Funny books to read in 2026

Reading lists

Funny books guaranteed to make you laugh out loud

The No. 1 New York Times bestseller, now a Netflix TV Series

Anxious People

The funny, touching and unpredictable No. 1 New York Times bestseller, now a major Netflix TV series. 
 
From the author of MY FRIENDS, the Sunday Times Bestseller and Goodreads Choice Awards Fiction 2025 winner! 
 
'A brilliant and comforting read' MATT HAIG 
'Funny, compassionate and wise. An absolute joy' A.J. PEARCE 
'A surefooted insight into the absurdity, beauty and ache of life' GUARDIAN 
'I laughed, I sobbed, I recommended it to literally everyone I know' BUZZFEED 
'Captures the messy essence of being human' WASHINGTON POST 
 
From the 18 million copy internationally bestselling author of A Man Called Ove 
_______ 
 
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 Anna-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? 
_______ 
 
Readers are loving Anxious People! 
 
'Backman never disappoints . . . heartwarming and multi layered' 5***** READER REVIEW 
 
'As always Backman manages to delight . . . a really satisfying ending that makes you feel better about the world' 5***** READER REVIEW 
 
'A wonderfully unusual tale, told with flair and finesse that is so wonderful it is sure to cure everything that ails you. Don't miss out on this beautiful book' 5***** READER REVIEW 
 
 'This novel is about humanity at its most raw and at its most wonderful and I LOVED it!' 5***** READER REVIEW

I laughed, I sobbed, I recommended it to literally everyone I know

Funny, compassionate and wise . . . an absolute joy

AJ Pearce, bestselling author of Dear Mrs Bird

Captures the messy essence of being human. It's clever and affecting, as likely to make you laugh out loud as it is to make you cry

I loved this book. Funny, sad, clever, insightful, surprising and hopeful. Brilliant in every way

Sarah Morgan, bestselling author of One Summer in Paris

A satisfying remedy for pandemic anxiety . . . It's laugh-out-loud funny and will help restore your faith in humanity

Witty, observant, and unpredictable . . . darkly humorous

'19 New Books to Read in September'

Another smash hit . . . With Backman's stunning characters combined with a closed-room mystery, this has all of the ingredients for a novel all your friends will be talking about

A surprisingly sweet tale. It's the perfect balance of heartwarming and heart-wrenching, and Fredrik Backman [...] has a way of simply yet elegantly describing relationships. We can all be idiots, but we're still all human beings worthy of connection and love

Endearing . . . A surefooted insight into the absurdity, beauty and ache of life

A master of writing delightful, insightful, soulful, character-driven narratives. He writes so humorously and poignantly about life, marriage, parenthood, love and death

A quirky, big-hearted novel. Wry, wise, and often laugh-out-loud funny, it's a wholly original story that delivers pure pleasure

An endlessly entertaining mood booster

This book examines how a shared event can change the course of many lives at once. And if you like strongly drawn characters and a mix of humor and heartbreak, this one's for you

A witty, lighthearted romp...Backman charms

A deeply funny and warm examination of how individual experiences can bring a random group of people together. Backman reveals each character's many imperfections with tremendous empathy, reminding us that people are always more than the sum of their flaws

A tight-knit, surprise-filled narrative. The brisk, absorbing action prompts meditation on marriage, parenting, responsibility, and global economic pressures. Comedy, drama, mystery, and social study, this novel is undefinable except for the sheer reading pleasure it delivers. Highly recommended

Backman's latest novel focuses on how a shared event can change the course of multiple people's lives even in times of deep and ongoing anxiousness. A story with both comedy and heartbreak sure to please Backman fans

Brilliant, funny, and compassionate . . . wonderfully charming

A compassionate story of imperfect people doing the best they can to navigate life in an imperfect world

This book promises laughs, heartwarming drama, and a whole lot of madness, but at the heart of it is something we can all relate to: being human

I utterly believed in the residents of Beartown, and felt ripped apart by the events in the book

Surrounded by impenetrable forests, [Beartown] recreates the stifling atmosphere of a dying community. This is a mature, compassionate novel

Number 1 New York Times bestseller FREDRIK BACKMAN made his literary debut in 2012 with the global sensation A Man Called Ove - now a major motion picture starring Tom Hanks. Wickedly funny, touching and wise, Fredrik Backman's novels are odysseys of the ordinary man and woman, and stunningly moving tales of everyday courage. Up to now, Fredrik Backman has written seven highly acclaimed novels, two heartfelt novellas about life and love, and one non-fiction book about parenthood. His books have sold more than 18 million copies in 46 languages and the Swedish film adaption of A Man Called Ove was nominated for two Academy Awards. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children.

