Fredrik Backman's writing never stops getting good. This is a heartfelt story about love, loss, and friendship. The characters are all loved and you feel invested in all of them from the start. I love the multiple timeline aspect and it really flows nicely throughout the book.

Fredrik Backman can do no wrong! I would pay money to read his grocery lists, in all honesty, My Friends was another solid read - with characters I adored, emotions all over the place, and an engaging storyline. One minute I cried, the next I laughed.

I’m always blown away by the beautiful one-liners sprinkled throughout Backman’s novels. He puts words on paper to describe the intricate thoughts people have on a daily basis.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book was the abnormal number of times farts were discussed. But I guess it makes sense, given the ages of the characters in most chapters.

Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book!

Wow. I mean, wow. Backman never disappoints. Powerful coming of age story highlighting formative friendships that will speak to anyone’s soul.

MY FRIENDS
BY: FREDRIK BACKMAN

This is an absolute MASTERPIECE by one of my TOP FAVORITE AUTHORS of all time, FREDRIK BACKMAN. In this STUNNER of his newest novel called, "MY FRIENDS,"this author exploration delves deeply how the effects of the loving, kindness of four main characters loyalty, and supportive friendship towards one another transforms their lives over the course of two short formative teen years. They could be considered a sort of character study in how at the tender ages of fourteen, and fifteen years old they've learned they can trust their hearts are safeguarded within their group of found family that can't be counted on in their bloodlines at home. This beautiful love in friendship they've developed in finding ones tribe counts on each other's presence for two Summers of respite, promises days of fun, sunshine, and antics of small acts of rebellion. As each day ends, as they depart heading home to their less than ideal living arrangements, each one shouts "tomorrow," at one another that they can look forward to another chance of reliving their shared joys of basking in each other's light. I had highlighted pretty much the first 60% of this genius Author's latest novel's keenly insightful, observations regarding humanity's myriad forms for better, or worse interpersonal relationships can most often be traced back to our care givers, or parents treatment toward us affecting how we see our selves through their lenses whether realistic or not. We absorb everything they say and do as if we are human tape recorders according to Dr. Bruce Lipton's studies of our brain's neuroscience that makes sense, that I pondered as I read this author's brilliant thoughts that is both a deep meditation, along with a celebration of the multitude of the ways the joys of how for two precious years during which four characters explore the love of friendship, juxtaposed beside the power of art I ended up rendering all of my highlighted jewels that I resonated with agreement with this author's thoughts that I hoped to include as quotations. To showcase how meaningful this author's prowess as a wordsmith with how talented he encapsulated flawless phrases has produced the opposite effect. Instead I'm disappointed that I can't offer anything of making them hard to access for this review. The pearls of wisdom resonated so deeply for me that I felt that they were inscribed from his pen as if he etched them on my soul. Extremely powerful prose that fill this novel about the powerful bonds of friendship that transcends time, and made me remember my own nostalgic, pivotal two years that came at ages eleven, and twelve that this novel uncovered long forgotten memories which I'm grateful for. My subconscious only relates to happiness that unlike these four characters, I don't relate to their bad memories or a mixture only that I am able to connect with them on knowing when my childhood ended. I felt a shift much like these fourteen, and fifteen year old's four friends did looking back now. As only the best literature can accomplish as an art medium the connections I made in terms of long friendships that I still enjoy to this day. Just as these four youths who experienced deep bonds at ages fourteen, and fifteen that were to have left a life long impact in the most profound ways, twenty five years later for them. This novel brought me back in time, to symbolize by making me yearn to want different dynamics. My circumstances were vastly different as far as having a child prodigy talent in the form as portrayed as the one earlier in the novel as referred to as "the artist", but to say that art has transforming effects, I wholeheartedly agree, with this author. He has described in some of the most beautiful passages I have ever read that took my breath away. Art plays a significantly, huge central role in these four characters youths lives do by stating that even though most of their childhood ages revolve around the years of fourteen and fifteen years old, marking the two years of time of loyalty between four best friends before the novel's present day period. that affects some of them twenty five years later. This love of friendship between them. This love of art that Fredrik Backman has portrayed is how four friends helped to nurture into the character that for most of the narrative he's referred to as "the artist," or "C. Jat," has not been written as the same category that is marketed as the Young Adult genre novel. It's actually marketed as General Adult Fiction which I can't emphasize enough. With his masterful skills of creating his insightful genius at showcasing his understanding of human nature. He has illuminated both a heart wrenching and heartwarming talented piece of art in what for me has been the most Brilliant display of wide ranging emotional nuances that has convinced me that I can say with confidence is going to leave a life long impression on me.

