Bookseller Reviews
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Heart warming
One of my favourite authors, so understanding of the human condition, he weaves the most amazing narrative of slow reveals and character development. We me... READ MORE
A book to heal the soul
How to talk about this book? This ripped out my heart and then put it back together again. From the very first page, I knew this book was going to be 5 sta... READ MORE
Synopsis
Longlisted for the CWA Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger 2021
It's New Year's Eve and House Tricks estate agents are hosting an open viewing in an up-market apartment when an incompetent bank robber rushes in and politely takes everyone hostage.
For Ana-Lena and Roger, busy buying-up apartments to fill the hole in their marriage, it's something else to talk about. For Julia and Ro, panicky parents-to-be, it's yet another worry. Lonely bank manager Zara only came here for the view. While 87-year-old grandmother Estelle seems rather pleased by the company...
As the police gather outside, the anxious strangers huddled within try to make the best of a very sticky situation - but could it be that they have a whole lot more in common than meets the eye?
Publisher information
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
- ISBN: 9781405930253
- Number of pages: 416
- Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 28 mm
- Weight: 286g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allUnmitigated joy
Anxious People was a completely joyous read. Fredrik Backman's distinctive, unique writing style is always a pleasure, but this book was even more glorious... READ MORE
A Brilliant Book
Fredrik Backman has a gift for writing people. He seems to understand how people think, how they interact with each other, their motivations, their desires... READ MORE
Another fantastic read from Fredrik Backman...
Fredrik Backman is one of my all time favourite writers. The way he draws me into a story with an amazing balance of intrigue, emotion and sarcasm just flo... READ MORE
A pleasure to read
‘This is a story about a bridge, and idiots, and a hostage drama and an apartment viewing. But it’s also a love story. Several, in fact.’
Where to start w... READ MORE
A beautifully told story
I realised a while ago that, without any great fanfare, Fredrik Backman has slipped effortlessly into my short ‘must read whatever they write’ list. It was... READ MORE
Wise, insightful and blackly funny.
“…you should always be nice to other people, even idiots, because you never know how heavy their burden is.”
Anxious People is the sixth novel by Swedish ... READ MORE
A very clever, witty book
This was such a quirky and humorous book.
Fredrik Backman is a natural born storyteller, for those that have read any of his previous novels will know th... READ MORE
Joyous
Anxious People was a completely joyous read. Fredrik Backman's distinctive, unique writing style is always a pleasure, but this book was even more glorious... READ MORE
Definitely different!
Having loved 'A Man Called Ove' I was really looking forward to reading this one. However, unlike 'Ove' which grabbed me from the start, this was a book I ... READ MORE
Profound and complex issues written with humour and everyday common sense
Yet another success from one of my favourite writers, I don’t think it possible for him to write a bad or even second rate book. This story is about ordina... READ MORE
Humourous, touching, and thought-provoking.
Fredrik Backman’s writing displays such profound empathy for humankind that he must be an ‘old soul’ in a young man’s body. His writing elevates a quirky a... READ MORE
Emotional, funny, heartwarming.
As an avid fan of Backman, I am always sceptical when I read his newest novel: Will it live up to the hype? Will I be disappointed and wished I’d stopped a... READ MORE
This will no doubt be my most recommended book of 2020!
Well, I usually review books straight after I’ve finished them, but with this one I had to leave my mind ticking over for 24 hours, to make absolutely sure... READ MORE
Wonderful (and thought provoking)
Oh my goodness, what a book!
I absolutely loved this and was hooked from the premise and desperate to read it.
It seemed like such a simple story, but a... READ MORE
Funny and moving
'The truth? The truth about all this? The truth is that this was a story about many different things, but most of all about idiots. Because we're doing the... READ MORE
A wonderful book
I loved this - Anxious People isn’t so much about anxiety, but it is a book about mental health as a whole. It’s about finding a reason to keep going when ... READ MORE
Anxious People
This is my first book by this author and for someone who usually reads a book within two days this has taken me weeks (true there have been distractions). ... READ MORE
Messy, insightful, frustrating in places, but ultimately a mixed bag
Anxious People has some really strong moments. It’s clever in places, especially in how it slowly reveals people and their circumstances. I liked the way t... READ MORE
Absolutely loved it!
I absolutely love Fredrik Backman’s writing - and this title was no exception. It may even be my new favourite. Great writing, tears but in a good way. Won... READ MORE
Backman is a master craftsman at producing novels to warm your heart.
I always marvel at the way Backman turns amusing coincidences into layered stories that astound me once everything fits into place. You should never make ... READ MORE
Entertainingly zany
This is a story about idiots What? Yes, idiots! A bank robber attempts to rob a cashless bank asking for a very specific and low amount of kroner. It desce... READ MORE
Anxious People
I love this author's books so much that nothing I write in a review will come anywhere near close to how much I enjoy his books. If you haven't discovered ... READ MORE
Utterly brilliant
Fredrik Backman’s unique voice is back and he is on top form with Anxious People. He is an author who it is impossible to pigeon hole. I have read all his ... READ MORE
Exceptional Storytelling
With grateful thanks to Michael Joseph and Netgalley for a digital copy of Anxious People. This is my second Backman book after A Man Called Ove. Ove is a ... READ MORE
It really touched my core.
I didn't know whether to laugh, cry or tear my hair out. In the end I sat back and enjoyed the most amazing book I have read in a long time. It really tou... READ MORE
3.5 stars
3.5*
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance copy. My opinion is my own.
I've read a couple of Backman books now, but this was not my favou... READ MORE
Hopeful and surprising
This is simply wonderful.
It's about a bank robbery that isn't a bank robbery, an accidental hostage situation/apartment viewing, bridges, idiots and the ... READ MORE
Worst. Hostages. Ever.
An unsuccessful bank robbery attempt and hostage situation, with the Worst. Hostages. Ever. This book was hilarious.
But it also wasn't about that. In tr... READ MORE
Anxious People
I'm yet to read a book that I haven't loved by Fredrik Backman. Beartown in particular is one of my all time favourite books, so I had high hopes for Anxio... READ MORE
Wildly Amusing & Ingenious
A robber tries to steal from a cashless bank, and when it all goes wrong he ends up holding a group of people hostage at an apartment viewing. After a stan... READ MORE
Fredrik Backman - Anxious People
A story about a bank robbery. Or about an apartment viewing. Or about a bridge. Or about a hostage drama. Or about a father and his son. Or about a mother ... READ MORE
Bank robbery Backman-style
This is a story about a bank robbery that goes wrong, the robber panics and takes hostage a group of people viewing an apartment in the building opposite..... READ MORE
Anxious People by Fredrick Backman
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman is an outstanding book, it is funny, outrageous, sad and an absolutely brilliant read.
It has a storyline that meanders a... READ MORE
Real world issues raised
I’m so pleased to have found this author (thank you book club). Mysterious, thrilling, funny, hopeful, serious - all in one! Raising issues that can happen... READ MORE
THIS BOOK DESERVES ALL THE STARS IN THE WORLD!
"Sometimes it hurts, it really hurts, for no other reason than the fact that our skin doesn't feel like it's ours."
I'm sure this has become one of my fa... READ MORE
Brilliant!
A bank robber on the run locks himself in with an over-enthusiastic estate agent, two bitter IKEA-addicts, a pregnant woman, a suicidal multi-millionaire a... READ MORE
The Thinking Man's Book
Fredrik Backman – Anxious People
Imagine a scenario whereby a desperate and unlikely robber tries to hold up what turns out to be a ‘cashless’ bank and,... READ MORE