A Man Called Ove: A Novel

Fredrik Backman

Jul 2014 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

Now a major motion picture A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks!

#1 New York Times bestseller—more than 3 million copies sold!

Meet 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 one November morning 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 and heartwarming 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 beloved first novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. “If there was an award for ‘Most Charming Book of the Year,’ this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down” (Booklist, starred review).

Ratings and reviews

This was a fantastic book. It starts a little slow but draws you in. It's a story about love and loss and living and life. It will break your heart and tickle your funny bone. Just read it, you won't regret it.

This book is by far the best I've read. It held my interest to the very end and I was very sad when it ended. Great characters, great story, it's just great. It made me laugh and it made me cry. You won't regret reading this book.

I bought this book, because I had a credit for the play store and this was within the price range. I halfway expected to not enjoy this book, but I couldn't put it down. I caught myself smiling while reading this book. I also felt like I could relate to Ove. This book is worth the read.

About the author

Fredrik Backman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, Britt-Marie Was Here, Beartown, Us Against You, and Anxious People, as well as two novellas and one work of nonfiction. His books are published in more than forty countries. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children. Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter @BackmanLand and on Instagram @Backmansk.