In a small town in Sweden it appears to be an ordinary day. But look more closely, and you'll see a masked figure approaching a bank... 
 
Two hours later, chaos has descended. An attempted robbery has developed into a hostage situation - with the offender refusing to voice their demands. 
 
Fear turns to irritation for the seven strangers trapped inside. If this is to be their last day on earth, shouldn't it be more dramatic? 
 
But as the minutes tick by, they begin to suspect that the criminal holding them hostage might be more in need of rescuing than they are...

Things My Son Needs to Know About The World

Things My Son Needs To Know About The World is a tender and funny series of letters from a new father to his son about one of life's most daunting experiences: parenthood 
 
 
 From the 18 million copy internationally bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, Anxious People and My Friends, the Sunday Times Bestseller and Goodreads Choice Awards Fiction 2025 winner! 
 ________ 
 
 'You can be whatever you want to be, but that's nowhere near as important as knowing that you can be exactly who you are' 
 
 In between the sleep-obsessed lows and oxytocin-fuelled highs, Backman takes a step back to share his own experience of fatherhood and how he navigates such unchartered territory. 
 
 Part memoir, part manual, part love letter to his son, this book relays the big and the small lessons in life. 
 
 As he watches his son take his first steps into the world, he teaches him how to navigate both love - and IKEA - and tries to explain why, sometimes, his dad might hold his hand just a little bit too tightly. 
 
 This is an irresistible and insightful collection from one of the world's most beautiful storytellers - the bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and Beartown. 
________ 
 
 Praise for Fredrick Backman: 
 
 'A mature, compassionate novel' Sunday Times 
 
 'Will, funny, and almost unbearably moving' Daily Mail 
 
 'You'll love this engrossing novel' People 
 
 'Backman is a masterful writer' Kirkus Review

Some snort-out-your-drink moments, a lot of the parenting advice/stories rings true. The audiobook highlights the hilarity of the author's compositions, the narrator bringing his work to life with gusto. I laughed aloud while walking and driving at times

Evident in all [Backman] novels is an apparent ability to state a truth about humanity with breathtaking elegance

Praise for Things My Son Needs To Know About The World

A letter in book format, executed with humor and a nostalgic insight  . . The perfect gift for all new parents, not only fathers - because even if Backman loves to do his "Dad was right, Mom wasn't"- dance in front of strangers, it's the mothers who will be amused by his efforts most of all.

Excellent and touching, but most of all full of funny and silly comments and observations . . .  Fredrik Backman has once again written something absolutely wonderful and remarkable.

I have said it before, and I'll say it again: I don't know anyone who writes as beautifully and lucidly about love as Fredrik Backman. He writes so that I can understand what he means - what he feels. That's an accomplishment.

He writes about football, God, the baggage claim at the airport, and other things that need a real walk-through. At times insightful, an unexpectedly humble and breathlessly funny book with spot-on reflections of family situations at IKEA, the changing table and other places. I laugh out loud at this laddish declaration of love that encourages play, the pursuit of one's passion, finding love, being kind when you can, and tough when you must . . . Wonderful!

The prose is driven, catchy and flows easily. One can tell that Fredrik Backman is an experienced writer and I laugh out loud multiple times during the reading

It's in the depictions of upbringing, social heritage and spending time together with loved ones that Fredrik Backman's prose turns clear and soulful

What a book! Once again I'm totally in love with Fredrik Backman's writing. He employs words in such a wonderful way that makes me never want to stop reading.

A truly fantastic book! Several times I laughed out loud while reading it. And many times I found myself with tears in my eyes and warmth in my heart

The book contains everything I love about Fredrik Backman's authorship. [The book] has humor, warmth and is full of hilarious and silly nonsense. It's a complete bullseye

'You can be whatever you want to be, but that's nowhere near as important as knowing that you can be exactly who you are' 
 
Things My Son Needs To Know About The World is a tender and funny series of letters from a new father to his son about one of life's most daunting experiences: parenthood. 
 
