Frederik Backman is currently one of my favorite writers. This new book was another winner for me. I loved all the characters. With every page I just wanted to know more of the back story and couldn't wait to find out how it would end. Once again he delivers a page turning emotional roller coaster. He writes flawed, multidimensional characters better than just about anybody today. I loved this book!

My Friends is an amazing journey of life's ups and downs - friendship, family, abuse, love, happiness, grief - and so much more. I alternately cried/sobbed and laughed my way through the entire book. I highlighted the heck out of this book! Trust me when I tell you that there is probably a topic in this story that you will relate to. Fredrik Backman is an amazing writer. He finds unusual yet entirely realistic, flawed characters and makes them the messenger for life's greatest lessons. The book starts off with Louisa in a church that is actually an art exhibition. When Louisa is chased out of the church she meets a homeless man who is not actually homeless and their chance meeting changes her life when his friend gives her a work of art. I can picture this painting in my mind, and with it I have such warm feelings of love and happiness that if I were to find it in a museum some day I would want to spend my day staring at it in order to take in all of its wisdom. But I digress. Louisa embarks on a journey where she learns all about the painting and a lifetime of stories that go with it. I absolutely loved all of the characters in this book. The title couldn't be any more appropriate as I want them all to be MY friends. I want to know them and call them my own. I want to be one of them. There needs to be more stars for a story like this.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the DRC in exchange for my honest review.

I am utterly speechless! This book was everything! Every single word this author writes is magic! A must must must read for everyone regardless of what Genre you like, this is a must for everyone!

Fredrik has done it again! I have yet to not fall completely in love with his work. He has this remarkable way of telling a full, emotionally rich story while still leaving just enough unsaid to keep you totally engaged. His characters feel so real. You don’t just read about them, you feel them. I found myself laughing, tearing up, and completely swept away. It’s heartbreaking, devastating, funny, hopeful and I had to talk about it. I want everyone to feel this feeling. This might just be my new favorite of his!

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my honest reviews. This was truly a joy to read.

There’s no doubt that Fredrik Backman is an outstanding writer whose stories are heartfelt and evocative. His character development rivals no other and the plot is refreshingly unique. On a personal level, it is hard for me to read something so raw and real. I don’t like to feel emotional when I’m reading and that’s probably why my genre of choice is psychological thrillers. With that said, I appreciate Backman’s artistic talent and know this will be a huge hit and popular with book clubs. There is a lot to reflect upon and discuss.

I love Fredrik Backman so much. I've read all of his books and this is one of my favorite. Even though it ripped my heart out and tore it to shreds at times. There are not enough stars for this one.

Fredrik Backman is one of my favorite authors, and I’ve been looking forward to reading his latest for a long time. Huge thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. As we all know, this one is already available—and yes, I am absolutely terrible at keeping up with my NetGalley approvals. (Which is probably why I get rejected for so many. Fair.)

I actually started this because it was our July book club pick, and I wanted to be able to join in the conversation. Backman has such a distinct and beautiful writing style. I don’t think I’ve ever read one of his books I didn’t enjoy. Sure, I like some more than others, but I’m obsessed with his quirky characters and the way he builds their relationships. He’s a master of character development.

This one started a little slower than I typically prefer, but within the pages is a story full of friendship, loyalty, laughter, and art.

My only complaint? It was a bit too long, which is the only reason it didn’t get five stars from me. Still—this is a book I think many will enjoy.

Incredible storytelling as per usual. Just a truly wonderful reading experience. Emotional & heavy with an undertone of humor that just really speaks to the soul. Fredrik Backman can do no wrong honestly.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

An absolutely stunning read, emotional and gut wrenching in the best possible way. The story was told in really interesting way with Ted recounting his childhood to Lousia. So many interesting characters and little moments that felt huge. Fredrik Backman has really cornered the market on writing stories that are full of imperfect humans. This book deserves more than 5 stars.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review.

I have read multiple books by Backman up to this point and unfortunately this one was my least favorite. The story was not very captivating and I had a really hard time maintaining interest before eventually deciding to DNF.

This is the first book I’ve read by Frederik Bachman and I really enjoyed it. I love that it wasn’t a mystery or a romance or any other genre - it was just a book about life. I like how Louisa was able to uncover the stories of the teenagers in the painting. Although it was sad at times, it was still interesting, refreshing and uplifting.

