Zara’s standing on a balcony, headphones on, trying to block out the chaos going on around her. She’s not completely sure how she ended up here in this apartment with these people. They aren’t her friends, she doesn’t know them from work, no one knows the anxiety she’s carried for years. They can’t leave, they don’t really want to get to know each other, and none of them thought this was the way the day before New Years Eve would end up. So here Zara stands on the balcony, staring at the bridge across the water that started it all. But it didn’t just start a journey for her – that bridge has impacted so many in unexpected ways. And that’s the key, isn’t it? “Bridges exist to bring people closer together…”
Fredrik Backman’s Anxious People is a master class in finding humor in the tough moments and connections through shared experiences. As usual, Backman does not back away from the tough topics like mental health, divorce, and life after the loss of a spouse. As with A Man Called Ove, Backman delivers characters with relatable backstories and struggles. This is a book about how one decision can change the course of the future for those around us.
I give Anxious People out of 5 stars. Backman’s writing had me simultaneously engrossed in the story and guessing as to what was really going on. I appreciate the conversation throughout this book about mental health, including therapy and medicine. I also appreciate the way Backman approached the effect suicide has on those around you. I felt connected to the characters in a way I don’t usually find myself invested and hoping for good outcomes for each person. These characters are so relatable and feel like they could be any neighbors or family members around you. I enjoyed this book so much that I was recommending it to my coworkers before I was even half way through!
With topics of mental health and suicide, I would direct this book to more mature audiences over 16. I would also suggest a trigger warning for those who have lost a spouse or parent, and those who may have been witness to a bank robbery. With that said, I would recommend this book to anyone who has been impacted by suicide and those in the mental health industry – the realism of the impact to each character is a strong representation of real life outside the clinical world.
I chose Anxious People for the Read With Lindsey Reading Challenge prompt “an author who shares your last initial”. I read A Man Called Ove last year and loved Backman’s writing style so much I knew I wanted to read more of his work. I was excited to have the opportunity to read more of his work with this prompt. What author are you reading for this prompt? Share your choices in the comments!
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: The Secret to Hummingbird Cake, Celeste Fletcher McHale
- Current audio book: The Patriots, Winston Groom
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Rich People Problems, Kevin Kwan
Read With Lindsey 
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