A review by emma_the_unicorn
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Everything I’ve seen about Fredrick Backman’s work is always positive so I was really excited, but also had high expectations going into this. I’m glad to report that they were met and maybe even exceeded. I’m obsessed with how he develops characters and specifically does it in a way that you gradually get to learn more about them over time. He doesn’t do a plot dump or overly explain a characters backstory which makes them very likable. My favorite thing is how because the characters are introduced and developed so well, it makes the major plot points and emotional scenes hit that much harder. I also love how humorous they all are. Writing non-cringy jokes is so hard and it was done perfectly. Something that is so satisfying to me when it comes to books is when the plot makes a complete circle. It ties the story together in a nice little bow and feels like the action and climax meet the conclusion in a purposeful way. Backman handled dark and sad topics in a way that didn’t make it any less serious, but still done respectfully and discussed in a way that is easy for people to understand. I think pretty much everyone can relate to a character in this book in some way which means that it will be a hit for a lot of people. I highly recommend, especially if you want to get more into contemporary fiction but don’t know where to start. I’m very interested in reading Backman’s other works, specifically Beartown.