My Friends: A Novel

You’ve probably heard of or read A Man Called Ove. Lovely, relatable story, but Backman outdoes himself with My Friends. It is a masterpiece of human connection, love, heartbreak, loss. It’s a coming of age story, but unique in many ways: the descriptive writing, the flawed characters, the teenage humor, the quiet yet intriguing plot. The deeply painful topics of DV, alcoholism, neglect, poverty, street violence, etc are laid bare, but an undercurrent of love, trust and hope winds it way throughout the book, and art is the thread that holds all the messiness together. I wish I could read it again for the first time.

I’ve been a fan of Fredrik Backman ever since I first read A Man Called Ove. He has this gift for creating characters who feel so achingly human that you can’t help rooting for them. My Friends continues that tradition in a beautiful, funny, and deeply moving way. This story follows Louisa, an aspiring artist, who notices something most people overlook—three tiny figures at the edge of a pier in a famous painting. Her curiosity sparks a journey into the past, where we learn about four teenagers whose summer friendship becomes a lifeline in the middle of their difficult lives. What starts as shared jokes and small acts of rebellion turns into something far bigger: a friendship that shapes not only their futures but Louisa’s as well, twenty-five years later. Backman balances heartbreak with humor in a way few authors can. One moment you’re laughing out loud at a sarcastic quip, and the next you’re wiping away tears as these characters face the weight of broken homes, lost dreams, and the fragile hope of connection. The novel is bittersweet, but it never tips too far into despair—there’s always a thread of love, resilience, and beauty running through it. What I loved most is how Backman makes you care about every character, no matter how flawed. He reminds us that even small, forgotten corners of life—like three kids sitting on the edge of a pier—can hold entire worlds of meaning. This book isn’t just about art or friendship; it’s about how the people we meet, sometimes by chance, shape us in ways we never forget. If you’ve enjoyed Beartown or Anxious People, you’ll find a similar mix of humor, heartbreak, and humanity here. And if you’re new to Backman, My Friends is a perfect place to start. Just be ready to laugh, cry, and see your own friendships in a new light.

Until the last 75 pages or so, this book was pretty meh for me. It moved slowly, did not have a compelling plot and seemed a bit too intellectual and artsy ( pun possibly intended). The characters were top notch, however. It was nowhere near as interesting as A Man Called Ove, and I was forcing myself to try to finish this read. Then the wonderful final 75 pages or so appeared and brought it from barely 3 stars to a solid 4. I thought it had probably the most riveting, emotionally honest, clever, and neatly tied together endings of any book that I can recall. A worthy read, but I think all the 5 star reviews were overly kind.

Fredrik is one of my favorite writers and I have read almost all his books. As soon as I learnt about this one, I dove into it. His writing style has always appealed to me. He is so simple to read but what he says is sometimes deeply profound. He focuses a lot on feelings and what is important, relating it to our lives. His plots are so original that you are constantly surprised by what happens. And the best of all for me is that I find him so amusing and he can draw smiles on my face. For me, this is invaluable. This book is about five young friends, whose lives would be marked by a summer spent together when they were 14. Their childhood was by no means easy, but they were so happy simply by having each other. It is a book about cherished memories, hope, tenacity, and when I finished reading, I felt so very happy. As usual, I recommend it dearly.

I just finished listening to the audiobook recording of “My Friends” by Fredrik Bachman. The book was narrated with consummate skill by Marin Ireland. This is a powerful novel. Four teens from troubled families in a small community form a lifelong bond one summer. It is a love of art that cements that bond and is carried forward by the teen in that group who becomes a world-famous artist; as an adult he recognizes a young person’s passion for art and gifts her with his most famous picture just before he dies. A passion for art and four teens’ love for the artist in their tight-knit group transforms their bleak lives into a place beyond words. I can see why this book was voted as the Libby app’s Best Fiction and Best Audiobook of 2025. It’s a tough listen at times yet it went straight into my heart. It made me reflect on my own enduring relationships. It’s unforgettable.

I loved this book from the opening paragraph until the very last line. This author has a way with words that is sheer poetry. I found myself re-reading certain lines because they were so amusing and well written.

‘25 - 4 STARS DESCRIPTION : Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an aspiring artist herself, knows otherwise, and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures. Twenty-five years earlier, 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. 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. REVIEW : The Beartown Series by this author was awesome - Beartown (Bk 1 - ‘17 - 5 Stars), Us Againts You (Bk 2 - ‘18 - 5 Stars) and The Winner (Bk #3 - ‘22 - 4 Stars). Other books by this author were all over the charts for me: Anxious People (‘20 - 3 Stars), My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry (‘15 - Read ‘17 - 2 Stars) and A Man Called Ove (‘14 - Read ‘17 - 4 Stars). Decided to try this one since I found it on sale; Sale $1.99; reg 14.99 Lots of reviews compare it to Remarkable Bright Creatures, A Man Called Ove and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. The main character Louisa, reminded me of the main character Molly in The Maid by Nina Prose; inspiring, refreshing and sometimes very funny. The first 15% of this book was totally sad; foster homes, death & depression. There might have been a funny joke or statement but it didn’t stop my tears. I’ll try to push on. At 30% the sad parts have not stopped. The only thing that keeps me reading is Louisa’s opinions and statements that make me laugh outloud. At 75% my connection to all the characters kept building and building. I was getting scared for what the ending will be. The ending did feel a little rushed but I did enjoy the ride. At the end, I decided on 4 Stars; touching read of childhood memories, accepting life, adjusting to change and moving forward.

This was another one of those books that seemed to be everywhere. I heard about how great it was. I pulled the trigger and bought the hardback, I usually wait for paperback. But with all the hype I wanted to see if it was worth it. Well it wasn't! It was just ok, but not a book that I am still thinking about. Overall I felt let down. I didn't really connect with the plot or the characters.

It seems an unlikely subject for a book that made me both laugh and cry but teenagers finding friends is the topic of Backmans latest book. I did not want it to end but couldn't put it down. The writing is beautiful and as for the paintings I could see the whole scene. Maybe his best book so far.

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.

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.

I really loved this book. One of the best i ever read. A nice novel picturing friendhip among teenagers as a safe space when you do not feel love, understanding, care, safety at home. A story of hope that keeps you engaged smiling at how it develop bittersweetly.... Super recommended