Anxious People
By: Fredrik Backman
My Rating: FOUR out of FIVE Stars
Best For: 18 and up

Anxious People: A Poignant Comedy about the Human Condition

Fredrik Backman is one of my favorite authors, and after reading this one, I think I’ve read every book in his bibliography. He just gets us. He cheats. He writes about things that pull your heart tight, then creates a moving story and beautiful characters to keep it that way.

What’s it about?

This is a poignant comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined. The story kicks off when a failed bank robber, having just made the biggest mistake a bank robber can make, runs and accidentally takes a group of unfortunate strangers hostage during an apartment viewing. As the pressure mounts, this group of mismatched folks, each with their secret fears and mistakes, slowly opens their hearts to one another. The two police officers who later try to reconstruct what happened are at their wits’ end, because the former hostages talk in circles and refuse to give them a straight answer. Before long, the robber must decide which is the more terrifying prospect: going out to face the police, or staying in the apartment with this group of impossible people.

What did I think?

This book is quintessential Backman. It’s an absolute gem that is just as funny as it is touching, and it made me laugh just as often as it made me want to cry. Backman’s insight into the human condition is unparalleled; he knows how we feel at our lowest moments, but rather than bringing me down, he lightens my heart by reminding us that we aren’t alone in these feelings. Reading this book feels like digging through a treasure trove, with wonderful surprises at every turn, and wonderful characters that will make you love your neighbor and feel hope for humanity. He lightens the mood with a quirky writing style and sentimental themes that are perfectly balanced, making the book feel genuine and heartfelt. The mystery of what actually happened and where the bank robber went is a small part of the story, but it’s superbly done and will keep you guessing. My only issue, as with his other books, is that I wish there wouldn’t be so many swears.

Sensitive Content: Lots of strong language.
Same-gender relationships.
Suicide.
Death of a loved one.
Depression.
Suicidal thoughts.

Should you read it?

This book is for those who need to feel understood or need to understand someone else. The overall impact is powerful: it’s a lesson in empathy and a reminder that each of us is living a complex interior life that is often completely separate from our exterior life.

This dad says Anxious People is best for 18 and up.

Happy Reading!