My Friends

A Novel

De: Fredrik Backman

Narrado por: Marin Ireland

A Most Anticipated Book of 2025: Goodreads • USA TODAY • Marie Claire • BookPage • Literary Lifestyle • Book Riot • Sunset Magazine • Totally Booked with Zibby Owens

#1 New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger’s life twenty-five years later.

Most people don’t even notice them—three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it’s just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an aspiring artist herself, knows otherwise, and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures.

Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant seaside town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their bruising home lives by spending long summer days on an abandoned pier, telling silly jokes, sharing secrets, and committing small acts of rebellion. These lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream, a reason to love.

Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be placed into eighteen-year-old Louisa’s care. She embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn how the painting came to be and to decide what to do with it. The closer she gets to the painting’s birthplace, the more nervous she becomes about what she’ll find. Louisa is proof that happy endings don’t always take the form we expect in this stunning testament to the transformative, timeless power of friendship and art.

©2025 Fredrik Backman (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio

Fredrik’s Best Story Yet!

This story yanks at your heartstrings. It has twists and surprises, that make you feel all the emotions. I have yet to find an author who can make me FEEL like Fredrik Backman does. I love everything that I have read by Backman, but this work stands above the rest. It was exactly what I needed and more. Highly recommend this novel (as well as all of his other work).

Stunning Work

As with most Backman books, the writing is brilliant and he took this story to a whole other level.
The story is told in present day and flashback and it flows so smoothly. The description of the lives of the characters is stark and sweet.

There are some rough parts to get through and just when you think all is lost, Backman brilliantly surprises you.

I’ll think about this story for a long time..

Long story

Long and somewhat slow. Multiple stories of characters lives within story. Broken homes. Unfortunate situations. Love. Didn’t hate it but didn’t love it.

Loved it!

I couldn't stop listening to it. It's an uplifting feel-good novel performed excellently. I give it a thumbs up.

Exposed and Seen

What a gift to the living and especially those who wait on the peek a boo moments - this beautiful piece of art.

To be an artist like this who can enrich the planet so deeply must be exhausting in its working out and organizing of each letter and syllable and phrase and page and chapter. So thankful for an artist who submits himself to the art . Ty FB we are so glad you are on the earth!

Classic Fredrick Backman

I love the anticipation of the progressing story and the resolution of every section along the way.

Emotional and amazing storytelling!

I love Fredrick Backman’s writing style and his ability to capture the human experience. I felt all the feels. I loved the intertwining and unwinding of these stories.

Exceptional expression of the inner lives of the characters.

I loved the movement from hopelessness to hope, accomplished in spite of (and because of) heartbreaking reality.

Frederick Backman “is one of them”

Frederick Backman is a master storyteller and a superb author.
I find myself stopping and writing quotes from the book. I am always a bit sad when it’s finished.
The narrator is fantastic. It deserves 10 stars!

He does it Every. Single. Time.

Fredrik’s writing speaks right to my heart. I cried, I laughed out loud, I grieved, I rejoiced. All in the same intensity. Another amazing story where I already miss the characters dearly.