Reviews

• “A charming debut. /…/ You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll feel new sympathy for the curmudgeons in your life. You’ll also want to move to Scandinavia, where everything’s cuter.”

• “Readers seeking feel-good tales with a message will rave about the rantings of this solitary old man with a singular outlook. If there was an award for ‘Most Charming Book of the Year,’ this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down.”

• “A funny crowd-pleaser that serves up laughs to accompany a thoughtful reflection on loss and love. /…/ The author writes with winning charm.”

• “This charming debut novel by Backman should find a ready audience with English-language readers… hysterically funny… wry descriptions, excellent pacing… In the contest of Most Winning Combination, it would be hard to beat grumpy Ove and his hidden, generous heart.”

• “Even the most serious reader of fiction needs light relief, and for that afternoon when all you want is charm, this is the perfect book.”

• “A light hearted, deeply moving novel about a grumpy but loveable curmudgeon who finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door. This quirky debut is a thoughtful and charming exploration of the impact one life has on countless others – and an absolute delight.”

• “Poignant and unpredictable, Backman’s book is filled with many twists and turns, as well as enjoyable characters and humorous situations.”

• “One of the most moving novels I have read this year. I defy anyone to read this book and look at a quiet withdrawn person the same way ever again.”

• “You will laugh, you will cry, as his heartbreaking story unfolds through the diverse cast of characters that enter his life, all uninvited. You will never look at the grumpy people who come into your life in quite the same way. A very memorable read.”

• “Delightful […] the perfect holiday read.”

• “It’s warm, funny, and ultimately almost unbearably moving.”

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

• “A tale that tugs on the heart strings.”

• “Rescued all those men who constantly mean to read novels but never get round to it.”

• “Quirky, humorous and poignant.”

• “An unstoppably humorous novel.”

• “In A Man Called Ove Backman’s sharp pen is given free reign. /…/ Backman never ceases to entertain.”

• “And then Backman, in the midst of all these clever pop-culture references, dedicates real thought to how one becomes a good and self-sufficient individual. And it is in the portrayal of the journey towards adulthood, social heritage, and loving companionship that Fredrik Backman’s prose turns clear and soulful.”

• “Fredrik Backman is one of the nation’s funniest columnists. [A Man Called Ove] is an unconventional and gripping debut novel that very well could be the start of a great humoristic authorship.”

• “Let it be said at once: A Man Called Ove is a hushed explosion of a novel. It is so well written, so full of humor and warmth, sorrow and portrayals, anger and joy, that I wish I had more stars to give.”

• “A Man Called Ove is right now looking like a sure bestseller.”

• “As one of Sweden’s most read bloggers, Fredrik Backman is a master at expressing himself in a short format. He carries this with him when he makes his literary debut with the simply brilliant A Man Called Ove.”

• “We love Ove. He’s our guy. That in itself is an amazing accomplishment by an author. /…/ Watch out for one of this summers most charming reads.”

• “A Man Called Ove is both thought-provoking and entertaining.”

• “Fredrik Backman’s debut novel about a cranky and lonely old man promises great things for the author’s future.”

• “A strong debut that’s uncovered a rare, almost Chaplin-like gift for pairing humor with gravity.”

• “If Ove were a political party, he would get my vote.”

• “A crotchety old man is softened by Persian unrestrainedness in a delightful Swedish bildungsroman.”

• “No matter what genre of books you usually read, or if you maybe don’t read that much, you ought to treat yourself to giving this novel a chance. It is purely and simply one of the biggest reading experiences there are. The story is wonderful and will have you chuckling and smiling at the comedic situations and descriptions at times, only to have to shed a little tear later on. The novel plays on our entire register of emotions, and besides being exceptionally entertaining, the story also gives plenty of opportunity for reflections and soul-searching. Despite the novel’s accessibility and sense of humor, the author succeeds also in describing several of the imbalances and tendencies we see in contemporary society and people’s way of life. It is quite simply marvelously good reading.”

• “A tragicomic novel about a loveable curmudgeon who terrorizes the neighborhood with his control mania.”

• “If you don’t love this book, you could actually give up on reading entirely.”

• “A literary discovery on an international level. It reads as light as it is touching, yet never ever turns kitschy.”

• “Entertaining and heartwarming, A Man Called Ove is a story about the strength of an unexpected friendship, and how deep an impact we can have on other people’s lives without even knowing it.”

• “Funny and catchy.”

• “[A] true classic for the next generation.”