I have loved everything I’ve read by Fredrik Backman, but I think this book will live within me for a long time. Deeply moving and emotional, this story of love and friendship is one I won’t soon forget. Backman has a gift for birthing uniquely textured characters and electrifying the space between them. I just adored this book from start to finish. I’d be willing to guess it’s the best book I will read in 2025!

In a distant seaside town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their bruising home lives by spending long summer days on an abandoned pier, telling silly jokes, sharing secrets, and committing small acts of rebellion. These lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream, a reason to love.

Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be placed into eighteen-year-old Louisa’s care, some 25 years after it was first created. She embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn how the painting came to be and to decide what to do with it. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more nervous she becomes about what she’ll find. Louisa is proof that happy endings don’t always take the form we expect in this stunning testament to the transformative, timeless power of friendship and art.

I thought this was another wonderful story by Backman, and although it had more serious tones and wasn't always a happy tale, it still caught me up in the story and made me feel like I was there in the thick of it with them. I enjoyed reading it and even with the darker moments, it was still very true to life and kept the message of hope and value of friendship throughout.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Louisa is about to be 18. She's an aspiring artist running away from foster care who recently lost her best friend. Her only connection to her mom is a postcard she sent with a painting that Louisa is drawn to. When Louisa goes to see the painting in person, she ends up meeting the famous artist behind the unlikely success story. From there, Louisa is taken on an adventure where she learns about the story behind her favorite painting, the summer at the sea that changed everything, and the power of art and friendship.

Backman's writing is stunning. This book made me feel deeply in a way that few books can. There is a lot of sadness in this book, but it is worth it for the joy and the journey. I could not love the friendships in this book more. They are the kinds of friendships only teenagers can forge and if you're lucky enough, you get to keep them for a lifetime.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of My Friends.

A beautiful story of friendship, grief, and love! Backman writes with such eloquence and feeling. Made me feel all the feels….I laughed, I cried. Thank you Atria Books for providing a digital ARC to attendees of Book Huddle’s Victoria retreat!!

Fredrik Backman is one of the greatest writers of our time. I loved every minute of My Friends.

Seventeen year old Louisa's late mother sent her a postcard with a painting of three kids on a pier. It always resonated with her so when she runs away from her latest foster home, she breaks into a museum to see it. Little does she know that through a series of events, she will soon own the painting and learn the story behind it.

This is a stunning ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ book. It is found family at its best. It is the power of art and friendship and believing in others. Laugh out loud funny and heartbreaking at the same time, with fallible yet lovable characters, makes this a book one I will never forget. I did a combination read and listen for this one! Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy!

"Art is what we leave of ourselves in other people.- Fredrik Backman, My Friends

Such a beautiful story of friendship and love . I laughed ., I cried … laughed some more and cried some more and just didn’t want this adventure to end .

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you Atria Books for the ARC of My Friends by Fredrik Backman!

This is my very first Fredrick Backman book, and after seeing his books and adaptations around I was really excited to get started on this. This was the perfect feel-good, light hearted, and summer-y book for this time of year. A group of friends living in a hard neighborhood, but understanding that there's more to life than your surroundings (as hard as that might be.) Learning about how art brings people together, I thought was so special. I loved the friendship dynamics between the main group, but also the dynamics between Ted and Louisa. The storytelling here also adds an extra special element to an already special book. Would defs recommend this book to anyone who wants a light hearted read.

Wow! Mr. Backman you have done it again. I loved this book - next only to A Man Called Ove - which is my favourite Fredrik Backman book. A story of youth, small towns, friendship, the art world and love. Everyone should read this book! 5+++++ stars! Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. I loved this book.

This may be on of my favourite books of 2025. There is something about a coming of age story that just captures my heart and deep emotions in a way other novels can't.

Fredrik Backman has yet to disappoint me, but this one may take the cake as my favourite of his works. I had to sit with this one for a while, after finishing it. I couldn't bear to start another book, while still feeling so deeply about all of the characters in this one. A story of found-family, of choosing the people in your life who complete you and lift you up. The world can be a hard and unkind place, stories like this one help to restore your faith that there is good in a tough world.