"How could the sea be big enough to have room for their hearts? Incomprehensible."

As I was going through this book, I wasn’t sure how I would rate it. The content was so beautifully Fredrik Backman at his best, but the way it was written from a technical standpoint I wasn’t sure if I liked it. However, as the book went on, the more and more I was hypnotized, the more I was invested, and the more I had tears in my eyes (on the plane, again). His continual ability to paralyze us as readers with vivid and intentional storytelling makes this story impossible to forget.

My Friends is a testament to the fearlessness of childhood, the influence of grief and the fervour of art. At its core, it’s a story about love - between friends, lovers, parents and siblings. It’s about acts of love, and everything we do in our power to keep them alive.

I can’t wait for everyone to be able to read this book. A favourite 2025 release that will be remembered for years to come.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I rated this book five stars, and I thoroughly enjoyed every second if it. This is the third book of Backman's that I have had the privilege to read, having also devoured A Man Called Ove and Anxious People. Thanks to Net Galley and Atria Books for the copy. This book is about four friends, one of which is an artist. The artist paints these childhood friends, and this work of art eventually becomes famous. One of the friends, gives the artwork to a foster girl, who he hopes will sell it and use the money to start a new life. Louisa has no such intentions and even rejects the painting at first. Louisa has no one in the world. having lost her parents and more recently losing her closest friend Fish. Throughout the story, we learn more about these four friends: Ali, Joar, Ted and KimKim (the artist). This book is so beautifully written and features various themes of art, love, friendship, grief. It's about the people we lose and the people we manage to keep. It's about found family and the power of overcoming. This book had so many moments of humor and heart. At this point, Backman is an automatic read for me. Hopefully he will pen as many books as possible, because they are all such a delight!

Beautiful, heartbreaking and a tale of love. I love fredrik's work and this was no exception. I cried. Highly recommend.

” It’s a funny thing. The person we fall in love with, we hardly ever call by their name, because it’s somehow just so obvious that it’s you I’m talking to, that it’s you I’m always thinking of. Who else?”

A beautiful story of friendship and art and all things in between. Four young people spend a summer doing so many things together and then encouraging a young artist to enter an art competition because they recognize how talented he is. The way their stories intermingle and all of their backstories are heartbreaking and breadmaking sometimes in the same moment.

"The worst thing about death, that it happens over and over again. That the human body can cry forever.

The story is told during two points of time and the second one introduces another young lady who has her own backstory. She meets up with the artist in a strange way and immediately makes the artist take notice. What happens next is a long train ride where she gets to hear about that summer with the four friends and the story unfolds during the ride.

Poignant is the word that comes to mind the most and I was so excited to receive an ARC from #NetGalley for my review. Thank you to the author for writing such amazing stories and thank you to the publisher for giving me this experience.

I love Fredrik so much as an author, This book made me feel all the things. There was loss and friendship and love. I whole heartedly recommend this

I’ve never read a book by fredrik backman that I didn’t fall completely in love with. The way he can paint a journey that makes you feel like you’re also walking it is truly remarkable. I wasn’t ready for it to end but loved every single page. A story of grief, friendship, and belonging all tangled into one. Can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.

Y'all, Fredrik Backman might be the most prolific writer of my lifetime. His writing is lyrical, the characters are flawed and loveable and interesting, the plot is multi-faceted and engaging. I love Louisa and the four friends. I didn't want the story to end. If you are a Backman fan, you'll love My Friends. If you haven't discovered him yet, start here and then go to the Beartown trilogy.

- i did not want this book to end because i wanted to live in it
- truly a profound book that I think everyone will have to read
- i have never highlighted more quotes before, because so much of this book speaks to me and many that i know
- a warm, heartfelt, hug that will leave you with laughter, tears and longing for more

100/100 one of the best books ever - I will be recommending to everyone

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU NetGalley for the ARC!

Fredrick Backman has done it again. This book really comes to life through the ups and downs of Louisa and Ted’s friendship and the retelling of summer long ago with 4 teenage friends. These two worlds collide int this beautiful story. I felt like I knew the characters so well and I wasn’t ready to let go off them on the last page. If you’ve read any of Backman’s book and fallen in love with his style, you won’t be disappointed.


Thanks so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read the advance review copy of My Friends in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is May 20, 2025.

This was an extremely slow paced books that gave a ton of details that were not needed and slowed the book down. There are two storylines that you need to follow (past and present) and I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. I enjoy being kept on my toes while I read and the length of the book just felt daunting.

Fredrik Backman really knows how to tell a story. I loved My Friends. Not as many characters as Beartown; characters to fall in love with ... and I did.

3 three boys and a girl (one then and one now).

Arts and farts and friendship.

Highly recommended. 448 pages, and I really didn't want it to end; can't say that very often.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read the advance review copy of My Friends in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is May 20, 2025.

This will be one of the top books in 2025.

Let me start by saying the moment I first picked up Fredrik Backman’s novel Beartown years ago, I knew this was my author. Everything about his style of writing appeals to me. I have loved all of his novels and My Friends was no different. When I was given the opportunity to read My Friends, I could not contain my excitement. This was a book that I wanted to end all while the same time wanted to last forever. I truly took my time and savored every word. The friendships that developed between all of the characters was so heartwarming. We all should be so lucky to find those types of people to share our lives with. My Friends is going to be a hard one to top this year. 2025 has started out strong.

