredrik Backman’s latest. While I enjoyed the story immensely, the slow pace made it a months-long read.

My Friends follows a young woman who grew up in foster care and has no one. She meets a man she believes is homeless, but he’s actually a terminally ill artist who leaves her something meaningful. His best friend tracks down the young lady and later shares the moving story of growing up with the artist and their two best friends.

Backman’s writing is incredible. There are dozens of quotes I loved. The story is beautiful and emotional, just don’t expect a fast pace.

Thank you @atriabooks and @netgalley for the gifted copy. I love Backman’s writing.

Triggers: Death of loved ones, homeless, foster care, domestic violence, Cancer, bullying, general violence, and homophobia

My Friends is classic Backman—funny, heartfelt, and sneakily profound. It starts with a quiet little mystery (three shadowy figures in a famous painting) and unfolds into a beautifully layered story about four teens who found each other when they needed it most. Their friendship is messy, tender, and so real it kind of hurts.

Louisa’s journey to uncover their story was full of heart and surprises. She’s such a relatable character—awkward, curious, a little lost—and I loved watching her piece together a past that still echoes into her own life.

If you liked A Man Called Ove or Anxious People, you’ll find the same emotional punch here, but with a bit more nostalgia and teen angst (in the best way). Backman once again proves that the small, quiet connections between people can be the most powerful thing of all.

Would recommend to: anyone who loves found family, coming-of-age stories

*I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

I hope you find farts funny!

But seriously, I was HOOKED to this book. I needed it in my veins.

These characters have stamped themselves on my heart! The found family was perfect and I just loved them all. They deserved the best things in life, and unfortunately were often not given them.

Backman has a way of pulling emotions out of me😭 I love it so much.

I have read some really good books so far this year, but My Friends by Fredrik Backman surpasses them all. I would rate it much higher than 5 stars if I could. It affected me so deeply that I didn't want it to end. Just like young Louisa, I was reluctant to hear the end of the story for fear it would be unbearably sad. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author for an advance copy to read and review.