Kaylee’s review of My Friends > Likes and Comments
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That's why I do not touch books6 marked as "#1 New Your Times writer". Always a terrible dissapointment and waste of money.
Thank you so much for this excellent review. I feel the same as you, but I’m still struggling to finish this book. It’s hard work.
No, dear Kaylee, the characters didn't laugh - they giggled. People, or should I say "our humans" may giggle once, as a baby, but once you are 10 or so, people laugh!
Great review. The laughing, the farting… ugh!
This made me laugh so hard because I can not get past the farting. The first 100 pages of this book is just people laughing from farts
You can’t trust the NYT anymore. Who knows why they highly recommended this awkward and poorly written book.
Agree with everything you’ve said here. I would’ve dnf’d it early on but read for a book club. Wished I would’ve anyway. Time I’ll never get back.
This PERFECTLY describes how I feel about this book. I loved the Bear Town trilogy, but the conversations in this book are horrible. I get they all had a hard life, but yeah- Louisa is just obnoxious. I’m in my late 40s and the description of adult Ted had me rolling my eyes. We’re not completely decrepit yet. And the constant laughing- UGGHHH!
Brilliant review, I feel this so much! It’s been a painful read. *yawns
I’ve generally enjoyed Backman’s books but this was awful. Thoroughly enjoyed and agree with your review.
Thank you for making me feel less alone. I read this for book club and was angry and annoyed the entire time.
Wish I had read your review before wasting my time reading this book. 😬
Yes! Thank you for your review.. I love art, but do not understand the hype around this book…
I’m officially put off any Backman book after reading this one 😕
I have been trying to listen to this book on audio for book club for 2 weeks. I’m ~25% in and cannot stand this book. I think it’s a combination of the lady reading it and generally awful characters that seem to make one thing their entire personality that prevent me from wanting to listen. I haven’t read anything else by this author but after this experience it may be hard to convince me. Glad to know I’m not missing anything.
I laughed so hard reading your review! It's was way funnier than anything in the book! I am so glad that I am not alone in my thoughts!
yes! just yes...all the things you said.
Thank you for saving me from reading this. (I was on the fence but you got me with the reference to a book I wish I’d never read!)
Thank you for your review! This was the first Bachman book I read and I just hated it. Little things like the content reference to “the artist”… and I agree with the comment about the ages of the people not matching up with how they were acting. I’m so mad that I used my Audible credit on this book. I couldn’t even finish it.
Quit after 50 pages. Assigned for book club. We once read anxious people and 50 pages into this one I could tell it was also just going no where. Now after reading your review thank you for saving me so much time!
Agree totally. I’m in the outlier group. Lesson learned…don’t believe in stars given on Goodreads.
Wow I agree! This books was terrible. I can’t believe the author got away with this and that it’s getting such hype. I think this author is getting published simply because of his previous winners.
This is my second try at Bachman and you have nailed what I don't like about his writing style. Among the many irritating phrases, metaphors and word usage, "my human" for "my friend" was the most irritating to me.
This is my second try at Bachman and you have nailed what I don't like about his writing style. Among the many irritating phrases, metaphors and word usage, "my human" for "my friend" was the most irritating to me.
Felt the same way but even though it felt like an over verbose gimmick, I think teens will really like it. That said, I wish some author, any author would focus on giving teens good role models instead of everyone is messed up.
I am about a third in. It started so slow, then got better and I got excited. But now I'm just bored? Again? I also thought Ted seemed 87 years old and was shocked to find out he's only 39. I loved Ove, and enjoyed Anxious People well enough, but if I weren't reading this for a book club I probably would have DNFed.
For me it was the crying! Every other page a character was absolutely sobbing!
Yes! The figurative language was a nightmare! It's a theme across all of his books.
Your bladder comment made me LOL. I was thinking the same thing. He isn’t even that old! This book writes like your life is over at 40. I really wanted to like this book but it felt like a slog to get through.. and I was just bored.
I’m sad to say I did not like this book. Sad because I love the rest of his books, and I was so excited to read this one and it was a complete flop.
Good grief! I struggled to get through the torturous figures of speech, the unrealistic story connections, the sophomoric attempts at humorous descriptions (maybe they weren’t supposed to be humorous), and the shallow emotionalism carried throughout this novel. Mr. Backman needed a good editor to clean this mess up. His Beartown Trilogy was so much better!
Glad to find some people that feel the same. I struggled to get 25% of the way through. Started a different book that really got me hooked from the beginning and then this one needed to go back to the library. I felt bad because I didn’t even care – it didn’t satisfy my urge to pick up the book and keep reading every day. I thought something was wrong with me because of all the five star ratings. I was gonna give this book another shot but now I think my time is better spent reading a book I can get excited about..
lol! You summed up my feelings completely
Thank you for your review! Despite myself not initially liking the start I had a shimmer of hope but the book became a sentimental “happy ending” slob, and the story regressed into something even more improbable. The seed of the story is really good but the author isn’t up to the task.
I have a feeling the author wanted to copy the style of “The 100-year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared”. Read that book instead!