In between the sleep-obsessed lows and oxytocin-fuelled highs, Backman takes a step back to share his own experience of fatherhood and how he navigates such unchartered territory. 
 
Part memoir, part manual, part love letter to his son, this book relays the big and the small lessons in life. As he watches his son take his first steps into the world, he teaches him how to navigate both love and IKEA and tries to explain why, sometimes, his dad might hold his hand just a little bit too tightly. 
 
This is an irresistible and insightful collection from one of the world's most beautiful storytellers.

Us Against You

The captivating and moving follow-up to the international bestseller Beartown, from the 18 million copy bestselling author of Anxious People, A Man Called Ove and My Friends 
 
'I utterly believed in the residents of Beartown, and felt ripped apart by the events in the book' Jojo Moyes on Beartown 
 
From the author of MY FRIENDS, the Sunday Times Bestseller and Goodreads Choice Awards Fiction 2025 winner! 
________ 
 
Can a broken town survive a second tragedy? 
 
By the time the last goal is scored, someone in Beartown will be dead . . . 
 
Us Against You is the story of two towns, two teams and what it means to believe in something bigger than yourself. It's about how people come together - sometimes in anger, often in sorrow, but also through love. 
 
And how, when we stand together, we can bring a town back to life. 
________ 
 
Praise for Fredrik Backman: 
 
'A mature, compassionate novel' Sunday Times 
 
'Backman can tickle the funny bone and tug on the heart strings when he needs to, and is a clever enough storyteller to not overindulge in either' Independent 
 
'As popular Swedish exports go, Backman is up there with ABBA and Stieg Larsson' The New York Times Book Review

Praise for Beartown and Fredrik Backman

I utterly believed in the residents of Beartown, and felt ripped apart by the events in the book

Surrounded by impenetrable forests, it recreates the stifling atmosphere of a dying community. This is a mature, compassionate novel

Backman can tickle the funny bone and tug on the heart strings when he needs to, and is a clever enough storyteller to not overindulge in either

As popular Swedish exports go, Backman is up there with ABBA and Stieg Larsson.

A kind of problem play that moves extremely skilfully near the melodramatic without derailing. Its originality is substantial and the book credibly conveys the dual faces of everyday life. An impressive novel, like no other

A story about families, about friendship and loyalty, inequality, female vulnerability, male back-slapping, and parenthood ... No person's story is too little to be told, Backman includes them all. A novel with a big heart

This is a tale of the pitfalls of group mentality as well as the loss of an innocence we all take for granted-and it will grip you from start to finish

Backman is the Dickens of our age, and though you'll cry, your heart is safe in his hands

Backman is a masterful writer, his characters familiar yet distinct, flawed yet heroic. . . There are scenes that bring tears, scenes of gut-wrenching despair, and moments of sly humor. . .Like Friday Night Lights, this is about more than youth sports; it's part coming-of-age novel, part study of moral failure, and finally a chronicle of groupthink in which an unlikely hero steps forward to save more than one person from self-destruction. A thoroughly empathetic examination of the fragile human spirit, Backman's latest will resonate a long time.

A light hearted, deeply moving novel about a grumpy but loveable curmudgeon who finds his solitary world

Backman's ability to tell stories in pictures is one of his strongest merits, not least how he describes relationships . . .  It's rare that one cares about so many characters in a book, and seldom that one comes so close to a whole community. But the leading role in Backman's novels about Beartown is, after all, played by the sports community. It's a love declaration of the highest order

Mr. Backman cements his standing as a writer of astonishing depth and proves that he also has very broad range plus the remarkable ability to make you understand the feelings of each of a dozen different characters. . . . The story is fully packed with wise insights into the human experience causing characters and readers to ponder life's great question of who we are, what we hope to be and how we should lead our lives

Fredrik Backman writes wonderfully about men, with a love and understanding for the ones who would rather solve conflicts with their fists. It's hard not to love it

A brilliant sequel . . .  Backman writes about loyalty and love, but also captures the feelings of athletes in a vibrant way

Backman knows how to construct a thrilling plot, and what he writes engages . . . And when he hits his stride among the emotions, the sentimental turns into an asset - like a hockey puck straight to the heart

It's obvious that Fredrik Backman loves sports and no one is as good at evoking feelings as he is. You are thrown between laughter and tears in the space of one sentence to the next. At the same time, this might be his most earnest and serious, if you can understand what I mean, novel to date. It takes an even bigger grip on the world than the previous novel in the series did. Now we can only wait for the next chapter

What you get in a Fredrik Backman work is wonderful writing and 
brilliant insights into things that truly matter - right vs. wrong, fear vs. 
courage, love vs. hate, the importance and limits of friendship and 
loyalty, and more. Fredrik Backman is one of the world's best and most 
interesting novelists. He is a giant among the world's great novelists -and this literary giant is still growing.