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

I have absolutely loved Fredrik Backman for quite some time, and I think everything he writes is gold. As a devoted fan, I had high expectations for this book—and it did not disappoint.

The story opens with Louisa, a teenager in the foster care system whose best friend has just died of an overdose. She sneaks into an art auction to catch a glimpse of a painting by a world-renowned artist whose work deeply speaks to her. After being thrown out of the auction, she meets a man she assumes is homeless—only to discover he is actually the famous C. Jat, the very artist behind the painting she came to see.

That night, the painting sells for an exorbitant amount to Ted, the artist’s longtime friend and confidante. C. Jat, who is terminally ill, has spent everything he has trying to reclaim the painting, determined to die penniless but with his artwork in his possession. Ted fulfills his friend’s wish, and on his deathbed, the artist gifts the painting to Louisa, recognizing her as “one of them.”

Louisa, with no stable home, is overwhelmed by the responsibility of owning such a valuable piece. Ted, however, knows someone who can help her sell it. Together, they embark on a journey to the artist’s hometown, carrying both the painting and his ashes. Along the way, Ted shares the remarkable story of his friendship with the artist, their enigmatic companion Joar, and the larger-than-life Ali.

This novel is a masterpiece—filled with heartbreak, humor, and hope. It is simply brilliant.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I've enjoyed many Fredrik Backman books over the years. He's a wonderful story teller. My Friends is another example of his wonderful storytelling abilities.

Louisa has grown up in foster homes. She's bounced from home to home - some okay, some awful. One thing she's always brought with her is a postcard she found at one of the earlier homes. To most this postcard is just a picture of the sea but she's special. She sees more than the rich fancy art buyers that are just looking for prestige pieces of art. She sees the friends sitting on the pier.

The story begins with Louisa in a museum hoping to see the painting in real life just once. She never intends to steal it or destroy it. Luckily she bumps into just the right person while trying to escape the security guards. He knows instantly she's one of them and needs to be protected.

The story flips between the story of the kids on the pier and Louisa who suddenly finds herself the owner of a priceless piece of art. Making her way with the artists.

I found the middle of the story a little slow and I really had to push myself to keep going through this book. But I knew like other Fredrik Backman books the ending would be worth it and I wasn't disappointed. This is a beautiful book of art and friendship. I loved the ending.

I would recommend My Friends to anyone who can appreciate a good story being told and can be patient for a great ending.

Quite possibly his best novel. A story of friendship and art and belonging and love. I enjoyed this one immensely and will recommend to those who have enjoyed his previous books.

Is it May 20 yet because I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book. With My Friends, Backman is truly at his best as he explores the intricacies of friendship, love, life, and grief. The lyrical prose with which Backman envelopes the reader is a true comfort as you are taken on this incredible journey through time. I am excited to come back to this book after it is published and highlight every beautiful image that Backman created through the use of his unique voice.

Louisa, C. Jat, Ted, and Joar create a cast of characters that make you want to revisit your own childhood memories. Times when you felt invincible and as if life held every possibility. Those quiet moments when your dreams were just within reach and all you needed was the support and love of your best friends. And although life may have hit you with unexpected ups and downs, you know that there are those people in your life that you could always reach out to if needed. This book is a love story to unconditional friendships and the memories created within them.

My Friends will be one of those books that I recommend to every person I know as it truly is a novel that showcases the beauty of what it means to be human.

Caution: If you read this book on a plane, prepare yourself to ugly cry, laugh out loud, and smile like an “idiot”. Your fellow passengers might think you’re absolutely insane and I promise you that it’s ok to let them believe whatever they want.

“My Friends” had me in my feelings, reminiscing about my formative years, thinking about those who shaped me. I am better because I read this book. My hope is that everyone, and I mean everyone, reads Backman’s latest masterpiece because we can also use a reminder that the greatest parts of us showed up with those we loved along the way.

Fredrik releases another signature blend of humor and emotional depth in this title. This character driven story grabs you as you become invested in the friendship and perseverance of the characters . This just hit the spot for a great read that you want to recommend to all your friends.

When Louisa finds herself face to face with her favorite painting, she never would have guessed how the rest of her life would change. Backman writes a cast of characters that become the reader’s friends, and My Friends is no different. My Friends is a cast of diverse characters that grow and develop throughout the story painting a picture of lives interwoven by art, trauma, and one summer.

4.5 stars rounded up. There was just a bit of lull.. a meandering where it was too slow and repetitive that brought it down from a 5.
But other than that I have no complaints! I love the way Backman writes and his translator does an amazing job. The narrator is speaking right to you and it feels like he breaks the 4th wall and you’re part of the story right with them. This is a coming of age story told by a man who has come of age. A chance meeting with a younger woman on the run (recently 18, so she can do whatever she wants). He tells her his story of he and his friends the summer they turned 15. And he realizes that Luisa really is one of them. They bond over an artist and his art.
This is a heartwarming and hopeful story of very broken people who are just figuring it out by not stopping. They’ve been through a lot and they’re coming out the other side.
Lots of sadness, domestic violence, bad foster homes, and death of those held so dear. My friends is a story about family. And obviously friends. The human condition and how people can connect over different spaces and times. Somethings bring us together even when the world around us is burning.

This one’s good. I highly recommend!