I will go back to the beginning, where the novel introduces a young girl who has attended an art auction as a recent seventeen year old girl whose name is Louisa. Louisa who has been in the Foster care system for years. Her eighteenth birthday is the next day, and for most of her life she carried a postcard of three young teens sitting at the end of a long abandoned pier overlooking the bluest, largest amount of the world famous painting not lost on her that it contains three people on the pier of the sea. She went to the auction to get a chance to see the painting itself for the first time. She happens to meet a man who to her she finds out is the world famous artist who looks unwell who she might have on first impression gotten the wrong idea of mistaking him for homelessness. They paint the back of the building together, and from what he can intuit is that she is " one of us." He leaves her that world famous painting to her as she is considered by the world famous artist to be a talented artist of his inheritance that upon just meeting her he bequeaths to her that magnificent painting to her, which she doesn't understand why. He has sold all of his belongings to buy back his own painting. He has sent his best friend Ted to buy his first painting of the sea with his three best friends that most people overlook sitting at the end of the pier with most collectors only noticing the sea, overlooking the three best friends he had twenty-five years earlier. He has been referred to as "the artist."

When Ted is the last remaining adult of the three youths that "the artist," painted on the long abandoned pier overlooking the sea, "the artist," made Ted promise that he would help Louisa in anything he could do to help her. "The artist," or "C. Jat., had done one of the most kindest, selfless acts by leaving his world famous painting to Louisa, who he hardly knew since he died after just meeting her. I also loved how he interacted with her in the beginning as they painted together. It was one of my favorite parts of the novel for the longest time because his generosity is rare to have done it. The parts of him were easier for me to connect with since random acts of selflessness are so rare, I was sad that he died so soon after meeting the adult version of him. I thought that the scenes with him as an adult, along with Fredrik Backman's descriptions were the most gorgeous aspects of what I wished were more scenes with the adult version of the world famous artist still alive meant so much to me. Even though he lived on as through what he had done, I loved him more than the prickly scenes between Ted, and Louisa the way they bickered, I should note was most likely due to the fact that they were so much alike one another. Even though Ted talks about who he refers to as, "the artist," when he spoke of him as the fourteen, and fifteen year old, I found him to be much less interesting since he was so unsure of himself at that age. I also preferred him alive to be much more compelling than when Ted referred to him after he died. Louisa has just newly inherited the world famous painting after "the artist," has died, she asks Ted if she can travel with him by train to bring the painting to Christian's mother to try to sell it for her. Both Ted and Louisa have an unlikely aversion with touching other people, or having other people touch them. Ted is annoyed with the fact that he feels obligated towards Louisa becoming his responsibility since she is very talkative, and is very creative in finding ways to annoy Ted with her non stop talking and questions. She certainly was no Shrinking Violet the way Ted seems to be phobic of germs and she is sketching in a book with no idea of the talent that "the artist," saw in her as they painted a mural together. Just like the janitor at the boys high school named Christian saw raw talent when he asked "the artist," to help him paint the White wall saw raw talent in the fourteen years old "artist" and encouraged him that he doesn't need art school to be a great artist. "The Artist," saw that same talent that it took for him to grow into a world famous artist, in Louisa, he was mentored by Christian, the janitor who saw the talent that his mother encouraged in him. I remembered that she encouraged Christian, that he had talent I might be mistaken, but it was either her or Ted that said something like saying make your art sing like a bird.

