Fredrik Backman
Fredrik Backman has published 13 books across 5 series. The recommended reading order starts with A Man Called Ove (2014).
Fredrik Backman is a Swedish author who writes contemporary fiction, novellas, and nonfiction. His work has been published in more than forty countries, with his novels translated into over twenty-five languages. Backman made his debut as a novelist in his native Swedish in 2012. His English debut came in 2014 with A Man Called Ove, a novel that has since been adapted into a film. His novel Beartown is also set to be adapted for television. Backman’s other novels include My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, Britt-Marie Was Here, Beartown, Us Against You, The Winners, and Anxious People. He has also written two novellas, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer and The Deal of a Lifetime, and a work of nonfiction titled Things My Son Needs to Know About the World. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children.
Shelf & Shadows
Order of Beartown Books
- Tags---DescriptionIn the small forest town of Beartown, the hopes of a community rest on the shoulders of a junior ice hockey team. Kevin, Amat, Benji, and their teammates are on the cusp of the national semi-finals, a dream that could change everything for their struggling town. But the pressure of that dream becomes the catalyst for a violent act. Accusations ripple outward, leaving a young girl traumatized and the town in turmoil. This is a story of loyalty, friendship, and the heavy decisions that define us, set against the backdrop of a game and a place where the entire world is found.Publication dateFebruary 6, 2018Amazon rating4.5/5Print length432LanguageEnglishPublisherAtria Books
- Tags---DescriptionHave you ever seen a town fall? Ours did. Have you ever seen a town rise? Ours did that, too. The citizens of Beartown, a small community tucked deep in the forest, have always found pride in their local ice hockey team, even when life is difficult. But now, the club is threatened with disbandment, and the former Beartown players, now with the rival team in Hed, take obvious satisfaction in the news. As tension mounts between the two towns, a newcomer arrives, giving Beartown hockey a surprising new coach and a chance at a comeback. A new team starts to take shape around Amat, the fastest player you’ll ever see; Benji, the intense lone wolf; always dutiful and eager-to-please Bobo; and Vidar, a born-to-be-bad troublemaker. But bringing this team together proves a challenge as old bonds break, new ones form, and the enmity with Hed grows more acute. As the big game approaches, not-so-innocent pranks pile up. By the time the last goal is scored, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will be forced to wonder if the game they love can ever return to something simple and innocent. Us against you.Publication dateJune 5, 2018Amazon rating4.6/5Print length448LanguageEnglishPublisherAtria Books
- TagscrimemysteryDescriptionTwo years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about. Everyone has tried to move on, but something about this place prevents it. A ferocious storm reignites the old rivalry between Beartown and Hed, a rivalry always fought on the ice. Maya Andersson and Benji Ovich return, reuniting with friends, finding purpose in a new ice rink. Maya’s parents investigate the hockey club’s finances. Amat, once a star, has lost his way. Tensions escalate to violence. Meanwhile, a fourteen-year-old boy, alienated and seeking revenge for his sister’s death, carries a pistol and a plan that will leave Beartown with a loss it can barely stand. This novel asks what it means to win, to lose, and to forgive.Publication dateSeptember 27, 2022Amazon rating4.6/5Print length688LanguageEnglishPublisherAtria Books
Order of Collections
- Tagsshort-storiesDescriptionChristmas Eve. A man who built an empire but lost his family faces a little girl fighting for her life. If you had the chance to change your legacy, would you take it? Elsewhere, an elderly man sits with his son and grandson, sharing memories and jokes. As he confronts his regrets, he realizes he must teach his family to say goodbye without fear. And a young boy struggling with depression finds the courage to discover the person he might become. In three deeply moving stories, Fredrik Backman explores life's greatest struggles and reminds us that what matters most is how we share the gift of life with those we love.Publication dateJanuary 1, 2018Amazon rating4.3/5Print length192LanguageEnglishPublisherSimon and Schuster
Order of Non-Fiction Books
- Tagsbiographynon-fictionDescriptionFrom the #1 New York Times author of A Man Called Ove comes a moving collection of heartfelt, humorous essays about fatherhood, offering a newborn son perspective and tools for navigating the world. These personal dispatches from the front lines of fatherhood reveal profound awe at life's "firsts" and the author's own false steps, tackling everything from masculinity and mid-life crises to practical jokes and poop. He shares the true story of falling in love with a woman his opposite and learning a life that revolves around unconditional care, relaying lessons on finding your team, why airports explain war, and the crucial role of starting a band for friendships. He even includes how to beat Monkey Island 3 and why a dad might hold his son’s hand a little too tight. What wisdom will he impart as his son ventures out into the world?Publication dateAugust 28, 2019Amazon rating4.5/5Print length221LanguageEnglishPublisherThorndike Press Large Print
