Reviews
had to DNR at chapter 7 because if I heard the word “fart” one more time I might have lost my mind. concept is there, first 4 chapters were so heartfelt but I’m good on trying to ~lighten the mood~ when the content gets heavy. consider a therapist.
I truly enjoyed the beginning of this book; it made me emotional at some points. However, it was hard to finish because some parts felt repetitive and, at times, quite cheesy. He spends the whole book building up the feeling that something really bad is going to happen to one of the characters, but nothing much actually happens. I found that very underwhelming. By the end, I was just rushing to finish the book and be done with it.
I started this book, got about halfway, then put it down for a couple months and picked it up again. I think if I was 20, this would have been a 5 star life changing read, so I get the hype. It is beautifully written and you really feel the emotions and motivations of each of the characters. The friends are archetypes, but their experiences ring true to life. However, at this point in my life, while it did facilitate some reflection, nothing was a revelation. I didnt rate 5 stars because I wish it got tied up a bit more neatly at the end. It felt like the author was trying to manufacture an emotional hangover, which annoyed me. Other than that, a worthwhile read, especially if you like emotional character driven stories (which admittedly is not usually my thing).
⋆. 𐙚 ˚five / five stars ✰art is coincidence, love is chaos.as per usual, fredrik made me cry every sort of tears you can imagine. no notes. i adored this.𐙚⋆.˚pre-readi did in fact cry in the first 50 pages ... clearly i’m in for an emotional ride 😀🫀
Its so good. His writing is so good. This made me feel all sorts of things!
Rating: 3 stars.“Art is coincidence, Love is chaos.”I was really pulled in during the first half of My Friends, the story had this magnetic quality that immediately grabbed me, and the characters felt layered and compelling. Their relationships, especially the raw emotions tied to loyalty and betrayal, had me completely invested. The pacing in the first half was sharp, almost addictive, with moments that made me want to keep turning the pages to see what would happen next.“That girl’s paintings?”“No. You. I got to see you.”That said, the second half didn’t hold me quite the same way. The momentum slowed down, and while it wasn’t bad by any means, I found myself not as gripped as I was in the beginning. Some parts dragged where I wanted more tension or higher stakes. Still, what carried me through was the heart of the story, themes of friendship, resilience, and found family. I loved how the book highlighted the messy, complicated, but ultimately beautiful dynamics between people who choose to be in each other’s lives."If anyone sees the painting, I don’t want them to know who I am. I only want to be who I really am...with you."Even if it wasn’t perfect pacing-wise, I’m glad I read it because of the emotional impact. It left me reflecting on how friendships can shape us just as much as romantic relationships do, and how chosen family can sometimes be the strongest bond of all. It’s the kind of book that stays with you, not because of constant action, but because of the way it portrays connection and belonging. I did enjoy it, just not as much as I hoped I would. Still, it’s one of those books I’ll remember reading because of the way it made me feel in certain moments. Even if it wasn’t a perfect fit, it gave me an experience I’m glad I had, one of those stories where you look back and think, maybe I’d want to feel those emotions again someday, even if just for the memory of it.
Probably closer to 4.5 than 4, but alas, Goodreads. This has everything I've come to love from Backman: personal stories, well-balanced characters, loads of heart. It just didn't hit for me like other Backman books (that being said, I was fully weeping like 10% in). I have a difficult time with books written like the main character is telling a story, nudged along by other characters saying "please tell me the rest of the story." It takes me out of the book, and usually, I would much rather the book was just told in a mix of present day and flashbacks. That was the case here. I wish that the story we got about Ted and Co growing up had been flashbacks, even as I understand why that wouldn't have worked for this particular book. That being said, if you're a fan of Backman, I don't think you'll be disappointed here. There is a lot to love.