I selected My Friends by Fredrik Backman to read and review for January 2026.
Backman is a Swedish author, blogger, and columnist.
The English translation of his debut novel, A Man Called Ove spent over a year on The New York Times Best Seller list. It was adapted into the Swedish film of the same name and later the American film, A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks. His books have been published in more than twenty-five languages.
Backman’s words refuse to be confined to the pages of a book. His characters come alive and invade your consciousness. You carry them with you long after the last page.
Louisa is an orphan about to age out of foster care. After her best friend Fish dies of an overdose, Louisa feels hopeless. She finds solace in her most prized possession, a postcard she found at one of her many foster homes of a famous painting. The painting has been the one constant in her life. She sees something in it most people miss, and that connection inspires her own art. When the painting comes up for auction, she’s determined to see it before someone buys it and tucks it away in a private collection.
Her journey brings her face to face with the artist who recognizes her talent. He tells his closet friend, “She’s one of us.”
Backman weaves in the story of four young friends from a working-class town facing their challenges together with laughter, camaraderie, and a mission to save the most vulnerable member of their group, a boy who is so talented his art has the potential to speak to the world.
The story of how the painting came to be, and why it strengthened the bond between the friends is beautiful and painful at times. Backman writes compassionately about dysfunctional families dealing with physical and mental abuse, poverty, and illness. He shares the hopeful hopelessness only children can maintain, and the power of friendships new and old.
This is not one of Backman’s most popular works. Some reviewers indicated they did not find the characters likeable, and the plot was not uplifting enough. I disagree. I can relate to the characters and plot because my parents and most of our neighbors struggled financially at times. My father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died when I was thirteen. Grief changes families, but so does hope. Backman’s characters hide their hopefulness, but it’s always there if you recognize the signs.
Other Books by Fredrik Backman:
A Man Called Ove
Things My Sons Need to Know About the World
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry
Britt-Marie Was Here
And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer (Novella)
Beartown
The Deal of a Lifetime (Novella)
Us Against You (Beartown sequel)
Anxious People
The Winners (Book three in the Beartown trilogy)
The Answer is No
Photo Credits:
Backman Image:
By Albin Olsson - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28603781
Book Jacket:
Taken from my personal book collection with no intent of copyright infringement