Across a long train trip Louisa plans on selling the World famous painting left to her by C. Jat who is the same person Ted calls "the artist," signed the painting he left her she is planning on using the money that the painting yields in the sale, to not have to worry about her being poor, and plans on buying herself a really nice house. She had a best friend at Foster Care named Fish who called, Louisa, Giant, because she was taller, and bigger than most young women for her age. During the train ride the reader learns how Fish had to move out when she was eighteen, a year older than Louisa. The reader gets to know how they both used to sleep with screw drivers in their hands to protect themselves from the predators while they lived in the same Foster care residence. The reader learns that Fish loved fairy tales because of their happily ever after endings. At this point Louisa won't show Ted any of her sketches in her pad, partly because she didn't think that she had the talent that C. Jat or, also called "the Artist," saw in her, just like "the artist," or C. Jat never believed that he had any of the talent that Christian, the school janitor saw in him.

Ted tells Louisa about how Joar used to stick up for the three teenagers while they were just fourteen or fifteen years old in school who the bullies used to pick on the other three in their friendship circle that picked on "the artist," known to Louisa also as C. Jat, or Ted who were often singled out by the bullies, since they weren't as bold as Joar who knew from getting beaten on a regular basis by his, "old man," who he never referred to him as Dad since he was protective of his mother who he was extremely close to. Joar's "old man," used to come home drunk and beat up Joar's mother, and him. Joar was also, the one that gave "the artist," or C. Jat. the most encouragement that "the artist" was talented, and he should paint a picture, and enter into a contest since he was certain would win. As a means of encouraging him to see in himself, the same talent that Joar saw. He had an extra incentive by telling him to paint a picture, and winning the contest since Joar saw that was his only escape out of their town since Joar felt responsible for protecting everyone else. Just like Christian saw C. Jat's talent Joar always told him that he didn't expect to be around to keep on protecting them forever. Joar kept urging "the artist," or C Jat. to enter a painting since he thought that "the artist," or C. Jat would win first prize in the competition in a contest.

I can't stress enough how magically, philosophical Fredrik Backman's, newest novel called "MY FRIENDS," has already won the prize of being out of all my years of reading, the one that if I could memorize for eternity all of the SPECTACULAR, passages ever written in a single Adult General fiction, novel I'd easily choose this one. What you might ask are the reasons why I would choose to memorize this novel? It contains the most elegant content I've ever encountered in a single volume of fiction, EVER. I would pick this one since I think it is by far contains on every single page the most highlighted captions I admired, that I wanted to hold onto to retrieve from my memory at any given time. I have always loved Fredrik Backman's novels, but this one might just be the most inspirational in its scope of humanity with reflection towards it striking a fine balance with both heartwarming, and heart wrenching content that's accomplishments seem more ambitious. That's why even though this was the most well written novel, since I read back in 2017, John Boyne's "THE HEARTS INVISIBLE FURIES," have I read anything as UNFORGETTABLE the way I was moved emotionally as these are my favorite LIFETIME novels, which they are definitely not anything close to each other, but they both are standout Beautifully written works of art that I've read in the past eight years. I read all of the time, and I LOVE A LOT of what I read. A huge reason why this one took me so long to read, was because I would stop and reread many of the passages a few times, and then I had to stop, and highlight it which I stopped somewhere after the 60% mark, since I feel horrible for submitting my review six days after it's Publication date. I wanted to make it last for as long as possible, since I didn't want to try to make it this late, but now it took me a day to think about how I could say how much it meant to me. How can I top what the Vice President in publishing introducing it, I already know that I can't say anything as powerful as those words. I will recommend it as it deserves to reach as wide of an audience as possible. It tackles darkness, but it's more lightness achieving kindness triumphing that as it's described there are different types of happy endings. It was ultimately hopeful. He captured my heart with the elevated, strong writing he infused with dazzling euphemisms, and charm. Fredrik Backman, you have a greater command of the language that you have used than anything that I could write. I would highly, highly recommend this to both genders!

Publication Date: May 6, 2025

Thank you to Net Galley, Fredrik Backman, and Atria Publishing for generously providing me with an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always.

#MyFriends #FredrikBackman #AtriaBooks #NetGalley

There was so much to love about this novel. I have always loved Backman's writing style and his characters, and this book felt like a hug. This felt like a combination of the characters from Beartown with the humor of Anxious People and I adored every second. This is a must read if you have ever had a best friend.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review!