In his dark but warmhearted way, Backman is a psychologist, and his 
insights are on display again in Us Against You...he creates an astute 
emotional world much bigger than a small Swedish town. It's a novel youcan sink into.

If Alexander McCall Smith's and Maeve Binchy's novels had a love 
child, the result would be the work of Swedish writer Fredrik Backman / 
.../ Backman's novels have wide appeal, and for good reason. Us Against 
You takes a lyrical look at how a community heals, how families recoverand how individuals grow.

Backman (A Man Called Ove) returns to the hockey-obsessed village of 
his previous novel Beartown to chronicle the passion, violence, 
resilience, and humanity of the people who live there in this engrossing 
tale of small-town Swedish life /.../ Backman's excellent novel has an 
atmosphere of both Scandinavian folktale and Greek tragedy. Darkness 
and grit exist alongside tenderness and levity, creating a blunt realismthat brings the setting's small-town atmosphere to vivid life.

There is even more potential for book group discussion here as 
Backman explores violence, political maneuvering, communities, 
feminism, sexuality, criminality, the role of sports in society, and whatmakes us all tick.

Readers, take a break from the heat this summer to visit the icy streets 
of Beartown. Immerse yourself in Us Against You, for once you open this 
book, you won't be able to resist falling into the hockey town out in the 
woods. Live among the residents for a few days. I guarantee that it will 
be tough to say goodbye when you turn the last page. Fredrik Backman 
has a rare talent for reaching inside his readers and coaxing out their 
deepest emotions while weaving a riveting tale that stays with you for along time. Don't miss out on this phenomenal novel.

Through Backman's astute examination of humanity, Us Against You will elicit snickers and full-blown belly laughs. It will rip out hearts, then 
replace them stronger than before. Most of all, it is sure to prompt 
readers to examine their lives in order to be better people, if only inmicroscopic ways.

Dark and gritty, but peppered with moments of breath-catching hope.

The sequel to Beartown is finally here, and it does not disappoint.

This is a tale of the pitfalls of group mentality as well as the loss of an 
innocence we all take for granted - and it will grip you from start to finish.

Just as the cult TV hit Friday Night Lights wasn't just about high-school 
football, this sequel to Beartown is about more than small-town hockey. 
Us Against You is a story of hopes, dreams, loyalty, friendship, and - after 
someone is left for dead - the lengths people will go to for the love of the game.

We have a rare book for you. [Us Against You] is not only about hockeyand sports. It's about everything that makes a man a man.

Backman uses an abundance of thrilling hints about upcoming events, 
and it works. You simply have to continue reading. The story is 
wonderful, deeply touching and very thought-provoking, and hats off 
again to the author's ability to portray people and trends in society. The 
novel plays on your entire register of emotions, and you live and breathe 
alongside the many different characters, all of which are precisely and empathetically depicted.

"Fredrik Backman is one of Sweden's best authors. He's mastered how 
to depict a village and its citizens so that you both love and hate them. 
/.../ Backman writes with emotion, and it goes straight to your heart. /.../ 
As always with Backman, there's still hope for humanity, because wherethere is violence and hatred, there is also forgiveness and love."

Us Against You is an excellent novel that's easy to read and skillfully 
handles great themes. /.../ The world created by Backman lives andbreathes and the characters are both human and complex.

Backman keeps you hooked from the first to the last page. For allBeartown fans, Us Against You feels like coming home.

Fredrik Backman writes wonderfully about men, with a love and 
understanding for the ones who would rather solve conflicts with theirfists. It's hard not to love it.

Backman knows how to construct a thrilling plot, and what he writes 
engages. /.../ And when he hits his stride among the emotions, the 
sentimental turns into an asset - like a hockey puck straight to the heart.

