My Friends
By Fredrik Backman
- Release Date: 2025-05-06
- Genre: Fiction & Literature
Description
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A Fallon Book Club Pick
WINNER OF THE 2025 GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS FOR BEST FICTION
A Most Anticipated Book of 2025: Goodreads • USA TODAY • Marie Claire • BookPage • Literary Lifestyle • Book Riot • Sunset Magazine • Totally Booked with Zibby Owens
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Anxious People returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger’s life twenty-five years later.
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.
Reviews
Wow!
5By LCR MamaThis is the absolute best book I have ever read. I just finished it and I’m going to reread it. I’m buying a copy for everyone that is close to me. It’s for friends, artists, friends of artists, brothers and moms! Absolutely beautifully written.4 Broken Kids Make One Whole Family
5By bsudersplpMy Friends by Fredrik Backman is a phenomenal story of broken kids coming together for the betterment of one another. How it's not your background, or hometown that defines you. It's your heart and those who help make it beat. That family is not determined by blood, but those who'd shed their own for you. Backman creates a world so vivid that I found myself at the same crossroads the kids dia. Sitting at the same pier, and laughing at the same jokes. His words were brushstrokes on a seemingly golden canvas woven together to make a truly masterpiece of a book.Some exhilarating parts
5By coastloverI felt joy reading parts of this book. I also felt that reading this story was a story of its own, where the reality of the group of friends expanded to include rare individuals with an unbelievable talent. Moreover, regular people had a really important role in the lives of these artists. The artists become their best creative selves with the love and support of their humans. The book is a very long love story that moves forward to encompass other souls like them.Wonderful!
5By BroikidoI Loved this bookTrue Humans
5By GiaraWhat a meaningful book about friendship, loyalty, humility and compassion. It was hard to put this book down and difficult to predict. All humans need ART in their lives.A Book From A Different Time
5By SvenghouliIn today’s uncertainty and chaos comes a book that makes you feel pure joy, and that being “not one of us” has its rewards. Truly an emotionally positive read and one of the best books that I’ve read.Really slow start
2By purist from MNThe book is a long slog until the end.You will want friends like these.
5By Photogal1It took me a while to get into this book but after I started to get to know the “friends” and their stories, I couldn’t put it down. You will be anxious for these friends, you will be angry for them, you will laugh and cry with them, and you will remember this book and how it makes you feel.My Friends
5By Dead womanEveryone should be so blessed to have friends like these.Loved it
5By Ootat22What a wonderful story told in an interesting way I love this book and I highly recommend itOutstanding
5By koryhudOne of the best books I’ve read in a long long time. Both Funny and moving - I absolute loved it! It’s a must readPure pleasure
5By MAB CanePoignant and touching…..so many truly memorable lines to remember the characters. A “long story” worth the read.Magnificent
5By burried in booksStick with it. It will change your life. One of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read.Enchanting
5By TodayfanA beautiful meditation on love, grief, art, friendship, and what to do with the rest of a life.This one is a dog
1By NasuricoRepetitive, the characters are obnoxious. I’ve tried making it to the end but I’m out.My Friends
5By Lover of litAbsolutely outstanding in every way!I loved it
4By ABQBlytheSad, funny, the whole gamut. Made me wish I had friends like those.Life as Art
4By msbcnjWhile I think the book is a little on the long side, it is a story worth telling and worth reading. About the impact of a piece of art, friendship, and passing on a legacy.Not His Best Work
2By juliusaOverly long and dragged out, with a repetitive story running throughout, an old 39 year old, and a whole lot of coincidences that just don’t feel real. Filled with overdone descriptions of character feelings and actions that become tiring. Almost juvenile. Not his best work by a long shot. While somewhat entertaining, it’s also a waste of time. Hard pass.