What’s hidden in a painting that secretly contains multitudes? Frederik Backman’s latest explores the twists and turns of a group of childhood friends on the brink of adulthood. One summer sets the course of their lives on very different paths resulting in one of the world’s most celebrated piece of art.

I love Backman and adore all of his works. This one holds the usual spunk, irreverence, and soul.

There was, however, something partially missing here for me. Perhaps it was the dialogue or the translation but it felt a bit stunted. The friendship was beautiful but the portrayal felt a little too YA for me but maybe that was the point? I have some major conflicting feelings about this one… am I alone?

I have seen recently in interviews that Backman wants to try something different —maybe a new career altogether… maybe that’s coming through here? I can’t blame him— it’s a lot of pressure to keep creating art at the level he’s at.

In any case, this is a special book. It just felt hard to get through tbh. Thank you to @atriabooks @netgalley and the author for the advance copies I was provided in exchange for an honest review

#book #books #bookworm #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #library #newrelease #fypage #bookreviewer

Best book of the year for me…so far. Backman is a favorite author and this is now my favorite book by him. Four teenagers in a forlorn miserable town come together to become each other’s “humans.” Decades later “the artist” finds a young woman painting cockroaches on the back wall of a gallery and discovers she is one of them. So ensues the story of the four friends. I laughed out loud, I cried, I was sad, I was angry, and ultimately very happy. Backman’s books and characters transcend geography, time, and society. His character development, without specific physical descriptions, illuminates the character in our imagination.

This wasn't my normal thriller or mystery. This was more of exploring the phrase, "anything can be a happy ending depending on where you end the story".

This story started with a death, and then we worked backward and forward exploring where else to add things to the story. Would it make it a happier story or a sadder one depending on where the story took us. This one made me cry at times, feel some emotions for the characters and I never truly knew when the story would end and how it would turn out.

Some aspects of this story were a little predictable but not in quite the way that you wanted it. The mirroring of the story from 25 years ago until now was poetic. I would read again, but in comparison to most of my reads I wanted to take this one slow.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for a review

3.5. Fredrik Backman is hit or miss for me usually. I’m not a fan of the emotional manipulation of Ove but Beartown is one of my favorite novels. This falls somewhere in the middle. I was fortunate to attend an event with Backman last week which probably helped to increase my rating of this one by half a star. He was really funny…it was a great talk. This book follows four fourteen old friends, 25 years ago, as they rely on each other to survive a tough town and even tougher home situations. The present day follows one of the friends and an 18 year old girl. This is a meditation on art and how art can change our worlds. I enjoyed how this book was tied together at the end, however, I find Backman’s writing repetitive at times which made this book a slog to get through. Overall, I liked the ideas behind this book and hearing Backman talk about it live made it that more enjoyable. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

My Friends by Fredrik Backman is a thoughtful, tender novel about the complicated, beautiful mess of human relationships. At its heart is a man reflecting on his life, friendships, regrets, and the moments—both big and small—that shape who we become. Through deeply personal storytelling and piercing emotional insight, Backman explores how connection, grief, humor, and love intertwine across time, offering a moving meditation on what it means to truly know—and be known by—another person.

Backman hits it out of the park once again. My Friends is quietly powerful, full of aching truths and unforgettable moments. Though the pacing lags in places, the emotional depth and richly drawn characters more than make up for it. The relationships feel real, flawed, and deeply human. His prose is stunning and his insights are unmatched; I found myself underlining lines and rereading passages just to sit with them a little longer. A strong 4.5 stars—Backman continues to prove he’s one of the most emotionally resonant writers of our time. It was such a joy having the opportunity to read this one early. Anything Backman writes, I am reading.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! This book was my most anticipated release of the year and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Backman writes stories that stick with you forever. He’ll rip your heart out but also write the most beautiful things that help stitch it back together. This book is perfection and I have no notes besides I wish I could read it again for the first time. If Backman writes it, you can bet I’m reading it. Thank you again for the advanced copy of My Friends! I loved it so much!!!

Four things will always be true about his books.