Number 1 New York Times bestseller FREDRIK BACKMAN made his literary debut in 2012 with the global sensation A Man Called Ove - now in development as a major motion picture starring Tom Hanks. Wickedly funny, touching and wise, Fredrik Backman's novels are odysseys of the ordinary man and woman, and stunningly moving tales of everyday courage. Up to now, Fredrik Backman has written six highly acclaimed novels, two heartfelt novellas about life and love, and one non-fiction book about parenthood. His books have sold more than 15 million copies in 46 languages and the Swedish film adaption of A Man Called Ove was nominated for two Academy Awards. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children.

Can a broken town survive a second tragedy? 
 
By the time the last goal is scored, someone in Beartown will be dead . . . 
 
Us Against You is the story of two towns, two teams and what it means to believe in something bigger than yourself. It's about how people come together - sometimes in anger, often in sorrow, but also through love. And how, when we stand together, we can bring a town back to life.

The Deal of a Lifetime

Fans of Beartown and A Man Called Ove will love this festive novella, from the 13 million copy internationally bestselling author. 
 
From the author of MY FRIENDS, the Sunday Times Bestseller and Goodreads Choice Awards Fiction 2025 winner! 
________ 
 
It is Christmas Eve and a father and son are meeting for the first time in years. 
 
The father has a story he needs to share before it's too late. As he tells his son about a courageous little girl lying in a hospital bed a few miles away, he reveals even more about himself; his triumphs in business, his failures as a parent, his past regrets, his hopes for the future. 
 
Now, on this night before Christmas, the father has been given the unexpected chance to do something remarkable that could change the destiny of a little girl he hardly knows. But before he can make the deal of a lifetime, he must find out what his own life has actually been worth, and only his son can reveal the answer. 
 
With humour and compassion, Fredrik Backman's novella The Deal of a Lifetime reminds us that life is a fleeting gift, and our legacies rest in how we share that gift with those we love.

The Deal of a Lifetime strikes straight at the heart and hits you

This (dimensionally) tiny book comes packed with huge emotion. Readers will speed through it in under two hours, then spend the rest of the day - at least - pondering the astonishing ideas it unleashes. The Deal of a Lifetime quite literally will grab you from the start and set you off in a host of incredible directions. Fredrik Backman has a wonderful ability to reach deep inside his readers, pull out feelings they didn't know they had, and set their minds spinning. What a blockbuster!

[This] book is short but every word counts and that'll hit you square in the heart. . . . You may shed tears over this book. You may need to savor it a second time, to feel its words again. However you read it, The Deal of a Lifetime is an experience you'll never trade.

Surrounded by impenetrable forests, it recreates the stifling atmosphere of a dying community. This is a mature, compassionate novel.

It is Christmas Eve, and a father and son are meeting for the first time in years. The father has a story he needs to share before it's too late. As he tells his son about a courageous little girl lying in a hospital bed a few miles away, he reveals even more about himself: his triumphs in business, his failures as a parent, his past regrets, his hopes for the future. 
 
 Now, on this night before Christmas, the father has been given an unexpected chance to do something remarkable that could change the destiny of a little girl he hardly knows. But before he can make the deal of a lifetime, he must find out what his own life has actually been worth, and only his son can reveal the answer. 
 
 With humour and compassion, Fredrik Backman's The Deal of a Lifetime reminds us that life is a fleeting gift and our legacy rests in how we share that gift with those we love.

The father has a story he needs to share before it's too late. As he tells his son about a courageous little girl lying in a hospital bed a few miles away, he reveals even more about himself; his past regrets, his hopes for the future. 
 
Now, on Christmas Eve, he has been given the chance to do something remarkable that could change the destiny of the little girl he hardly knows. But before he can make the deal of a lifetime, he must find out what his own life has actually been worth, and only his son can reveal the answer. 
 
With humour and compassion, Fredrik Backman's The Deal of a Lifetime reminds us that life is a fleeting gift, and our legacies rest in how we share that gift with those we love.

Beartown

FROM THE MULTI-MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF MY FRIENDS, ANXIOUS PEOPLE AND A MAN CALLED OVE, FREDRIK BACKMAN 
 
From the author of MY FRIENDS, the Sunday Times Bestseller and Goodreads Choice Awards Fiction 2025 winner! 
 