Order of Short Stories/Novellas
- TagsfantasymysterysuspensethrillerDescriptionAn elderly man sits with his grandson, Noah, on a bench in a shrinking, round square. The space is filled with remnants of their lives: a work desk, a stuffed dragon, the scent of hyacinths Grandma loved. As they wait, they share jokes and discuss math. Grandpa remembers falling in love, losing his wife. He dreads the day his memories fade completely. Sometimes, Noah's father, Ted, joins them. Ted, who always wanted his father's time, finds common ground with Grandpa in their love for Noah. Here, in this dimming, confusing space, they will learn to say goodbye.Publication dateNovember 1, 2016Amazon rating4.5/5Print length96LanguageEnglishPublisherAtria Books
- Tagsshort-storiesDescriptionA father and son see each other for the first time in years, the father eager to share a story before it is too late. He speaks of a courageous little girl in a hospital bed, a smart child facing cancer, who draws with crayons to bring comfort to the adults around her. As he recounts her bravery, the father reveals his own triumphs in business, his failures as a parent, his regrets, and his hopes. Now, on a cold winter’s night, he has an unexpected chance to do something remarkable that could change the destiny of this little girl. But before he can make the deal of a lifetime, he must first understand what his own life has truly been worth, and only his son holds that answer.Publication dateOctober 31, 2017Amazon rating4.2/5Print length96LanguageEnglishPublisherAtria Books
- Tags---DescriptionLucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone? Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally. Told in Fredrik Backman’s singular witty style with sharply drawn characters and relatable antics, The Answer Is No is a laugh-out-loud portrait of a man struggling to keep to himself in a world that won’t leave him alone. In this hilarious short story, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control.Publication dateDecember 1, 2024Amazon rating4.1/5Print length68LanguageEnglishPublisherAmazon Original Stories
Order of Standalone Novels
- Tags---DescriptionMeet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him “the bitter neighbor from hell.” But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time? Behind the cranky exterior, there is a story and a sadness. So when a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations. Fredrik Backman’s first novel explores the profound impact one life has on countless others. Will this grumpy man open his heart to the new neighbors?Publication dateJuly 15, 2014Amazon rating4.6/5Print length352LanguageEnglishPublisherAtria Books
- Tagsgraphic-novelsDescriptionSeven-year-old Elsa is different, and her seventy-seven-year-old grandmother is her best, and only, friend. Her grandmother is also crazy—the kind who fires paintball guns at strangers from balconies. At night, Elsa escapes into her grandmother’s fantastical stories of the Land-of-Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas, worlds where being different is normal. But when her grandmother dies, she leaves Elsa a final, unexpected adventure: a series of letters apologizing to people she wronged. Following her grandmother’s instructions, Elsa journeys through an apartment building filled with a cast of unusual characters—drunks, monsters, attack dogs, and old crones—uncovering the truth about fairy tales, kingdoms, and a grandmother unlike any other. This is a story about life, death, and the right to be different.Publication dateJune 16, 2015Amazon rating4.3/5Print length384LanguageEnglishPublisherAtria Books
- Tags---DescriptionBritt-Marie can’t stand mess. A disorganized cutlery drawer is a sin. She is not one to judge, but her helpful suggestions are often taken as criticism. Yet, inside this fussy busybody is a woman with more imagination, bigger dreams, and a warmer heart than anyone realizes. When Britt-Marie walks out on her cheating husband, she finds herself alone in the miserable backwater town of Borg. She takes a job as caretaker of a soon-to-be demolished recreation center. The fastidious Britt-Marie is drawn into the lives of her new neighbors—an odd assortment of miscreants and layabouts. Then she's given the impossible task: lead the supremely untalented children’s soccer team to victory. In this town of misfits, can Britt-Marie find where she belongs?Publication dateFebruary 7, 2017Amazon rating4.4/5Print length336LanguageEnglishPublisherAtria Books
- TagscrimeDescriptionIt's New Year's Eve, and an apartment open house has become the scene of a crime that never quite happened. An incompetent bank robber bursts in, taking a group of strangers hostage. Among them are Anna-Lena and Roger, a couple whose marriage is as fixer-upper as the apartments they buy. Julia and Ro, expecting their first child, are already panicking about everything. Lonely bank manager Zara came only for the view, while 87-year-old Estelle seems to welcome the company. A flustered real estate agent and a mystery man hiding in the bathroom round out this unlikely gathering. As police surround the building, these anxious strangers, each carrying their own secrets and regrets, are forced together. They are a collection of people who desperately crave rescue, but as truths begin to surface and unexpected connections form, they might find they have more in common than they ever imagined. It is a story of flawed humanity, the search for belonging, and the enduring power of hope.Publication dateSeptember 8, 2020Amazon rating4.4/5Print length352LanguageEnglishPublisherAtria Books
