Sign in with Facebook
Canadian Jen's Reviews > My Friends
My Friends
by
by
A painting and friendship; Or a painting of friendship.
This magnificent story is told by only one of them to a new one. Through the eyes of an adult reflecting back on a summer that was both the best and the worst.
What brought these 4 teens together were the very things that kept them from wanting to be at home. Broken children just trying to survive; just wanting to be loved and accepted. They became their own family; their own humans.
Backman’s characters are our friends; our family; our neighbours. They are authentic in their flaws- compassionate in their friendship. His humour resonates throughout what is also heavy and dark with themes of loss, grief, violence and identity. But there are also glorious moments of joy - as beautiful as wings.
They say a picture is worth 1000 words. Sometimes it’s worth a lifetime. Sometimes that lifetime, is a summer.
Cheers to C.Jat
And to Backman: this is the chef’s kiss 💋
5⭐️
A superb Buddy read w Tracy 📚👯
This magnificent story is told by only one of them to a new one. Through the eyes of an adult reflecting back on a summer that was both the best and the worst.
What brought these 4 teens together were the very things that kept them from wanting to be at home. Broken children just trying to survive; just wanting to be loved and accepted. They became their own family; their own humans.
Backman’s characters are our friends; our family; our neighbours. They are authentic in their flaws- compassionate in their friendship. His humour resonates throughout what is also heavy and dark with themes of loss, grief, violence and identity. But there are also glorious moments of joy - as beautiful as wings.
They say a picture is worth 1000 words. Sometimes it’s worth a lifetime. Sometimes that lifetime, is a summer.
Cheers to C.Jat
And to Backman: this is the chef’s kiss 💋
5⭐️
A superb Buddy read w Tracy 📚👯
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
My Friends.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
September 24, 2024
– Shelved
September 24, 2024
– Shelved as:
to-read
June 1, 2025
–
Started Reading
June 5, 2025
– Shelved as:
5-star-favourites
June 5, 2025
– Shelved as:
sweden
June 5, 2025
– Shelved as:
contemporary
June 5, 2025
– Shelved as:
tgh
June 5, 2025
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 110 (110 new)
message 1:
by
Karen
(new)
-
rated it 5 stars
Jun 03, 2025 06:24AM
This is on my list, too Jen. I have been reading mixed reviews. I hope this is a good one for you. Happy Reading. 📖
reply
|
flag
This one is on my list too. Hope it’s a great read!
Karen wrote: "This is on my list, too Jen. I have been reading mixed reviews. I hope this is a good one for you. Happy Reading. 📖"I loved it, Karen. Highly recommend!
Brilliant review. You captured my thoughts perfectly. Another 5 star for both of us. We seem to have 5 stars when we buddy read. Nothing better than a fine read with an amazing book buddy!
Love Backman’s books! So glad you loved this one. Brilliant review.
Nice review, Jen! Yay for 5 stars.
Wonderful review for a wonderful novel! This has been one of my favorites so far this year. Glad you loved it too! 😊💞💞
What an incredibly sweet review!! Jen, I'm so glad you continue to really love Fredrik Backman's novels.💞
Terrific review again Jen Jen, and nice to see you and Tracy are back at it again!!!!
Tracy GH wrote: "Brilliant review. You captured my thoughts perfectly. Another 5 star for both of us. We seem to have 5 stars when we buddy read. Nothing better than a fine read with an amazing book buddy!"Ditto, "MY FRIEND". It was magnificent in all its glory. I'm sad to see them depart. *sigh* Thanks for taking this one on with me. Cheers Buddy 🍻
Jonas wrote: "Love Backman’s books! So glad you loved this one. Brilliant review."Such a deeply, amazing one Jonas. Backman has you fit in and become a friend to these friends. TY but really it's Backman we need to thank!
TY Susan & Lorna 😊
Krystal wrote: "Wonderful review for a wonderful novel! This has been one of my favorites so far this year. Glad you loved it too! 😊💞💞"It is def one I'm going to remember too, Krystal. Glad you love it also.
Fran wrote: "Superb review, Jen!💗"TY Fran!
