MY FRIENDS
By: Fredrik Backman
Narrated by: Marin Ireland
Published: May 6, 2020
Publisher: Atria Books
Fiction
I was thrilled to receive an eBook ARC of Backman’s newest book, and because I love Marin Ireland’s narration so much, I also purchased the audiobook. I read/listened in both formats, but of course, Ireland’s storytelling is fantastic. Fans of his writing have been waiting about three years for a new page-turner from him. In 2024, he published an Amazon Original Short Story, THE ANSWER IS NO, which I shared HERE.
I have always been drawn to foster care stories and love a found family. In MY FRIENDS, we meet Louisa, who is grieving the death of her best friend and fellow foster care mate, Fish. Fish turned 18 and left the program, and Louisa is just a day away from turning 18. It’s Easter weekend and Louisa is attending an art auction. Why would a foster kid want to be at an art auction? Well, it’s a long story, but it’s so worth it.
“Friendship is special when you’re a teenager, you can feel in your skin when there’s something wrong.”
Eventually, Louisa’s story merges with Ted’s, Joar’s, Ali’s, and the artist’s, all best friends since they were teenagers. Louisa has been in love with a famous painting for most of her life. She’s carried a postcard of it in her backpack, and all she wants to do is see the painting up close. But she doesn’t exactly look like someone who should be at an art auction, especially someone with cans of spray paint in her backpack.
“When you’re fourteen years old, a single person can be like wind beneath a butterfly’s wings. ‘Art is coincidence, love is chao,’ Ted says.”
The story flashes back to 25 years ago and tells the story of Ted, Ali, Joar, and C. Jat (pronounced Sea Yacht) as teenagers. They see each other at the pier every day and support each other through life’s struggles and turmoil. In the present day, as Louisa enters Ted’s life, the story of the four friends is shared, and how C.Jat came to be a famous artist.
“The artist’s smile had been llke sunlight between heavy curtains.”
When you read a Backman book, you know you are in for the long haul. There is no rushing his stories, and you might even want to reread passages a few times. I found myself listening to the story during the day and rereading chapters on my Kindle at night because the writing is just…that…good. I laughed. I cried. My heart hurt, then it exploded with love. As I entered the final chapters of the story, my emotions took over, and I was filled with the feeling of a warm hug because I knew that everything was going to be okay…or as okay as it could be.
“Because art is a fragile magic, just like love, and that’s humanity’s only defense against death. That we create and paint and dance and fall in love, that’s our rebellion against eternity. Everything beautiful is a shield.”
I highlighted so many sentences in the book, I couldn’t possibly share them all here. Backman knows exactly how to create a setting, describe an emotion, and create a scene like the movie is playing in front of you. There is a lot of sadness in this story, but there is also joy amongst the pain, hope amid the heartbreak, and love after death. It will definitely be an all-time favorite, and I won’t soon forget the characters I got to hang out with for a few days.
“Death is public but dying is private, the very last private thing we have…”
If you love stories of friendship, found families, or those who rise from the ashes, then this is the book for you. Be aware that there are numerous trigger warnings in this story, so do your own research, but domestic violence and violence towards children play a major role for one of the characters. The lives of these five characters will impact you for a long time.
“That’s the worst thing about death, that it happens over and over again. That the human body can cry forever.”
Click HERE to purchase a copy of MY FRIENDS
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
Posted Under Book Review, Fredrik Backman, fiction