My Friends by Fredrik Backman: A Poetic Ode to Chosen Family & Imperfect Friendship

The Families We Find (and the Ones Who Break Our Dishwasher)

Some friendships are forged in fire. Others? Over bad coffee, broken fences, and awkward silences that somehow say more than words. Fredrik Backman’s My Friends is a beautifully chaotic tribute to those people — the ones who aren’t related by blood but show up like they are.

For fans of found family books, My Friends is a masterclass in emotional resonance, equal parts riotous and tender. Backman’s signature wit dances alongside deeply poetic insight, making this novel a hug disguised as prose.

Who’s in This Story? A Bunch of Beautiful Weirdos

At the heart of this story is a mismatched group of neighbors tangled in a decades-old incident and an accidental protest that unearths long-buried truths. They’re not perfect. But that’s the point.

We get:

• A reclusive older man whose silence hides a well of grief.

• A fiercely loyal friend with a talent for baking and barreling into people’s lives uninvited.

• A young woman trying to outrun her past and her own assumptions.

• And an unforgettable supporting cast that includes one emotional support dog and several emotional support arguments.

It’s like The Breakfast Club, but they’ve aged, gotten mortgages, and now argue about municipal budgets instead of detention.

Why Backman’s Voice Works (and Hurts, in the Best Way)

Backman doesn’t just write characters he summons them. They walk off the page, barge into your heart, track mud on the carpet, and then help you clean it up. His dialogue is like eavesdropping on the kind of truth people only share at 2 a.m. when the wine’s run out and the secrets have started to slosh over.

And then, just when you’re laughing about a cake-related mishap, he’ll gut-punch you with a line about loneliness that you weren’t emotionally prepared to read on a Tuesday.

If You’ve Ever…

✔️ Loved someone who’s terrible at saying "I love you"...

✔️ Been adopted by an extrovert with a baking addiction…

✔️ Found your people where you least expected them...

Then you’re going to fall hard for this book.

[Meet your new friends → Grab the book here.]

Bookish Keywords & Reader Hooks

This book hits the sweet spot for:

• Readers who love books about friendship and forgiveness

• Fans of found family books with emotional depth

• Devotees of heartwarming fiction that isn’t afraid to get a little messy

Humor, Heart, and a Little Chaos

It’s messy. It’s heartfelt. It’s so Backman.

And honestly? My Friends isn’t just a novel. It’s a reminder. That being chosen is sometimes more powerful than being born into it. That sometimes, your real family is made up of people who don’t flinch when your life unravels — they bring snacks and sarcasm instead.

A Few More Reasons to Click “Buy Now”

💬 “Because friendships built on chaos and cake are the strongest kind.”

💬 “Because laughter through tears is a love language.”

💬 “Because someone out there needs this book — and it might be you.”

[For when you need to believe in people again → Click to get your copy.]

Final Thoughts (and a Little Heart-Squeeze)

You don’t need to be Swedish or sentimental to get swept up in this book. You just need to have loved someone, lost something, or found family where you least expected it.

Fredrik Backman’s My Friends is a celebration of the messy, magical miracle that is human connection. And by the end, you’ll want to call your people. Or better yet — show up with cake.

With gratitude: This post includes affiliate links that support this blog. Every recommendation is heartfelt, handpicked, and meant to warm your bookshelf — and your soul.