My Friends

By Fredrik Backman

Translated by Neil Smith

I had a hard time during the reading of My Friends: partly because of the extensive use of expletives and partly because of the way Backman tells the story moving back and forth among points of view and time periods. In the midst of my sorting out my feelings about the book, the characters keep intruding. They make me like themselves in spite of, or because of, their flaws. My Friends centers around a group of 4 fourteen year olds and one particular summer. They are trying to figure out life and themselves. They come from difficult homes and are very protective of each other while teasing each other mercilessly. The story centers around a boy who is called “the artist” for most of the book and his first painting. He doesn’t even desire the fame that comes his way and is somewhat forced on him by his friend Joar who recognizes his talent. All of the characters have difficulty with love and with trust. Readers will always remember the poignancy in My Friends of “I love you and I trust you.” 

The characters are not left in childhood, but the reader gets to see them as adults who continue to try to nurture the creative spark when identified in the next generation.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 4/5

Category: Fiction

Notes: A lot of cursing

Publication:   May 20, 2025—Atria Books

Memorable Lines:

…the most dangerous place on earth is inside us. Fragile hearts break in palaces and dark alleys alike.

It is an act of violence when an adult yells at a child, all adults know that deep down, because all adults were once little. Yet we still do it. Time after time, we fail at being human beings.

Stories are complicated, memories are merciless, our brains only store a few moments from the best days of our lives, but we remember every second of the worst.