Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Anxious People, translated by Neil Smith, is set on New Year’s Eve, when House Tricks estate agents host an open viewing of an upmarket apartment. However, when an incompetent bank robber rushes in and politely takes everyone hostage, we learn more about the characters and their history. Anna-Lena and Roger are busy buying up apartments to fill the hole in their marriage, as it’s something else to talk about. Julia and Ro are panicky parents-to-be, looking for the perfect home. We have a lonely bank manager, Zara, who only came here for the view. We also have 87-year-old grandmother Estelle, but she’s 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.

After loving My Friends by Backman, I’ve been eager to read more of his books. Whilst I didn’t love Anxious People as much, this was still a really fun read. Backman has a great, unique writing style, with the perfect balance of humour and depth. I love the one-liner plot reveals at the end of a lot of chapters, as it makes for addictive reading.

Backman writes characters and their stories so beautifully, making them feel so real and often relatable. Anxious People has the typical Backman style where the characters almost speak in riddles, but I find this endearing. You think one thing is happening, but there is more beneath the surface, and everything is wrapped up at the end.

‘We give those we love nicknames, because love requires a word that belongs to us alone.’ – p64

I’ll definitely be reading more by Backman, with A Man Called Ove next on my list!

4/5 stars