Once again Fredrik Backman writes a story that encapsulates the human experience so expertly it makes you cry.

Louisa belongs to no one and nothing belongs to her - except an old postcard of one of the most famous paintings in the world. The painting is called 'The One of the Sea' but Louisa knows it is not; it is the one of three teenagers, miniscule, but there, painted in the corner. Thrown head first into a journey where she discovers the story behind the painting, we meet a cast of memorable characters that - 25 years earlier - experience the type of friendship that changes your world.

My Friends is reflective and tells a perfectly fragmented story by diving into the lives of teenagers. You have no choice but to fall completely in love with Fredrik Backman's characters.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing the arc of my favourite author's new book with me as a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Frederick Backman is an author I trust completely with my heart. Like his other novels, "My Friends" is an emotionally charged yet hopeful story of the importance of human connection.

Louisa is an 18 year old aspiring artist with a dark past and a larger than life personality. The two things holding her together for much of her young life are her friend Fish and a postcard with a depiction of a world-famous painting titled, "Of the Sea." When she least expects it, Louisa finds herself responsible for the original painting that most people recognize for it's breathtaking depiction of the ocean. Louisa, however, takes a keen interest in the three almost indistinguishable teenagers depicted in the background.

In an effort to uncover the history of the painting and the kids within it, Louisa embarks on a journey with Ted, a worrisome 39 year old who she believes can help put together some of the pieces.

This is a remarkable story of the transcendent power of art and friendship. It is also funny in a young spirited kind of way. In this book you will find found family, complicated familial relationships, and heart-warming moments of human kindness.

Like any piece of translated work, there were definitely moments where my English speaking brain may have missed the punchline, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the experience. Backman's writing style is very unique and toes the line of literary fiction, which I think is important to know going into any of his work. I for one am a huge fan.

Definitely give "My Friends" a try!

I will be posting a video review on TikTok and Instagram closer to the publication date, unless approved by the publisher sooner.

Books make us laugh and cry, but the spectacular ones give me chills. I think what made me fall so hard for this book was experiencing validation for the hopeful and the heartbroken. Backman is a genius when it comes to human nature and understanding what it takes to move through the unfairness that life challenges some people with.

Beauty in unexpected places is one of my favorite elements ever. I taught art for a few years, and the way artists are portrayed here is going to make many feel seen. Of course, the same can be said of the way friendship is portrayed.

A story within a story “My Friends” brings the past and present together in an honest vulnerable tone. A teen in foster care carries a postcard for years and endeavors to stand before the actual painting featured. She's promptly tossed out by security. In the alley outside the auction, she meets a man and a cat she assumes are homeless. Pure magic happens when the pair begin spray painting the alley walls together.

The teen later meets Ted, and he tells her the story of the summer when he was fourteen. She becomes invested in this tale of friendship. The two understand each other although they are from different worlds. Like recognizes like. His story gives her unique insights about her favorite painting and the world beyond. I'm being rather vague on purpose this is a story best jumped into.

I knew within a few pages that this would be a five-star book for me. Sometimes the very best in people goes unseen, but if you're fortunate enough to notice it changes everything.

All the Stars and Chills

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an Advance Readers Copy for review! These are my unbiased opinions.

—Abstract and extremely verbose writing, but the reward is sweet

The beginning of this story is about foster children, art and farting…and how that turned in to a poignant story about friendship and belonging is beyond me. But that’s the charm of Fredrik Backman.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc that I was ecstatic to receive.

My first five star of 2025… are we surprised?

My Friends follows four teenagers who form an unbreakable bond while spending their summer days on a pier, escaping difficult home lives through laughter and storytelling. Over twenty years later, Louisa, an artist, inherits a painting that includes a mysterious trio of figures —part of the group’s story. As Louisa embarks on a journey to uncover the painting's origins, she discovers how their friendship and art changed their lives. Along the way, Louisa is inspired to unleash her own creativity, realizing that the power of art and friendship can shape unexpected futures.

Fredrick Backman might have written the most stunning depiction of humanity to ever exist. Beartown will always be one of my favorite books, but this book hit right when I needed it most, My Friends is a story of multitudes — spanning friendship, anxiety, loneliness, grief, abuse, addiction, how art can heal, love, & every emotion one might experience.

