My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry
By: Fredrik Backman
My Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS
Best for: 18 and up

Fredrik Backman is my jam.

Fredrik Backman follow A Man Called Ove with My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry. By now, I think I know what to expect from a Fredrik Backman book (brilliant characters, life lessons, big feelings), but even still this one had a lot more than I expected.

The story centers around Elsa, a precocious (No, precocious isn’t enough…Wise beyond years? Old soul? Mini adult?) 7-year-old who’s…different. Her own words. Cue my favorite quote from the book: “There’s nothing wrong with being different. Granny said that only different people change the world.” Her best friend is her grandmother, who’s wildly eccentric (what’s bigger than eccentric? Crazy? Socially aware but doesn’t care?) and an absolute force of nature. Grandma weaves these wild fairy tales for Elsa, and after she dies early on in the book (Not a spoiler!), she leaves Elsa with a mission: deliver a series of apology letters to people in their apartment building. This starts Elsa on an adventure where she discovers that the stories her grandmother told might not be as fictional as they seemed, and there’s a lot more to the people around her than meets the eye.

The book does a fantastic job blending humor and heart. You’ll laugh out loud one moment and then find yourself getting choked up the next. The characters are quirky and flawed but totally lovable. It’s one of those books where the supporting cast really shines, too. Everyone in the building has their own story, and as Elsa delivers the letters, you slowly start piecing together how everyone is connected.

I also loved how Backman plays with the line between reality and fantasy. The stories Grandma told Elsa might seem outlandish, but as the book goes on, you start seeing the deeper meanings behind them. It’s a story about grief, love, forgiveness, and how even the most “ordinary” people can have extraordinary lives.

One thing to mention: there’s a decent amount of strong language throughout the book. So while Elsa is a child, this isn’t a kid’s book. It’s definitely aimed at adults, and the language might be a bit much for some readers. Cancer, death, spouse abuse are topics that are covered. But if you’re okay with all that, you’re in for a treat. This Dad says My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry is best for Adults.

You’re going to love it. And all the Harry Potter Easter Eggs.

Happy Reading!