I am speechless.

This book is the perfect mix of funny, deeply heartbreaking, and somewhat still incredibly hopeful.

With every new book of Fredrik Backman’s that I read, I find myself more and more fascinated by his talent at painting human experiences through beautifully accurate similes and metaphors. I would quote some of my favorites for you right now, but I would hate to spoil even a morsel of this wonderful story.

You are just going to have to trust me when I tell you to go into this blind and let yourself be transported through Backman’s enchanting characters and spellbinding narrative.

5 stars

Prospective readers who are familiar with Backman's work and wonder if he can possibly manage to do it again will be pleased to know that the answer is a resounding "yes." He can and does in this incredible new novel.

It's the day before Louisa will turn 18, and this isn't just the mark of her impending adulthood. As a long-term resident in foster care, Louisa's impending birthday will mark her freedom from a life of emotional and physical safety and security. The one respite from her struggles is her friend, Fish, whom she has recently lost (and she mentions so very early on, so not a spoiler at all). Louisa's grief and uncertainty lead her to do and see the one thing that resonates with her: a specific piece of art. That experience catapults her into a new set of contacts, an adventure, and a whole series of discoveries.

I'll leave the plot points as vague and minimal as possible because this journey is really about character development and connection, along with grief, processing, and resilience. The way Backman explores the human condition is just so special and layered, and I love his work. This novel is no exception. Recommended to all.

this unpacks so much! Love, friendship, found family, heartbreak, and loss... FB really packs a punch in his books, it's worth taking your time with it.

4.5/5 ⭐️, 0/5 🌶️, 3/5 💧

🎨Found Family & Power of Friendships
🎨Dysfunctional Families
🎨Power of Art & Surviving
🎨Bullying/Addiction/Domestic Violence
🎨Dual Timeline

If you've read a novel by Fredrik Backman, you know he has a very distinct style of writing that you either love or you don't. I personally love it, and just found myself crying throughout this book, admiring and feeling the love between the characters.

The storytelling of these friends was shared such as the main young character in the book matched the reactions of the reader, which was a fun way to flashback to the pasty. It was interwoven with present day in a captivating way that moved the story along. That being said, there are a lot of anecdotes that show us why these friends are the way they are, but it's not a perfectly linear fast paced plot line - so if you're looking for something quick moving in that way, this won't be it. However, I still found the storytelling compelling and couldn't wait to hear more.

There were tough topics woven in with the nonchalant dark humor that Fredrik is known for that had me crying and laughing throughout. It was such a beautiful story that I'll be thinking about for a long time.

If you're looking for a slower paced but emotionally moving story that's told with a signature humor, I would very much recommend this book. It's heavy, so just make sure you're in the right mood before diving in.

Three friends enjoying spending time at the pier they don't realize how significant this will be in the future.

In My Friends by Fredrik Backman, Louisa finds a painting with three small figures that most people overlook and sets out to learn who they were. Her journey leads her to a story from 25 years ago, where four teenagers formed a deep friendship that changed their lives and inspired a powerful work of art.

My Friends was one of my most anticipated spring reads! Fredrik Backman is an auto-read author for me and I’ve loved his previous books. Like his other books, this one tackles heavy themes so I recommend checking the content warnings on StoryGraph beforehand. While the story starts off a bit slow, it eventually picked up enough to keep my interest. There were a couple of characters I really liked, but some felt underdeveloped. Backman includes some truly resonating quotes that hit deep. The story beautifully captures nostalgia, teenage youth, and the power of friendship. That said, the middle section dragged for me as there were repetitive and unnecessary details that bogged down the story and prolonged the mystery. The ending and resolution felt a bit underwhelming after such a long build-up. Overall, I had mixed feelings about the book.

Oh my goodness did I love this story. I laughed and cried and could not get enough. It was such a perfect story. Blackman really knows how to write in a way that makes you feel!

Receiving a NetGalley ARC of one of my favorite authors’ new books is an immense honor and privilege.

The book immediately captivated me with its well-developed characters and engaging dialogue. In typical Backman style, the narrative alternates between moments of laughter and tears, leaving me laughing out loud one moment and heartbroken the next. Louisa’s unique storyline was particularly endearing, but I was deeply moved by the depth of the friendships portrayed throughout the novel.

While I need some time to fully process my thoughts, I believe this book has the potential to become my new favorite Backman work. It deserves five well-deserved stars!

When Louisa sets out to change her life, she ends up in quite a situation! This adventure will be one that will change her life forever! This is a story about a group of friends who bonds over their difficult childhood, but even more than that, it is a story of love and loyalty. Once again, Fredrik Backman has written a story that will stay with you and make you feel ALL the emotions! Loved it!!!

Backman’s latest novel brings to life a group of teenage best friends and the way their lives unfold in the past and present timelines.

My Friends feels very reminiscent of the film “Now and Then” with a group of teens and their various challenges related to growing up and family. There are many twists and turns and times when a cliffhanger chapter ending has you quickly flipping the pages.