I bought the expensive hardcover after seeing such high reviews. I’m halfway through and just can’t pick it back up. I am finding other things to do instead of continuing to read this book. I think I will throw in the towel on this one and just scratch my head on the high rating. Your review is spot on.
Thankyou. It’s mind boggling how little criticism this shit is getting. DNF at 50%, utterly insufferable
Totally agree with your take on it. Didn’t care about one single character & still not so why I bothered to finish it. His cutesy descriptions, obnoxious characters & lack of a real plot made for a very boring story.
This is a very accurate negative review ty for putting all my thoughts about this book into words so eloquently. DNF a 3rd way through and glad I’m giving up now
I'm so glad that I am not alone. Everything that everybody has said resonates with me. I am so glad that I gave up when I did and didn't waste my life on it.
I also have an issue with trauma porn books and that's exactly what this book is. He just lays it too thick I want to roll my eyes. Sad because it started out so well for me but got more and more clingey and ridiculous with every chapter. You are right, nothing really happens in this book and it could have been a short story
I can’t stand this book. Trying to finish but not sure it’s worth it.
Thank you for this thorough and honest review!!! My biggest thing was yes, Louisa acted nor talked like a just turned 18 year old girl. The author obviously has never been with a teenage girl at this age which sucked. And yes I felt every other paragraph they were dying of laughter!! I’m like were they high?? So confusing and annoying haha.
You nailed it. I kept seeing how great this book is so I suffered through reading it, but it’s boring, pointless and the author seems to desperately need to be viewed as profound.
I am listening now as fast as I can just to finish. Insufferable is a good word. I feel so sad as I had high hopes.
this is exactly how I feel. You forgot to mention how many times things are written IN CAPS with so many EXCLAMATION MARKS
omg yes my feelings exactly. i was thinking “oh brother not another a little life” as i was reading
I just finished the audiobook version of this book and I felt like I was finally free. It was terrible. I agree entirely with your review. How does this get above 4 stars!?
I fully agree with every word you wrote! Even if Louisa is neurodivergent, that doesn’t explain why she sounds like she’s eight years old? Also, nobody talks like the people in this book. It’s the most annoying, over-the-top, cheesy, trying-way-too-hard dialogue that I’ve ever read. I hate it.
I do think maybe I would’ve loved this book and thought it was really profound when I was like 13?
But I don’t understand all the 5 star reviews??? I know books are subjective, but holy shit, how anybody slog through this drivel and decide it was great writing?
I read this book because I heard so many people raving about it online!
I will say that I actually really liked the very beginning. I thought it was gonna be really great. What a disappointment. I made it to 43% through and I’m done punishing my eyeballs.
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MattiasK
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Jul 16, 2025 12:23PM
That's why I do not touch books6 marked as "#1 New Your Times writer". Always a terrible dissapointment and waste of money.
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Thank you so much for this excellent review. I feel the same as you, but I’m still struggling to finish this book. It’s hard work.
No, dear Kaylee, the characters didn't laugh - they giggled. People, or should I say "our humans" may giggle once, as a baby, but once you are 10 or so, people laugh!
Great review. The laughing, the farting… ugh!
This made me laugh so hard because I can not get past the farting. The first 100 pages of this book is just people laughing from farts
You can’t trust the NYT anymore. Who knows why they highly recommended this awkward and poorly written book.
Agree with everything you’ve said here. I would’ve dnf’d it early on but read for a book club. Wished I would’ve anyway. Time I’ll never get back.
This PERFECTLY describes how I feel about this book. I loved the Bear Town trilogy, but the conversations in this book are horrible. I get they all had a hard life, but yeah- Louisa is just obnoxious. I’m in my late 40s and the description of adult Ted had me rolling my eyes. We’re not completely decrepit yet. And the constant laughing- UGGHHH!
Brilliant review, I feel this so much! It’s been a painful read. *yawns
I’ve generally enjoyed Backman’s books but this was awful. Thoroughly enjoyed and agree with your review.
Thank you for making me feel less alone. I read this for book club and was angry and annoyed the entire time.
Wish I had read your review before wasting my time reading this book. 😬
Yes! Thank you for your review.. I love art, but do not understand the hype around this book…I’m officially put off any Backman book after reading this one 😕
I have been trying to listen to this book on audio for book club for 2 weeks. I’m ~25% in and cannot stand this book. I think it’s a combination of the lady reading it and generally awful characters that seem to make one thing their entire personality that prevent me from wanting to listen. I haven’t read anything else by this author but after this experience it may be hard to convince me. Glad to know I’m not missing anything.
I laughed so hard reading your review! It's was way funnier than anything in the book! I am so glad that I am not alone in my thoughts!
yes! just yes...all the things you said.
Thank you for saving me from reading this. (I was on the fence but you got me with the reference to a book I wish I’d never read!)
Thank you for your review! This was the first Bachman book I read and I just hated it. Little things like the content reference to “the artist”… and I agree with the comment about the ages of the people not matching up with how they were acting. I’m so mad that I used my Audible credit on this book. I couldn’t even finish it.
Quit after 50 pages. Assigned for book club. We once read anxious people and 50 pages into this one I could tell it was also just going no where. Now after reading your review thank you for saving me so much time!
