Nilufer Ozmekik's Reviews > My Friends

Before I declare this the best book Fredrik Backman has ever written, let me admit that I’ve lost count of how many times I cried, laughed too loudly (scaring the pets), or whined and howled while reading it. Nothing I say—no word I write—can adequately capture my feelings or do justice to this incredible book, even if I endlessly repeat the word "amazing" over and over again. My best advice? Don’t just read it and marvel at Backman’s brilliance. Instead, prepare to wipe your tears after finishing, and if you’re lucky enough to have people in your life like the characters in this book, call your best friends—the ones who helped shape you—and tell them, “I love you and I trust you.” If you can, visit them and give them the longest hugs, which is exactly what I plan to do.

This book is about an endless sea, a profound friendship, and a true love story. It delves into grief, sacrifice, fart jokes, uproarious laughter, spontaneous adventures, learning to trust, and protecting loved ones at all costs. It’s about the serendipity of art. It’s about finding your own pearl in an oyster shell and learning to let go, even when it feels like shards of glass stabbing your heart.

I haven’t read a friendship story this genuine, heartfelt, clumsy, straightforward, smart, sentimental, shocking, and emotionally resonant in a very long time.

Joar: A “big little man” with the sharpest sarcastic humor, a kind heart brimming with love for his mother, a fighter, protector, and a sailor with a penchant for perfectly timed swearing anecdotes.

Ali: Tough as nails, quick-witted, and fiercely independent, she uses her sharp tongue and street smarts to shield herself from the harm of violent men. She’s the creator of the worst ideas, a good runner, and a terrible swimmer.

Ted: A mostly introverted, bookish soul who collects words like treasures, using them to craft brilliant stories. He’s caring, quirky, smart, and sensitive, learning to honor the ghosts of his past by saying goodnight to them—just like his father once did.

The Artist (KimKim): A prodigy who sketches the laughter of his friends while embodying the vastness of the sea and sky. A man of few words, he battles his depression by embracing his uniqueness, just as his mother taught him, and prepares himself for his long-short journey through life.

These four vagabonds met nearly a decade ago when they were just 15, united by their desire to help the artist attend a painting competition—even though he couldn’t afford supplies like paint, brushes, or canvas. Despite their own struggles and the harsh hands life had dealt them, they were resourceful and unstoppable as long as they had each other.

Two decades later, the artist literally bumps into young Louisa, a quirky, awkward, fiercely intelligent girl raised in foster care, as she flees the church where his painting was auctioned. Realizing her obsession with seeing the painting in person, he instantly recognizes her as one of them. He devises a plan and enlists Ted to carry it out before he leaves this earth. That’s how Louisa becomes intertwined in their love story and discovers the real meaning behind the painting, On the Sea—a work that isn’t about the sea at all but about the depth of friendship and, yes, a funny fart!

I won’t spoil more of the story. This is a tale where every character shines as the hero in their own right. While you might love one or two of them a little more, none of them feel insignificant.

It’s a masterpiece. I’m calling it now—the best fiction of 2025 and my favorite Fredrik Backman novel to date. (It even made me wonder if parts were inspired by his own childhood memories.) I cannot recommend this book highly enough—it’s the kind of story that makes you want to shout your love for it from the rooftops and applaud for ten minutes straight like you’re at a Cannes Film Festival premiere.

Endless gratitude to NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this AMAZING WORK with me as a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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