Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Fredrik Backman released his first novel, A Man Named Ove, in 2016 to resounding success. Since then, he has released seven books, including his most recent that released earlier in 2025. Anxious People lands right in the middle of that list, first published in 2020, and is one of Amazon's Editor's Picks for Best Literature and Fiction, as well as being a book my sister has recommended to me several times (like, a lot of times). It deals with addiction, bullying, death, domestic abuse, gun violence, infidelity, mental illness, self harm, suicide and suicidal thoughts, terminal illness, blood, kidnapping, grief, and pregnancy.

At it's heart, it's a story about a bridge, and an idiot, and a bank robbery, and a hostage drama, and an apartment viewing, and a love story, and three women in a closet, and two police officers. A failed bank robber stumbles into an apartment open house and becomes a reluctant hostage taker of everyone who was viewing the apartment plus a couple people who weren't. While they're held captive, the people within the apartment learn about each other and realize that each of them have hidden depths; motivations and hurts that are not easily seen from the outside. The ensemble, including an older married couple wanting to flip the apartment, a younger married couple preparing for the birth of their first child, a bank director who seems entirely unfazed, an old woman waiting for her husband to finish parking the car, a real estate agent still eager to lock down a sale, and a...rabbit, make a plan that has the bank robber calling them the "worst hostages ever".

My first novel by Fredrik Backman and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Each character is just that, quite a character, and you become invested in not just the main characters in the story but the secondary characters who make brief but memorable appearances. Fredrik Backman is able to take incredibly nuanced and difficult topics and write about them in such a tender way that it does not seem overwhelming and he brings everything together in a way that leaves you entirely charmed and delighted by the ending. I admit that the ending is a little unrealistic, but in the best way possible. And the writing is so funny, I found myself laughing out loud several times and even replayed a few parts so others could experience it with me, just one of the many dangers of being my friend. The background is well built, the characters are so well put together, the story catches you easily and keeps you entertained the entire time, even in the middle where the story slows a bit. And there are some real twists that keep you guessing all the time. Well done.

I'm giving Anxious People by Fredrik Backman 4.5 out of 5. I really enjoyed it and absolutely recommend it. Fantastic character building and development, easy to read despite the heavy topics it covers, I can't wait to read more of his books.

For more from Fredrik Backman, check out his author page at https://www.simonandschuster.com/p/fredrik-backman

Pairs well with a capricciosa pizza and knowing you're not supposed to eat the limes!

A quote from this book that I loved: "Have you ever held a three year old by the hand on the way home from preschool? You're never more important than you are then." Even now I'm choking up. Honorable mention goes to Zara's diatribe about mansplaining, economics, and greed.

Review of My Friends by Fredrik Backman