**NOW A MAJOR HBO TV SERIES** 
 
'I utterly believed in the residents of Beartown and felt ripped apart by the events in the book' JOJO MOYES 
 
'I couldn't put it down. Heart-rending and engrossing' 5***** Reader Review 
_________ 
 
In a large Swedish forest, Beartown hides a dark secret . . . 
 
Cut-off from everywhere else, it experiences the kind of isolation that tears people apart. 
 
And each year, more and more of the town is swallowed by the forest. 
 
Then the town is offered a bright new future. 
 
But it is all put in jeopardy by a single, brutal act. 
 
It divides the town into those who think it should be hushed up and forgotten, and those who'll risk the future to see justice done. 
 
Who will speak up? 
 
Could you stand by and stay silent? 
 
Or would you risk everything for justice? 
 
Which side would you be on? 
_________ 
 
'A mature, compassionate novel' Sunday Times 
 
'You'll love this engrossing novel' People 
 
'You know a book is good when you don't want it to end' 5***** reader review 
 
PRAISE FOR ANXIOUS PEOPLE 
 
'A brilliant and comforting read' MATT HAIG 
'Funny, compassionate and wise. An absolute joy' A.J. PEARCE 
'A surefooted insight into the absurdity, beauty and ache of life' GUARDIAN 
'I laughed, I sobbed, I recommended it to literally everyone I know' BUZZFEED 
'Captures the messy essence of being human' WASHINGTON POST

I wasn't sure I would love a novel centred on hockey - but as with Friday Night Lights this is actually a story about people - about strength and tribal loyalty and what we unwittingly do when trying to show our boys how to be men. I utterly believed in the residents of Beartown, and felt ripped apart by the events in the book

Surrounded by impenetrable forests, it recreates the stifling atmosphere of a dying community. This is a mature, compassionate novel.

Praise for A Man Called Ove

It's warm, funny, and ultimately almost unbearably moving

A warm and tender story about love, loss and second chances, peppered with memorable characters, wonderful set pieces and some beautifully black humour. Ove is a joy from start to finish

Gavin Extence, author of The Universe versus Alex Woods

An uplifting, life-affirming and often comic tale of how kindness, love and happiness can be found in the most unlikely places

Backman can tickle the funny bone and tug on the heart strings when he needs to, and is a clever enough storyteller to not overindulge in either

Beartown is a small town in a large Swedish forest. 
 
For most of the year it is under a thick blanket of snow, experiencing the kind of cold and dark that brings people closer together - or pulls them apart. 
 
Its isolation means that Beartown has been slowly shrinking with each passing year. But now the town is on the verge of an astonishing revival. A bright new future is just around the corner. 
 
Until the day it is all put in jeopardy by a single, brutal act. 
 
It divides the town into those who think it should be hushed up and forgotten, and those who'll risk the future to see justice done. At last, it falls to one young man to find the courage to speak the truth that it seems no one else wants to hear. 
 
With the town's future at stake, no one can stand by or stay silent. Everyone is on one side or the other. 
 
Which side would you be on?

Fredrik Backman

Winsome, bittersweet ... Wise and heartbreaking. Backman's slim novella celebrates the joy of connecting even in the midst of letting go

A novella to be savoured and reread about a boy, his dad and his grandpa as they learn to say goodbye. It's a little book with a big message

I read this beautifully imagined and moving novella in one sitting, utterly wowed, wanting to share it with everyone I know

Lisa Genova, New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice

Beautiful, dreamlike, heartbreaking, and heartwarming. Bring tissues. Bring all the tissues

The saddest, sweetest book ever ... It is heartbreakingly sad, but also beautiful and uplifting in the end

From the New York Times bestselling author of Anxious People

Grandpa and Noah are sitting on a bench in a square that gets smaller every day. The square is both strange and familiar, full of their lives' odds and ends. Here they share jokes, discuss their love of mathematics and Grandpa recalls falling in love with his wife, and how he dreads the day when he won't remember her. Sometimes Grandpa sits on the bench next to Ted, Noah's father, who prefers writing and playing guitar. They're very different, but bonded by their love of Noah. 
 
 Grandpa, Grandma, Ted, and Noah all meet in this space that is growing increasingly dimmer and more confusing. And here is where they will learn to say goodbye.

Fredrik Backman

Books by Fredrik Backman

Articles featuring Fredrik Backman

Funny books guaranteed to make you laugh out loud

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter