My Friends cover art

My Friends

The INSTANT Sunday Times Bestseller and Goodreads Choice Awards Fiction 2025 winner!

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My Friends

By: Fredrik Backman
Narrated by: Marin Ireland
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About this listen

 The beautiful new novel that will make you laugh and cry, from the global bestselling author of Anxious People and A Man Called Ove.

‘A stunning, sweeping, extraordinary story of connection, love, and the unbreakable bonds that guide and shape us. Full of humour and heart, My Friends is simply wonderful’ Chris Whitaker

* AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *
* WINNER OF GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST FICTION 2025 *
* SHORTLISTED FOR AMAZON'S BEST FICTION BOOK OF 2025 *
* AN AUDIBLE BEST LISTEN OF 2025 *
* A BARNES AND NOBLE NATIONAL BOOK CLUB PICK *

You have to take life for granted, the artist thinks, the whole thing: sunrises and slow Sunday mornings and
water balloons and another person’s breath against your neck. That’s the only courageous thing a person can do.

In the corner of a world-famous painting, three tiny figures sit on the end of a pier, a secret hidden in plain sight.

Twenty-five years ago, a group of teenagers found solace in each other during one unforgettable summer. Their friendship inspired a transcendent work of art, a painting that now mysteriously belongs to eighteen-year-old aspiring artist Louisa.

Driven to learn the story behind its creation, Louisa embarks on a journey to the seaside town where it all began. But as she gets closer to the painting’s birthplace, Louisa learns that happy endings do not always take the form we expect.

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 years later.

Readers can't get enough of My Friends . . . (***** five star reviews)
'It was perfect. I have no other words to describe this masterpiece. Like, what the hell was I doing all these years??'
'I haven’t read a friendship story this genuine, heartfelt, clumsy, straightforward, smart, sentimental, shocking, and emotionally resonant in a very long time.'
'Is it too early in the year to pick my favourite read of 2025? I think not, as this will be hard to beat.'
'Backman remains my absolute favorite.'
'Absolutely brilliant and beautiful ... I loved, loved, loved this book.' Best of 2025 Contemporary Editors Select Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Funny Feel-Good Heartfelt Tear-jerking Witty

Editorial Review

Uncontrollable tears and laughter at the same time
Sometimes the bonds we make when we’re young stay with us for a lifetime. In My Friends, Fredrik Backman weaves a dual-timeline narrative centered on a group of four teenagers: Joar, Ted, Ali, and a boy simply known as “the artist.” Twenty-five years ago, they found escape and comfort in one another during long days on a forgotten pier in a quiet seaside town. In pure Backman form, the messy parts of being human are front and center—simultaneously ugly and beautiful and so true to life. He explores the meaning and impact of art, how it can connect us as well as change us. Those days on the pier are captured in a painting—one that would go on to become a masterpiece and, unexpectedly, change the life of a girl named Louisa decades later. I could listen to narrator Marin Ireland’s retelling of the old stories and Louisa’s new adventures on an endless loop! As always, Backman has left me wrecked and rebuilt in the course of one novel.—Tricia F., Audible Editor

All stars
Most relevant
I was really looking forward to listening to this after reading the reviews both on audible and elsewhere.
However the narrator whilst having lots of intonation had the most awful American accent, which really spoilt the book for me.

Awful narrator

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Every sentence, every feeling, every character..This is as beautiful and as touching as a book can be..Mr Backman you sure know people and how to connect with people...friends I felt in every perfect painting I created whilst reading..Thank you.

Perfection

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I cared about the characters from the start and it is beautifully written. It’s heart wrenching but not so much that it’s too difficult to keep on reading( couldn’t bear to see The Goldfinch to the end, took 3 goes and a stage play to get to the ending of A Little Life)
It is filled with phrases about life and pain and hope that make you stop and want to keep them with you. A celebration of teenage friendship

Like a more upbeat Goldfinch

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I couldn’t stop listening to this. What an absolute belter of a story. It was sad, sweet, funny and unexpected

Everything stood out

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Loved everything about the book nothing I disliked. I would highly recommend it. Great reader.

Another great book by Fredrik Backman

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