Like all of his novels, these characters — Joar, Ted, Ali, Louisa, & the artist — are rich and have so much depth that I felt like I could reach out and touch them. Backman releases so much beauty, humor & pain in this story — I had to stop reading multiple times to think about his words.

By the end, I was fighting for breath from crying so much!!!

Thank you always Atria Books for the advanced copy! I will be thinking about My Friends for a long time.

My favorite of Backman’s works. I am so excited that everyone gets to read this. Thanks for the arc, I feel honored that I got to read it. I read this at just the right time.

The coming of age story many authors wish they could write.
You'll laugh, cry, get angry, and make connections.
And when it ends you will be fulfilled.
Recommended.

…an endless sea, a great friendship, a true love story.”

This was quite the beautiful adventure, from beginning to end.

It is always an honor to read a Backman novel, whether as an ARC or on release day. But I’m especially pleased I got my hands on My Friends early. It was the best way to start the new year.

I don’t usually write reviews and thoughts as I read a book but with this one, I felt like I had to. In the first quarter, I laughed, cried, and full blown wept more than I could count. Backman has a tendency to make me feel like my chest is constricting and like I need to hold my breath with the turn of each page, but clinging to the knowledge that there WILL be hope that ties it all together.

This was such a beautiful story of deep, true friendship on so many levels. Of love. Of grief. Of art. Of being human.

A story of a teenage girl that collides with the story of four best friends. It’s heart-wrenching. It’s sob-inducing. It’s hope-inspiring. It’s brilliant.

I always say that Backman has a beautiful way of weaving characters together in a beautiful and intricate way and this was no different - despite this being such a different adventure from other stories he has told.

I knew right away that this would be one of my favorite Backman novels and I was right. It’s impossible not to love Louisa and the way her life intersects with Ted, Joar, Ali, and KimKim.

Gosh, I just loved this so much and am so thankful to NetGalley and Atria books for allowing me to read it early and be moved so profoundly. Backman never misses. He really never does.

Truly a delightful, funny read from one of my favorite authors. A story that keeps you guessing about the characters lives and whereabouts (and if they are still alive and out of prison) from the first page to the last. This is one I will recommend.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Backman’s books are so heartfelt that they fill you up in a way that no other books can, and his latest book, My Friends, is no exception. He has a way of completely pulling you into the world he’s created, and even if you don’t see why or how you’ll care about these characters at the beginning, you’ll always fall in love with them by the end of the book.

My Friends has a slightly smaller cast of characters than his other books—through a chain reaction of events, Louisa meets Ted in the present day, and he tells her the story of four friends 25 years ago whose lives are changed by one summer. What happened that summer will directly impact Louisa, and it’s ultimately a story of grief, the creation of art, and the transformative power of friendship.

Backman’s signature omniscient narrator is here again, alluding to past and present events, so even if you think it might end one way, it doesn’t. I didn’t cry like I did with Backman’s other books, but overall it’s heartfelt, quirky, and a wonderful addition to Backman’s shelf!

4.5 stars rounded up

The only thing wrong with books by Fredrik Backman is that they end up. This WILL be my favorite book of 2025. Read it without reading about it: skip the blurbs and reviews, just experience it.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC

Brilliant! Beautiful! Tragic! Heartwarming! Heartbreaking! Fredrik Backman is a masterful storyteller. It is difficult to find adequate words with which to describe the experience of this novel because this novel IS most definitely an experience. This is a story of found family, the capacity of art to speak and heal, the power of friendship, and how trauma impacts who we are, how we perceive, how we love, and if we stay. Most importantly, however, it illustrates the reparative nature of the relationships with our humans and the beauty of finding someone who is “one of us”. Backman has a unique ability to build characters with insight and depth, helping readers to understand each character holistically. He beautifully integrates each character’s talents and strengths with their flaws and moments of less than genius judgment. You will laugh, you will cry, you will gasp, and you will absolutely fall in love with these characters!

I will forever read anything that Fredrik Backman writes, and I am confident he will never disappoint. I am so grateful to have gotten the complimentary ARC of this book. Thank you to NetGalley, Fredrik Backman, and Atria Books.