- Tags---DescriptionThe chipped mug, the one with the faded blue stripe, felt heavier than usual in his hand. He traced the crack that ran across its surface, a familiar map of countless mornings. Outside, the city stirred, a symphony of distant sirens and early traffic, but inside, a silence had settled, thick with unspoken words and the weight of years. This was the quiet before the storm, the moment when a single question could unravel everything, or bind it tighter still. What happens when the people who knew you best are the ones you understand the least?Publication dateMay 6, 2025Amazon rating4.5/5Print length448LanguageEnglishPublisherAtria Books
Frequently Asked Questions about Fredrik Backman
Most readers find that Fredrik Backman's novels work well when read in publication order, allowing for a natural progression of his characters and themes. His standalone novels, such as A Man Called Ove, Britt-Marie Was Here, and Anxious People, can be read independently of each other and his series. For those interested in the Beartown series, reading them in the order they were published is recommended: Beartown, Us Against You, and The Winners. This approach allows readers to fully appreciate the unfolding narrative and character development across his body of work.
A good starting point for Fredrik Backman's novels is often A Man Called Ove. Published in 2014, this book introduces his characteristic blend of humor, pathos, and deeply drawn characters. It has also been adapted into a film, making it a familiar entry point for many readers. Alternatively, Anxious People, published in 2020, offers a more complex, ensemble cast that showcases his ability to weave together multiple storylines with wit and emotional depth. Either novel provides a strong introduction to his distinctive storytelling style.
While many of Fredrik Backman's books can be enjoyed as standalones, there are distinct series and recurring characters that benefit from sequential reading. The Beartown series, comprising Beartown, Us Against You, and The Winners, follows a continuous narrative and characters, making it best experienced in publication order. Similarly, some characters appear in multiple novels, and reading them in order can enhance the reader's understanding of their journeys. However, his standalone novels are designed to be read independently and do not require prior reading.
Fredrik Backman writes both standalone novels and series. His standalone novels, such as A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, Britt-Marie Was Here, Anxious People, and My Friends, can be read in any order. He also writes series, most notably the Beartown series, which includes Beartown, Us Against You, and The Winners. These novels are connected by setting and characters, and are intended to be read in chronological order. He has also written novellas and nonfiction.
Fredrik Backman has written a considerable number of books across different forms. His published works include multiple standalone novels, a series of novels set in Beartown, several novellas, and a work of nonfiction. Counting only his novels and novellas, he has authored over ten distinct titles. Including his nonfiction work, the total number of published books exceeds a dozen. His bibliography also includes short stories and collections that further expand his literary output, demonstrating a broad range of writing.
Fredman Backman's debut as a novelist was in his native Sweden in 2012. His first novel published in English was A Man Called Ove, released in 2014. While the specific title of his very first published work in Sweden is not detailed here, A Man Called Ove is the book that introduced his writing to an international audience and is often considered his English-language debut. This novel has since achieved significant recognition and was adapted into a film.
Based on the provided information, the most recent book by Fredrik Backman is The Answer Is No, a novella published in 2024. Before this, his novel The Winners was published in 2022. His other recent works include Anxious People (2020) and Things My Son Needs to Know About the World (2019). The Answer Is No continues his exploration of novella-length storytelling, following a similar format to other shorter works he has released throughout his career.
Fredrik Backman writes contemporary fiction, often characterized by a blend of humor and emotional depth. His novels frequently explore themes of community, family, aging, and the complexities of human relationships. He is known for creating memorable characters who grapple with life's challenges, finding both hardship and connection in their experiences. While primarily a novelist, he has also written novellas and a work of nonfiction. His fiction often straddles the line between heartwarming and poignant, offering readers relatable and moving narratives.
Kim Michele Richardson
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Gil McNeil
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Uzma Jalaluddin
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We verified the reading order for Fredrik Backman's books by cross-referencing official publication dates, ISBN databases, and publisher catalogs.
Last verified: July 2026
Shelf & Shadows. (…). “Fredrik Backman Books in Order.” Retrieved …, from https://www.shelfandshadows.com/authors/fredrik-backman