Agree totally. I’m in the outlier group. Lesson learned…don’t believe in stars given on Goodreads.
Wow I agree! This books was terrible. I can’t believe the author got away with this and that it’s getting such hype. I think this author is getting published simply because of his previous winners.
This is my second try at Bachman and you have nailed what I don't like about his writing style. Among the many irritating phrases, metaphors and word usage, "my human" for "my friend" was the most irritating to me.
This is my second try at Bachman and you have nailed what I don't like about his writing style. Among the many irritating phrases, metaphors and word usage, "my human" for "my friend" was the most irritating to me.
Felt the same way but even though it felt like an over verbose gimmick, I think teens will really like it. That said, I wish some author, any author would focus on giving teens good role models instead of everyone is messed up.
I am about a third in. It started so slow, then got better and I got excited. But now I'm just bored? Again? I also thought Ted seemed 87 years old and was shocked to find out he's only 39. I loved Ove, and enjoyed Anxious People well enough, but if I weren't reading this for a book club I probably would have DNFed.
For me it was the crying! Every other page a character was absolutely sobbing!
Yes! The figurative language was a nightmare! It's a theme across all of his books.
Your bladder comment made me LOL. I was thinking the same thing. He isn’t even that old! This book writes like your life is over at 40. I really wanted to like this book but it felt like a slog to get through.. and I was just bored.
I’m sad to say I did not like this book. Sad because I love the rest of his books, and I was so excited to read this one and it was a complete flop.
Good grief! I struggled to get through the torturous figures of speech, the unrealistic story connections, the sophomoric attempts at humorous descriptions (maybe they weren’t supposed to be humorous), and the shallow emotionalism carried throughout this novel. Mr. Backman needed a good editor to clean this mess up. His Beartown Trilogy was so much better!
Glad to find some people that feel the same. I struggled to get 25% of the way through. Started a different book that really got me hooked from the beginning and then this one needed to go back to the library. I felt bad because I didn’t even care – it didn’t satisfy my urge to pick up the book and keep reading every day. I thought something was wrong with me because of all the five star ratings. I was gonna give this book another shot but now I think my time is better spent reading a book I can get excited about..
lol! You summed up my feelings completely
Thank you for your review! Despite myself not initially liking the start I had a shimmer of hope but the book became a sentimental “happy ending” slob, and the story regressed into something even more improbable. The seed of the story is really good but the author isn’t up to the task.I have a feeling the author wanted to copy the style of “The 100-year old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared”. Read that book instead!
I bought the expensive hardcover after seeing such high reviews. I’m halfway through and just can’t pick it back up. I am finding other things to do instead of continuing to read this book. I think I will throw in the towel on this one and just scratch my head on the high rating. Your review is spot on.
Thankyou. It’s mind boggling how little criticism this shit is getting. DNF at 50%, utterly insufferable
Totally agree with your take on it. Didn’t care about one single character & still not so why I bothered to finish it. His cutesy descriptions, obnoxious characters & lack of a real plot made for a very boring story.
This is a very accurate negative review ty for putting all my thoughts about this book into words so eloquently. DNF a 3rd way through and glad I’m giving up now
I'm so glad that I am not alone. Everything that everybody has said resonates with me. I am so glad that I gave up when I did and didn't waste my life on it.
I also have an issue with trauma porn books and that's exactly what this book is. He just lays it too thick I want to roll my eyes. Sad because it started out so well for me but got more and more clingey and ridiculous with every chapter. You are right, nothing really happens in this book and it could have been a short story
I can’t stand this book. Trying to finish but not sure it’s worth it.
Thank you for this thorough and honest review!!! My biggest thing was yes, Louisa acted nor talked like a just turned 18 year old girl. The author obviously has never been with a teenage girl at this age which sucked. And yes I felt every other paragraph they were dying of laughter!! I’m like were they high?? So confusing and annoying haha.
You nailed it. I kept seeing how great this book is so I suffered through reading it, but it’s boring, pointless and the author seems to desperately need to be viewed as profound.
I am listening now as fast as I can just to finish. Insufferable is a good word. I feel so sad as I had high hopes.
this is exactly how I feel. You forgot to mention how many times things are written IN CAPS with so many EXCLAMATION MARKS
omg yes my feelings exactly. i was thinking “oh brother not another a little life” as i was reading
I just finished the audiobook version of this book and I felt like I was finally free. It was terrible. I agree entirely with your review. How does this get above 4 stars!?
I fully agree with every word you wrote! Even if Louisa is neurodivergent, that doesn’t explain why she sounds like she’s eight years old? Also, nobody talks like the people in this book. It’s the most annoying, over-the-top, cheesy, trying-way-too-hard dialogue that I’ve ever read. I hate it.I do think maybe I would’ve loved this book and thought it was really profound when I was like 13?
But I don’t understand all the 5 star reviews??? I know books are subjective, but holy shit, how anybody slog through this drivel and decide it was great writing?
I read this book because I heard so many people raving about it online!
I will say that I actually really liked the very beginning. I thought it was gonna be really great. What a disappointment. I made it to 43% through and I’m done punishing my eyeballs.