In classic Backman fashion, the characters have a lot of depth and are easy to root for, even the unlovable ones. He has such a beautiful way with writing realistic characters and plot. Some of the prose was a bit over the top, but there were a lot of nice poignant lines too. There was a lot to keep track of, and I did get some of the character reveals a little bit confused. Some are only referred to by nicknames or alternative names, so it’s important to keep tabs on who is who.

I did not feel as though Ali got enough time and attention and development, and I wish I had gotten to know her better as a character. She was the only one of the friend group that I felt was underdeveloped.

Overall, I think lovers of Fredrik Backman will really about this one. It has a lot of heart and I had many moments where I teared up at the deep feelings he was able to portray through these characters. I overall recommend!

A new Fredrik Backman book is always an event for me. My Friends comes off his masterful Beartown trilogy and themes that occur in many of his books are reflected in his newest. Children's experiences with a harsh world continues in this one. It begins at an art auction where Louisa, a soon to be eighteen year old encounters a painting that means the world to her and is chased away by a security guard where she stumbles upon a man she assumes to be homeless in the alley. This encounter sets into motion the plot of the book, tapping into the history of the figures in the corner of that famous painting. We meet the young friends the summer they are fourteen. Joar is brash and prone to fighting, Ali who never lives in a place longer than a year, Ted who is quiet and sensitive, and the artist who is trying to figure out who he is in the world. Their story is slowly revealed to Louisa over a trip back to where those children bonded that summer years ago. Like many of Backman's books, this is meant to tear at your heart strings, and I imagine for many it will. Perhaps it was just the head space I was in, but I felt like he was turning back to tropes from other books- traumatic experience after traumatic experience, reactions to events that seem over the top, and dangling nuggets of emotional challenges to come. While all of the characters have a chance to be highlighted, I never felt truly connected to any of them. I know many will enjoy this one. If readers are interested in similar themes to his previous works, they will like this one as well. For me, it was a bit of a miss.

Thank you to Atria Books via NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for honest review.

I've read most of Fredrik Backman's books, so when I saw the opportunity to read his next one, I immediately requested it! I've always thought that my first Backman book - A Man Called Ove - couldn't be topped, but I'm actually topping it with this one. This broke my heart so many times, while also simultaneously filling it. Only Backman could make me (literally) laugh out loud, and then make me tear up! This was an absolutely gorgeous story that was both painful and real. A must read for any of the author's fans, but know that it handles many dark, tragic stories. I identified so much with Louisa, and then Ted, and then Ali, Joar, and the artist himself. It's a rare thing for an author to make everyone so connected and relateable, but Backman more than did this with My Friends.

Fredrick Blackman does it again. Admittedly, there is nothing that he writes that I have disliked, but this is so beyond heartwarming and a fantastic release for the summer.

Not sure if Frederick Backmans books are my type of books. At least I tried. This was a beautiful story but it left me skimming the pages. I'm just the oddball out when it comes to this author but I can see how many people will love this book

Thank you publisher and netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I was given an advanced reader copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I’m sorry to say I really struggled getting through this one. I love this author and his past books but this one did not succeed in holding my attention.

This book was boring; I did not relate to the characters and the plot took forever to unfold. I am typically a fan of Backman, so I am very disappointed!

Whew! That was an emotional roller coaster!!

Yet another poignant, humorous, and real novel by Backman.

I didn’t even care what the book was about - as soon as I saw the author, I knew I wanted it. That’s how I feel about Fredrick Backman’s writing. It’s just soooo good. It makes you FEEL. Always.

I loved this coincidental meeting that turns into an adventure. I loved the characters. I loved their friendships. I loved their hardships. I loved the story behind the painting. 😂

What’s not to love?!?

This is a masterpiece. ❤️ I don’t know what else I need to say.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Fredrick Backman is such an incredible author! All of his books are very well written and this is just as good. The characters are well developed. The story is engaging and definitely thought provoking. Anyone who has enjoyed his previous books are in for another treat!

Backman has done it again. A beautifully written story about a summer and four friends. 25 years after the summer that changed his friends and his life forever Ted tells 18-year-old Louisa about the events of that summer. Written in Backman‘s unique voice. I cried. I laughed. And I read so slow because I did not want the story to end, I would read Frederick Backman‘s to do list

I'm not sure I can do justice to this story and these characters but here goes. Fredrik Backman has done it again with My Friends.

There are several museum break-ins, a long train ride, one memorable summer and a bunch of awful parents and classmates. Through it all Backman weaves a wonderful story of friendship - the kind that makes you suffer for another. Childhoods that no child should have to suffer through - many readers will relate to the cruelty of bullies and weak adults. There are crazy things that only kids will do, like ride the shopping cart down the steep hill. But in all of the darkness, Backman leaves you with hope - hope that there's still beauty left.
This is full of Backman's wonderful quotes -

"Nothing weighs more than someone else's belief in you"
" The children of addicts always know what time it is."
" How many books have you read? Not nearly enough, he smiles"

Backman's gift is seeing people. Everyone can relate to some character in his books. We feel seen and happy that we're not going through life without someone else facing the same things we face.

This is an emotional book - I was a puddle when I finished. Do not miss this wonderful story from Backman this year.