- Date Published:
2025 - Length:
448 pages—Listening Time: 13 hrs 7 minutes - Genre:
Fiction - Setting:
Present day and 25 years prior, fictional Swedish seaside town - Awards:
Currently a New York Times bestseller, this book was released May 6, 2025, so there are no awards to date - Language:
English, Swedish--Backman's books are known to be published in more than 40 countries, so it's safe to say that My Friends will also be translated into many languages. - Sensitive Aspects:
Child abuse and neglect, profanity, bigotry, dysfunctional families, profound sadness and tragedy - Movie:
As of May 31, 2025, there are no confirmed movie deals or announced film adaptations specifically for My Friends. - Recommend for Book Club:
YES, all reading groups will love this book
I'm a Fredrik Backman junkie. I've read everything he's written. So I knew that My Friends was to be released on May 6, 2025. I already had my copy lined up, and I was prepared for this to be, like all of Backman's books, a great read.
I was not prepared for how great this book was. Rarely do I just drop everything to read a book. But for this one, I did. I didn't make the bed. I didn't cook. I didn't write. I didn't even do the NY Times crossword or Wordle. I barely spoke to my husband. But I did cry, a lot, not because the book made me sad, but because it was so beautiful. I was awestruck! It took me about a week to recover from the greatness of the read. It was the best book I've read this year (I'm up to 50 so far), and it may be the best book I've ever read. Okay, at least easily in the top five.
This is a book that everyone should read. HELLO, EVERYONE! In addition to the Gideon Bible, Koran, or Torah, every hotel room on the planet ought to have a copy of it. The world would be a better place if everyone read this book because it offers a truly transformative experience with benefits far beyond simple entertainment. Please read this book and find out how wonderful it is for yourself.
My Friends by Fredrik Backman is a deeply moving and bittersweet novel that explores the enduring power of friendship, the scars of childhood, and the transformative role of art across decades. The story unfolds in two interwoven timelines: the past, where four teenagers form a profound bond during a single, life-altering summer, and the present, where the legacy of their friendship unexpectedly changes the life of a troubled young woman.
Twenty-five years earlier, in a remote seaside town, four teenagers—Joar, Ted, Ali, and Kimkim (later known as the artist C. Jat)—find solace and belonging in each other while escaping their difficult home lives. Each carries unique burdens:
- Joar: A fiercely protective fighter with a sharp wit and a deep love for his mother.
- Ali: Tough, quick-witted, and fiercely independent, using humor and bravado to shield herself from the pain of her upbringing.
- Ted: Quiet, bookish, and sensitive, haunted by the loss of his father, and finding comfort in stories.
- Kimkim (the Artist): A prodigious, introverted talent who sketches his friends and the sea, battling depression and longing for escape.
Their friendship becomes a lifeline, a protective charm against the darkness of their home lives. Together, they encourage Kimkim to enter a painting competition, despite lacking the resources, and this act of faith leads to the creation of his first great work: The One of the Sea. This painting, which appears to depict only the ocean, secretly encodes the laughter and intimacy of their friendship—three small figures on a pier, visible only to those who look closely.
In the present, Louisa, a rebellious and gifted 17-year-old artist grieving the recent loss of her best friend Fish, is drawn to The One of the Sea. She has carried a postcard of the painting since childhood, recognizing in it a hidden story that others miss. Determined to uncover its origins, Louisa’s journey leads her to an auction house and a fateful encounter with the now-dying artist Kimkim and Ted, one of the original four friends.
Kimkim, living with Ted, wishes for Louisa to inherit the painting, hoping it will give her the chance for a better life and inspire her own art. Louisa, skeptical and wary of loss, resists the offer. Ted, bound by loyalty to Kimkim, insists, and together they embark on a train journey back to the seaside town of their youth. Along the way, Ted recounts the story of that pivotal summer, revealing the pain, love, and loyalty that shaped their lives.
Backman’s narrative is marked by humor, heartbreak, and a direct, conversational tone that draws readers into the emotional world of his characters. The novel explores the healing and sustaining power of friendship, the long shadows cast by childhood trauma and loss, the way art can capture and preserve fleeting moments of connection, and the struggle to recapture the honesty and intensity of childhood bonds in adulthood.
The story is filled with memorable quotes and recurring motifs—such as the promise of “tomorrow” as a lifeline and the idea that “art needs friends”—that reinforce its central message: the beauty and fragility of human connection.