Jodi wrote: "What an incredibly sweet review!! Jen, I'm so glad you continue to really love Fredrik Backman's novels.💞"Jodi, there has only been one I wasn't crazy about. But he just has a way of connecting with the reader. I especially loved the Beartown series as it reminded me so much of the communities here; And Every Morning the Way Home gets Longer & Longer hit home for me in a way no other story has (alzheimers) Thanks!
Terrific review, Jen! Glad you loved it!
Mark (Day 10 Cairns to Adelaide) wrote: "Terrific review again Jen Jen, and nice to see you and Tracy are back at it again!!!!"We back like drunken sailors, Mark. How many days is your road trip for? You slacking off on your reading goals?????
What an opening line!! Ladies and gents, the 2025 opening line of the year goes to Canadian Jen! We can call it now. That almost made me cry. Man I love Freddie B so much. Great review!
Beautiful review , Jen . I love Backman.
Powerful review, Jen! Started listening to this one myself and I’m loving it! ❤️
Fabulous review Jen! I loved this one too! ❤️
Superb review, Jen! He really knows how to write flawed humans in the best ways! I just saw Backman in Dallas about a month ago hearing him talk about this book and more. He’s such a quirky guy and the biggest introvert. I’m thrilled to read my signed copy for next month’s IRL book club!
Incredible review, Jen. 🤗💕
Karen wrote: "Wonderful review Jen!"TY Karen!
Debra wrote: "Terrific review, Jen! Glad you loved it!"Happy you did too, Debra! TY!
Bobby wrote: "What an opening line!! Ladies and gents, the 2025 opening line of the year goes to Canadian Jen! We can call it now. That almost made me cry. Man I love Freddie B so much. Great review!"Thanks so much, Bobby!! What a lovely comment. It was such a great story. So happy you loved it too!!
Fantastic review, Jen! So happy you loved this. Backman’s writing is just so special.
I'm so glad to hear Backman has written another hit. A wonderful review Jen 🌟
Lovely review, Jen! I had no doubt this would be a beautiful book. So happy to see all your stars for it. Backman is outstanding!
Fabulous review, Jen. I can't wait to read it myself.
Great review Jen. Good ole summer times are nice to remember. Hoping to add some new ones this year…happy summer season, start enjoying it’s finally getting warm…
Angela M wrote: "Beautiful review , Jen . I love Backman."I know you do, Angela. He's a fave for me too 😊
Mitzi wrote: "Powerful review, Jen! Started listening to this one myself and I’m loving it! ❤️"I 'hear' the audio is excellent too, Mitzi. Looking fwd to your thoughts. TY
Debbie H wrote: "Fabulous review Jen! I loved this one too! ❤️"Such a story. such characters. I'm just sorry it's over. Thanks Debbie. Happy you enjoyed it too.
Lori wrote: "Superb review, Jen! He really knows how to write flawed humans in the best ways! I just saw Backman in Dallas about a month ago hearing him talk about this book and more. He’s such a quirky guy and..."How amazing you saw him live? Lori, I just watched him do a speech for Simon & Schuster. He is one quirky guy alright. And funny. I would love to know what inspires him to write these stories. I hope he comes here to Canada too! Can't wait for your thoughts when you get to it. You will love it!
TY Diana & Shelley!
Diane wrote: "Fantastic review, Jen! So happy you loved this. Backman’s writing is just so special."So special. Happy you loved this one too, Diane!
Tina wrote: "I'm so glad to hear Backman has written another hit. A wonderful review Jen 🌟"I think you will enjoy it too, Tina. Didn't you recently finish Beartown?
Rosh ~catching up slowly~ wrote: "Lovely review, Jen! I had no doubt this would be a beautiful book. So happy to see all your stars for it. Backman is outstanding!"Outstanding is right! I can't wait for your thoughts, Rosh. So excited you will be reading it.
TY Bianca & Maureen 😊
Love his ability to capture what it means to be a teenager - with all its highs & lows, especially their ability to love their friends despite or maybe because of their lack of experience.
Wonderful review! 💞
Haven't read the book yet, but knowing Backman, your review got me emotional! I can't wait to be heartbroken over it :).
This one sounds wonderful! Great review, Jen!
Outstanding review, Jen 💜!!!! I really need to read a book by Backman!
