My Friends: A Novel

The moment I started reading this book, it felt like I knew nothing about writing. That was the strength of Backman's writing style. The simplicity of his language laced with those ever so powerful ground breaking reality check lines, left me floored. I was always aware of the high praise of 'A Man called Ove'. Unfortunately, I never did get to reading it. But this book made me re- look at the definition of writing. It is about a painting that is world famous and how an orphan girl Louisa breaks into the museum to see it. It is about those four friends who lived a lifetime that summer before they turned fifteen. It is about believing in love, friendship, dreams and holding onto each other, even when nothing seems right, because something must be right, if they are still together. If you have ever had a group of friends, who you can never imagine life without. If you have experienced forgiveness in giving and receiving. If you have been a part of a dysfunctional family, struggling to still hold it together. And lastly, if you have fought for a dream, even though no classes ever let you fit in. You really cannot miss this gem. Of friendship you may have read many books, but this one will make you laugh, cry and yearn for your friends like never before. If you are a terrible friend, like me, you are going to pick up that phone and say hello after those twenty years again. All I can say is, this book has redefined writing for me. And I strongly recommend it to all.

An absolute masterpiece. This book is beautifully written—page after page, it makes you laugh, pause, and quietly reflect on life. Backman has that rare gift of turning simple memories into something profound, reminding us that joy often lives in the smallest, most ordinary moments. My Friends isn’t just a story; it’s an experience. It asks an important question without spelling it out—are books always meant to have happy endings? And the answer here is honest and deeply human. Even if the ending isn’t conventionally “happy,” the sense of fulfillment you feel after finishing the book is indescribable. It stays with you. At its heart, this novel is about friendship—the kind of bonds that shape who we become, the loyalty that endures time, and the quiet moral strength of staying true to the people who matter. Emotional, witty, and deeply sincere, this is one of those books that gently breaks your heart and heals it at the same time. Read this book—and you’ll truly understand why some stories don’t need happy endings to feel complete.

Backman has this sneaky way of making you laugh and then suddenly punching you right in the gut. 'My Friends' does that in a quiet, reflective way. At its heart, the book is about....well, friendship....but not the Instagram kind. It’s messy, complicated, sometimes inconvenient, and deeply human. Backman explores how people come into your life, leave, come back, and sometimes stay in ways you don’t even realize until much later. The story moves through different timelines and perspectives (very Backman!), and while that can feel a bit disorienting at first, it all clicks together beautifully by the end. What really stands out is how real the characters feel. They’re flawed, awkward, sometimes frustrating—but that’s exactly why you care about them. You’ll probably see bits of your own friendships reflected here: the misunderstandings, the unspoken loyalty, the small moments that end up meaning everything. Tone-wise, it’s a mix of warmth, humour, and a quiet kind of melancholy. Not outright funny, but it hits deeper in a more subtle way. There are lines that make you pause and go, “Oof… that’s true.” If there’s a downside, it’s that the pacing can feel slow in places, especially if you’re expecting a plot-heavy story. This one is more about emotions and connections than “what happens next.” There are also too many fart jokes, and forced humour in places. But if you’re in the mood for something thoughtful and heartfelt, this book is for you. It’s the kind of book that lingers after you finish it. Not dramatic, not flashy—just quietly powerful. A warm, slightly bittersweet read about the people who shape us—perfect if you like character-driven stories that make you feel things you didn’t expect.

A gripping, heart-wrenching yet heartwarming story about broken people. I was completely immersed from start to finish. As always, Fredrik Backman reveals both the good and the bad in people. At times it feels as though there are only a few good souls and the rest of the world is full of bullies and abusers. Yet just when all hope seems lost, angels appear – people who remind us that life is still worth living. The plot is astonishing: an orphan notices what most visitors miss in an expensive painting at an art gallery and ends up meeting not only the painter but also the characters depicted in the painting. That painting ultimately connects all the good people together. Backman’s writing is, as always, amazing – filled with profound thoughts and humor that make even heavy scenes easier to bear. The characters’ names are funny too; we mostly learn their nicknames rather than their real names. I absolutely loved the story and the ending. All’s well that ends well. I highly recommend this book.

This is a book you will read with tears in your eyes and a smile on your face—sometimes both at the same time. It’s not about laughing until you cry or crying until you laugh. It’s more like drifting in and out of sleep: you move between sadness and joy, back and forth, often experiencing both together. I’ve never written a book review before, but this one is different. It’s so good that I feel compelled to share it, because I want everyone to read it. I finally know the answer to the question, “What’s your favorite book?” I no longer have to struggle, weighing one of several favorites. I now have one that stands apart. If a movie is ever made from this story, I’ll put down my bottom dollar that it won’t come close to the book. A film can capture the story, yes, but the style of storytelling is what makes this book extraordinary—and that can’t be bottled into a screenplay. It’s like looking at a breathtaking landscape with your own eyes and then trying to capture it in a photo. The picture just isn’t the same. It’s about Art and Fart, about joy and tragedy, it’s about growing up and growing apart, childhood and adulthood, love and violence.. all rolled into one unputdownable book. This novel is full of banter, humor, and warmth woven around tragic, real-life circumstances. It’s brilliantly written, and it leaves you feeling both light and heavy at the same time. I’ve read a few of Backman’s books, and this one, without doubt, is his best.

I was really looking forward to reading this one. It started out well, head & heart in the right place. Balanced, building towards some tragic revelation. But the setting half becomes soooooo long unnecessarily. It’s cringe. Ted & Louisa more like tom & Jerry. And it led to an anti climax. So disappointed.

My Friends by Backman is such a tender, heartbreaking story about friendship, art, grief, and the people who quietly save us. Fredrik Backman writes characters with so much warmth and humanity that they feel real. The book balances humour with emotional depth so beautifully, and by the end, it completely wrecked me in the best way. A soft, aching reminder that friendship can change, and even save a life.

This book of Backman is different from his other ones, and yet, not so much. His books have always celebrated the unconventional; this book goes further with the unconventional bordering on the wild. The story is told through two timelines – the present time and 25 years back. The unconventional, as I mentioned, is what drives the story. The wry wit, a prominent feature of all Backman’s stories, is there too. As with most Backman stories, many themes surface – non-conformance, genius, loneliness, success, passion, love, relationships and life itself. The characters are all absolutely adorable. When reading this book, it will help to tune off from his early works (for me the most impressionable were the Beartown series and ‘A Man called Ove’) and read this afresh, however difficult that is. My rating: 4.25 / 5.

I love all Fredrick Backman’s books but I think this was the best. Made me cry, made me laugh, kept me up all night & sneaking off in the day to read. His characters are incredible and the writing pure poetry.

My partner and I both read this book and absolutely loved it. Feel good story, nostalgic in many ways, very good read.

Incredible. Just incredible. I cried and laughed all at the same time and finished the book in a day. Couldn’t put it down.

This book is the definition of human experience. Painful, scary, but if you have humans to love and love you back, you can find pockets of laughter and joy amongst the dark parts and all is worth. The book is this, sadness and joy, sorrow and friendship. Don't trust the author, he misleads you for half the book.

Book received in good condition. My Friends is heartfelt and beautifully written. I loved how the author captured friendship, grief and the quiet ways people shaped each other’s lives. It made me smile, it made me tear up, and it lingered with me long after I finished the last page. Highly recommended!