Last Friday evening you would’ve found me sitting in the sun on my back porch surrounded by freshly potted flowers and chattering birds.  Simply soaking up the beauty of life.  
 
But it wasn’t the flowers or the sun or the birds that had me paused in that moment, deep in thought and full of gratitude.  

It was the fact that I had just read the last lines of Backman’s latest book, My Friends.  

Oh, the way his books nourish my heart!
 
To be clear, it took me a month to get to that point. Why?  Because I savored EACH and EVERY word.  

I let myself truly live in the moments that unfolded with those four friends on that pier so many summers ago.  And it was GLORIOUS.  
 
“Because who can make you grieve for a person you never even knew, so that it hurts this much?”   Backman, of course.  
 
These four teens—the artist, Ted, Joar, and Ali—they aren’t just richly crafted fictional characters full of depth and complexity. No...  They became my friends.  They became part of me.  
 
This book is about finding refuge and the importance of connection.  It’s about the challenges we face and the joys we find in unexpected places.  It’s a richly woven tapestry full of heart and humanity and humor.  
 
And, in Backman’s own words, “Great art is a small break from human despair.”  Yes.  Indeed, Fredrik.  This story was the greatest break and pure manna for my starving soul.  

I’m calling it now: My Friends is my BOTY. 
 
🎧 I read most of this one with my eyes (note all of those tabs!). But I couldn’t resist finishing it alongside Marin Ireland. Her narration exudes the heart and emotion of Backman’s books! 

Many thanks to my friends at @atriabooks and @simon.audio for the free #gifted copies of this book.  #atriapartner #partner