1. His character development will be superb. He truly is second to none.
2. You’re going to ugly cry multiple times.
3. For every ugly cry, you’ll laugh out loud 20 times.*
4. Every chapter will end on a cliffhanger. The cliffs just vary in size & the big ones will have you feel feeling some kinda way about Mr. Backman.

This is a *perfect* story about friendship & love.

Thank you Net Galley & to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.


*estimate- no such studies have been conducted to my knowledge

I've loved every Frederik Backman book I've read and they've all made he ugly cry. The Friends was no exception. It broke my heart and filled it with love.

I normally absolutely love Fredrik Backman books, but for some reason I could NOT get into this one. It had some good moments, but overall I just was never invested and by the end was just reading to finish it. Will still continue to read Backman books, but this one was just not my fav.

QUICK GLANCE-
My format: ebook ARC
Other Formats:🎧Audio (13 hours and 7 minutes) and 📖Physical (448 pages)
Spice: 🌶️
Language: 🤐 🤐 moderate
CW: death; abuse; grief; violence

MY THOUGHTS-
I went into this book with high expectations, having loved everything I’ve read by Fredrik Backman. This story is a heartfelt exploration of friendship, art, and the bonds that shape us, packed with emotion and relatable characters. If you love character-driven stories infused with humor and empathy, this is definitely one to consider!

That said, My Friends is heavily character-focused, which isn’t my favorite style. At nearly 450 pages, the pacing felt slow, and I really had to push myself to finish. There were moments of brilliance—scenes that completely pulled me in—but overall, it dragged for me.

READ IF YOU LIKE...
• Beautiful, messy, best friendships
• Broken people lifting each other up
• Art
• Quotes galoire

Thank you, Netgalley, for my ebook copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I LOVED this book so much! I think this is Fredrik Backman's best book yet. It is the story of art, friendship and life in general.

This is the story of four friends and 1 girl who needs to connect with them. The storyline goes back and forth from present to past. I don't usually like nonlinear story lines, but once this got going it felt like I was listening to a family member tell stories of days gone by. I will say the beginning is a little slow at first. However, once the story gets going there is no turning back!

I loved all the characters and felt all the feelings each of them felt. I laughed with them, cried with them, and learned the importance of being a friend.

READ this book! It is truly a beautiful story and It will make you appreciate your friends and your life more! My favorite book of 2025 so far!

Thanks to Fredrik Backman, NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC.

"All children are born with wings...it's just that the world is full of people who try to tear them off."

"It's art that helps me cope. Because art is a fragile magic, just like love, and that's humanity's only defense against death."

Another masterpiece by Backman! While this book focuses on the power of youth, friendship and art, this is another book that will appeal to a wide audience. The characters are endearing, even when they were being jerks to each other, and the humor made the book feel light-hearted even while discussing heavier topics! I fell in love with these characters as kids, just like the kids on the hockey team in Beartown, and appreciated Backman's ability to show their development as full individuals as they grew up. The intergenerational relationships also provide a glimpse of what our world can be if we are living in community. Readers will most definitely cry and laugh while reading this book, and they'll finish cherishing their childhood friends.

Wow. Just wow. I've loved many of Backman's books, but I think this is my favorite. This book had me tearing up and laughing...and highlighting like crazy!
My Friends is the story of artists, of lost souls, of friends who save each others' lives. It is a beautiful character study that is done with humor and raw emotion in a way that will stick with me for a long time. It follows Louisa, a teenager, as she meets Ted, who knew her favorite author. And Ted tells the story of their friendship as teenagers and across their lives.
I cannot describe it in a way that does it justice, so just read it!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

"I love you and I trust you" -- Fredrik Backman is definitely one of my favorite authors by now. The way he can make you laugh and cry in the same story is an experience like no other. The characters in My Friends are so relatable and I got so close to them, that now after I'm finished I feel like I can never be the same without them. I felt part of their story, a story about love, friendship and the power of art. Highly recommend it!

Fredrick Backman has quickly became one of my favorite authors this year.
My Friends is a story that jumps between two timelines. One in the present and the other from 25 years in the past. Backman knows how to capture the emotions of what it’s like to be human. This was a story about friendship and human connection. Once again, Backman shows that he can write about the human experience like no other, no matter the age. This was brilliant and a must read.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.