My Friends has been widely praised for its emotional resonance, complex characters, and Backman’s signature blend of humor and poignancy. Readers have found it both devastating and uplifting, a testament to the ways friendship and art can shape—and even save—lives and even the world.
Again, I'm not finished "gushing" about this book. Everyone should read it, specifically if you appreciate novels that blend humor with heartbreak, celebrate the power of friendship, and offer deep insight into the human experience. Backman's ability to make ordinary lives feel extraordinary—and to remind us that even the quietest moments can leave a lasting impact—makes this novel a standout, whether you're a longtime fan or new to his work. It is a
Masterful Exploration of Friendship and Art
My Friends is widely praised as Fredrik Backman's most heartfelt and personal novel yet, offering a moving testament to the transformative power of art and friendship. The story centers on a group of four teenagers whose deep bond shapes not only their own lives but also the life of a stranger decades later. Through the lens of a mysterious painting and the lives it touches, Backman explores how art connects people across time and how friendships can leave a lasting legacy.
Rich, Multi-Layered Story
The novel unfolds in dual timelines: one following Louisa, a young artist and foster care runaway, and the other recounting the pivotal summer when Ted and his friends were fifteen. As Louisa and Ted embark on a journey to uncover the story behind a world-famous painting, the narrative weaves together their present with the bittersweet memories of the past. This structure allows Backman to delve deeply into themes of grief, trauma, resilience, and hope, all while maintaining his signature humor and warmth.
Deep Emotional Resonance
Backman's writing in My Friends is noted for its ability to evoke a wide range of emotions—readers frequently describe laughing, crying, and reflecting on their own lives while reading. The novel captures the innocence and intensity of adolescence, the challenges of growing up, and the profound impact of the friendships we form during those formative years. It is both a nostalgic look back and a hopeful meditation on the power of human connection.
Universal Themes and Relatable Characters
The characters in My Friends are vividly drawn and deeply human, each grappling with their own struggles and dreams. The book touches on universal experiences—loss, belonging, the search for meaning, and the desire to find a place in the world. Readers are invited to see themselves in these characters, to remember their own teenage friendships, and to reflect on the ways those relationships shaped who they are today.
Signature Backman Style: Humor, Humanity, and Insight
Fans of Backman will find his trademark blend of humor, empathy, and sharp observation fully present in My Friends. His prose is simple yet poetic, capable of expressing deep truths with just a few words. The novel is both funny and wise, lighthearted and profound, making it accessible and rewarding for a wide range of readers.
Critical Acclaim and Reader Endorsement
Independent booksellers and reviewers have lauded My Friends as a top pick, calling it "funny, heartfelt, and wise" and highlighting its powerful exploration of loyalty, trust, and love. Many readers consider it Backman's best work to date, describing it as a masterpiece that lingers long after the final page.
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If you loved My Friends by Fredrik Backman—a novel praised for its blend of humor, heartbreak, and the transformative power of friendship and art—you'll likely enjoy other books that explore found family, emotional bonds, and the bittersweet beauty of everyday life. Here are several recommendations, drawing from reader suggestions and thematic similarities:
- The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin: This novel shares Backman's warmth, wit, and focus on how unlikely friendships can change lives. The story centers on a curmudgeonly bookstore owner whose life is transformed by unexpected connections and a mysterious package.
- Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune: Klune's book, much like Backman's, balances humor and poignancy. It explores themes of grief, redemption, and the importance of chosen family, following a man who finds new meaning in the afterlife through a quirky cast of characters.
- The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald: This story, thematically similar to A Man Called Ove, is about a Swedish woman who travels to a small American town and helps revive it through books and friendship. It captures the spirit of community and second chances.
- The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick: Patrick’s novel tells of a lonely librarian whose life changes when she discovers a mysterious book. Like Backman, Patrick writes about ordinary people finding hope and connection in unexpected places.
- Beartown Series by Fredrik Backman: If you haven’t read Backman’s Beartown series, it is highly recommended. It delves deeply into community, loyalty, and the complex bonds between friends, especially in the face of adversity.
- My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman: Another of Backman’s own works, this novel explores intergenerational friendship, loss, and healing, told with his trademark humor and empathy.
- Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman: This book features a quirky, socially awkward protagonist who finds a new sense of purpose and belonging in an unfamiliar town, echoing themes of transformation and unlikely friendship.
- Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman: For fans of stories about outsiders finding connection and healing.
- The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce: A journey of self-discovery and the power of simple acts of kindness.
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