Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (Review)

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Published by Simon and Schuster on July 6, 2021
Genres: Fiction / Friendship, Fiction / Humorous / General, Fiction / Literary
Pages: 352
Format: eBook
Source: Library

An instant #1 New York Times bestseller, the new novel from the author of A Man Called Ove is a “quirky, big-hearted novel….Wry, wise and often laugh-out-loud funny, it’s a wholly original story that delivers pure pleasure” (People).

Looking at real estate isn’t usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage. The captives include a recently retired couple who relentlessly hunt down fixer-uppers to avoid the painful truth that they can’t fix their own marriage. There’s a wealthy bank director who has been too busy to care about anyone else and a young couple who are about to have their first child but can’t seem to agree on anything. Add to the mix an eighty-seven-year-old woman who has lived long enough not to be afraid of someone waving a gun in her face, a flustered but still-ready-to-make-a-deal real estate agent, and a mystery man who has locked himself in the apartment’s only bathroom, and you’ve got the worst group of hostages in the world.

Each of them carries a lifetime of grievances, hurts, secrets, and passions that are ready to boil over. None of them is entirely who they appear to be. And all of them—the bank robber included—desperately crave some sort of rescue. As the authorities and the media surround the premises, these reluctant allies will reveal surprising truths about themselves and set in motion a chain of events so unexpected that even they can hardly explain what happens next.

Proving once again that Backman is “a master of writing delightful, insightful, soulful, character-driven narratives” (USA TODAY), Anxious People “captures the messy essence of being human….It’s clever and affecting, as likely to make you laugh out loud as it is to make you cry” (The Washington Post). This “endlessly entertaining mood-booster” (Real Simple) is proof that the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness, and hope can save us—even in the most anxious of times.

This was my first Fredrik Backman novel, and I guarantee it won’t be the last. I’m surprised by how much I enjoyed this, especially after spending 18-20% of the book adjusting to the chaotic storytelling. That chaos kept this from immediately declaring Anxious People a five-star read. This review will be a mess because I refuse to give away the story. Check the trigger warnings before starting, as the subject matter can be unbelievably hard to process. I read it without checking and was taken aback at first.

Somehow, Backman crafted a book that is lighthearted and yet dark. Expertly navigating topics like suicide, death, and mental illness. Love, loss, tragedy, and… life swirl around these carefully crafted characters.

These characters will remind you of acquaintances, friends, family, or strangers you’ve passed by. You might even feel like Backman was looking at you when drafting up these characters, gently nudging them together into a ridiculous hostage situation. I loved these characters for all their flaws and heart. I saw bits of myself and my loved ones in each character. I can’t even count the number of quotes I highlighted and sent to my spouse and friends.

This book made me smile and chuckle, but by far, I spent a lot of it in tears. It seems that Backman’s exploration of what it means to be human and the ever-present anxiety resonated deeply with me! I ended Anxious People feeling raw, vulnerable, and hopeful. Even thinking back to this book, and it’s been almost a month, I start tearing up when thinking about it. I highly recommend this if it is safe for your mental health to read it. I’ve already recommended it to several people, and I suspect a reread is in my future. I will need to keep tissues nearby this time!

*As I read back through the review, it is clear that I feel it should be a 5 star read for me!