August Selection – Fredrik Backman’s “My Friends”
“My Friends” by Fredrik Backman is the August selection for the Bound Together Book Club. As summer winds down, Backman’s latest novel offers the kind of emotional, character-driven storytelling that resonates long after the final page.
The internationally bestselling author of “A Man Called Ove”, “Anxious People” and “My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry”, Backman is known for blending humor, heartbreak and the quiet beauty of everyday life. His characters are often flawed and unforgettable — and “My Friends” continues that tradition while deepening it.
Set in the fictional town of Beartown, “My Friends” revisits the community from Backman’s earlier trilogy. The novel explores the aftermath of tragedy and the resilience of friendship. It’s a story of forgiveness, loyalty and what it means to stand by those we love, even when it’s difficult.
In May, Backman visited Franklin for a special event at the Artcraft Theatre, hosted in collaboration with Wild Geese Bookshop. During the event, Wild Geese owner Tiffany Phillips led a conversation where Backman shared insights into the novel’s development, his writing process and the emotional threads that tie his works together.
“This story feels both familiar and new,” Phillips said. “It speaks to what it means to be a friend — not in the easy moments, but in the hard ones.”
With lyrical prose and a grounded, direct style, Backman’s writing invites readers to experience — not just observe — the inner lives of his characters. “My Friends” carries themes that mirror the reflective mood of late summer, a season of transition as readers begin preparing for fall routines.
Whether read on a shaded porch or between last-minute summer plans, “My Friends” is a novel designed to linger in readers’ hearts. Fans of “A Man Called Ove” — now a major motion picture — or “Anxious People”, adapted for Netflix, will find familiar depth and warmth in this new release.
Bound Together encourages the community to join in by picking up a copy of “My Friends”, available at Wild Geese Bookshop or the Johnson County Public Library. The book club also invites readers to take part in ongoing discussions, both online and in person, throughout August.
As the final stretch of summer invites pause and introspection, Backman’s novel offers a timely exploration of connection, healing and the strength of community.