Ever read a Fredrik Backman book? I feel like there are two kinds of groups. You either love it or hate it. I rarely feel like there's an in-between to his writing. I've always been on the side that loves it. Heads up to reading, there are a few triggers. Just as I suspected, this book did not leave me disappointed. It's kind of like Beartown. Fredrik Backman does really well when it comes to character building. He truly makes you capture each person very well. The first several lines in this book already had me hooked. This story is all tragic and beautiful at once. What I find that I enjoy the most is putting two unlikely things together and making it work. I think that is what he's good at doing. Making something that might seem negative turn out to become positive or blossom into something else over time. Truly, I have never been disappointed in his storytelling!

Backman shows us the importance and beauty of platonic love. I think That we take platonic love for granted in a lot of ways. This is just the most beautiful and heart wrenching story of a group of friends growing up. The way he interconnects the past and present to show parallels of younger them and Louisa now, just amazing. His writing is some of my favorite, favorite pieces of art. I really loved this one and I can’t wait to annotate a copy!

Fredrik Backman's latest novel, My Friends, is a good addition to his growing list of great novels. My Friends is a reflective story of four friends who find each other in a small town. Their friendship and bond is forged through difficulties they face in their own personal lives. It is a tale of strength , love and unrelenting friendships. However, there is a darkness to the book that may be difficult for some readers. A large portion of the plot surrounds abuse both in a foster home and by a parent. Many times I would have to stop reading just to take a break from the hurt. This definitely needs to be disclosed as it could be impactful in a negative way for some readers. Another issue that may be off-putting to some readers is the frequent use of "GD" which some might find disrespectful or offensive, ( it was to me) . I'm sure Backman used the language to serve certain characters' emotions, however, it was unnecessary. This could also alienate other sensitive readers. I've always liked Backman's book but this one is just too dark for me. I'm sure there are others who will enjoy it.

Thank you so very much to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Fredrik Backman for allowing me to review this masterpiece! I have loved everything Fredrik Backman has written and this book is no exception. This is such a beautifully written novel about childhood, found family, art, and adulthood. You will feel all the emotions but over all this is a love letter to childhood and art (in my opinion). I imagine each reader will have a different interpretation based on their life experiences. This novel is that amazing that it will provide what each reader needs during their reading experience. I already have plans to reread this and I am sure I will have a different reading experience based on whatever I have going on in my life at that time. I can’t wait to reread this beautiful book. I highly recommend this to absolutely everyone! It is for everyone at any stage of life! Thank you so very much for allowing me to read and honestly review this book. It is a new all time favorite book of mine!

“My Friends” is by Fredrik Backman. I laughed, I cried, I rolled my eyes, I sighed and read this book in one day. This book started with a grabbing opening paragraph that made me laugh (thanks for that) and just rolled on from there. This isn’t an easy book to read - a lot happens in this town and amongst these teenagers. Is it all lovely? No. Is it all horrible? Thank goodness, no. It’s about a group of four kids who found each other at just that right time - when friendship bonds sometimes matter more than family bonds. It’s those friendship bonds that help you cope with the crazy world - especially when a teenager. This book is about art - and the wonders of that world. It’s about survival - mental and physical. It’s about life. This book is told in two timelines - the past (25 years ago) and present. The past is told mainly by Ted, though others get to interject their viewpoints. The present is with Louisa and Ted. There were so many great lines in this book - some that have that Backman view that you hadn’t thought of before, but once he writes it down, you go “oh, yes, that’s right.” I will say that at times I found this book a bit long, though Backman’s writing style flows as beautifully as ever. I’ll also admit that I’m not a fan of the cover (I’d much prefer the painting from the book). But a huge 4.75 stars from me - I’d re-read this book and I’d recommend it to those who like teenage friendship groups that evolve into lifelong friendship bonds.

Fredrik Backman is hit or miss for me. Although I loved the Beartown series, I struggle with his more fantasy-type stories. This was one of those stories for me. I didn't resonate or connect with the characters and the I struggled to stay engaged in the storyline. I will continue to try his books, but in the end this one was definitely not for me.

This book is a love letter- to art, artists, children, teenagers, broken people, and to friends. It’s devastating and joyful, it’s dark and it’s bright. This is Bachman’s best book yet and if you’ve ever had a friend, I can’t recommend it enough. Please note this book contains triggers- read with care.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this stunning ARC given in exchange for my honest review.

This book is amazing! To me, it’s more similar to the storytelling of beartown or anxious people. If you preferred a man called ove, it’s not that format. However, it is beautifully written. The characters are complex, the painting is so well described. I kept wanting to look up The One of the Sea! Another five star read from Backman.