“It’s easier to stay optimistic if you never have to clear up the mess afterwards.”

This would actually be a 4.5, but let's round up for the sake of stars :)

If you liked Eleanor Oliphant, please read this book!!!

Britt-Marie is not an overly likable character from the get go, and anyone who has read “My grandmother sends her regards and apologizes/ My grandmother asked me to tell you she’s is sorry” can attest to that. However, she is absolutely fascinating and 100% stole my heart. As always, Backman makes you care about every character, he unwinds their narrative and allows you to uncover their backstories organically, you never feel like you are being ‘told’, you find things out as the characters do. Again, like in his prior work, Backman is the king of heart-tugging, unlikely friendships, and relationships that give ALL. THE. FEELS. I could not love Sammy and Britt-Marie’s relationship more, and between that and the quiet moments with Pirate/Ben, I could have dieddddd.

This is the last Backman book I had left to read to have completed all of his published work to date – I honestly do not know if there is any other author I can say that about (with the exception of debut authors, but… ya’know!). I will also pick up anything and everything that he puts out, once translated to English. I will say though, I find that I have enjoyed his books much more as audio, although I can not explain why. I think his style of writing, the way he uses reprise and repetition lends itself beautifully to be read aloud. If character-centric books are your thing, then Backman will not disappoint.