I feel like I need to truly sit with this novel for a bit before I try to rate it, only for fear that I will just be babbling about how amazing it is without first gathering my thoughts- 
But truly, it’s just that.  Amazing.  Backman’s unrivaled characterization is on full-display here in this story about 4 friends (as teens and again later in life) and the people they collect along their journey through life. It’s funny, it’s tragic, it’s silly, it’s heartbreaking, it’s inspirational, it’s everything the human experience truly is- all in one beautiful story.  
Reading this leaves me thinking about life’s true friends, the heroes that have been put in my path, and how interwoven our stories all can be.  And after saying all of this, I still don’t believe I’ve properly captured the grip this novel has on me. 
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the digital ARC.