Anxious People

By Fredrik Backman

Book Overview

Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller

A People Book of the Week, Book of the Month Club selection, and Best of Fall in Good Housekeeping, PopSugar, The Washington Post, New York Post, Shondaland, CNN, and more

" A] quirky, big-hearted novel...Wry, wise, and often laugh-out-loud funny, it's a wholly original story that delivers pure pleasure." --People

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove comes a charming, poignant novel about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.

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, from where they want to live to how they met in the first place. 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.

Rich with Fredrik Backman's "pitch-perfect dialogue and an unparalleled understanding of human nature" (Shelf Awareness), Anxious People is an ingeniously constructed story about the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness, and hope--the things that save us, even in the most anxious times.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1501160834
• ISBN13: 9781501160837
• Release Date: September 2020
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.19 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.5" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Made me laugh. Made me cry.

Fredrik Backman, one of my favorite authors. He hasn't missed yet. An amusing, heartwarming, serious, every emotion possible read. A book about a bank robbery? A hostage situation? An apartment showing? Idiots? Friendship? Family? All of the above? None of the above. The story captured me from the very first sentence and was difficult to put down. Made me laugh. Made me cry. Made me happy that I chose another Frederik Backman book to read.

Not worth a second thought.

If I could give 0 stars I would. Got 100 pages in and stopped reading, boring and slow, would never recommend to anyone. Quality of the book was great, no rips, tears, or markups, just did not enjoy the read at all.

A feel good spiderweb

I love the clever sense of humor that Fredrik Backman writes with. Anxious people tells a story of a group of people who make in impact on each other, whether they're realizing it at the time or not. Recommend for an entertaining feel good read.

stories intertwined

A book about a group of anxious people and stories intertwined. What we see on the surface is not always a reflection of who people really are.

HIGHLY recommend!

This is where commercial fiction meets a highly talented author! It is so well written and enjoyable.

Funny Heartwarming Perfect

For anyone, an engaging story about a bank robbery gone wrong and the people held hostage in error. The author writes with humor and respect about real people and how we need each other.

Could not get into it

Tooook way to long to try to get into the book.

Superb!!!!

This is hands down one of my favorite books- I will definitely be reading it again! The writing style is very unique but also engaging. The characters are very well developed. Plot twists keep things unpredictable. Compassionate and humorous- I actually laughed out loud which I don’t think I have ever done for a book- unexpectedly funny and sweet. If you are considering purchasing this book- BUY IT- don’t borrow Bc you will want to read it again and again!!!

Best book to start 2021 with!

First official 2021 book rec: Anxious People by Frederick Bachman Seriously. This. Was. So. Good. It was the perfect 2021 read! Not to mention the plot centers between December 30th (the day I started it) and January 1st (the day I finished it). It's a love story (not a Romance, that's different!) and a story about second chances and compassion and idiots. All of this is told through the lens of a hostage situation. It's not a crime story, it's a people story. It is dark but hopeful, harsh but compassionate, it's literally about the second chance that we all get with this new year! If House in the Cerulean Sea was the perfect sweet 2020 read to bring you comfort and togetherness, Anxious People is the 2021 book that tells us to keep moving and show compassion. You. All. Need. To. Read. It.

I couldn't put it down

I could not put this book down. A robbery takes place but not really. The robber ends up with hostages but not really. The ending is a surprise. I love the bits of humor as well. Great book.

Absolutely loved this one.

It was a bit kooky, a bit funny and a bit sweet. The characters were interesting and well developed. I'm going to try to get my hands on Backman's other books now!

Unexpected twists, very satisfying

So many twists I literally spit water at one point. Such a touching story and so so satisfying.