Britt-Marie Was Here: A Novel
The New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, and Anxious People captivates readers with this "warm and satisfying" (People) story "about a woman rediscovering herself after a personal crisis...fans of Backman will find another winner in these pages" (Publishers Weekly).Britt-Marie can't stand mess. A disorganized cutlery drawer ranks high on her list of unforgivable sins. She is not one to judge others--no matter how ill-mannered, unkempt, or morally suspect they might be. It's just that sometimes people interpret her helpful suggestions as criticisms, which is certainly not her intention. But hidden inside the socially awkward, fussy busybody is a woman who has more imagination, bigger dreams, and a warmer heart that anyone around her realizes. When Britt-Marie walks out on her cheating husband and has to fend for herself in the miserable backwater town of Borg--of which the kindest thing one can say is that it has a road going through it--she finds work as the caretaker of a soon-to-be demolished recreation center. The fastidious Britt-Marie soon finds herself being drawn into the daily doings of her fellow citizens, an odd assortment of miscreants, drunkards, layabouts. Most alarming of all, she's given the impossible task of leading the supremely untalented children's soccer team to victory. In this small town of misfits, can Britt-Marie find a place where she truly belongs? Funny and moving, sweet and inspiring, Britt-Marie Was Here celebrates the importance of community and connection in a world that can feel isolating.
BUY THE BOOK
These clubs recently read this book...
Community Reviews
What Bookclubbers are saying about this book
✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *Britt-Marie Was Here* is a charming, heartwarming novel showcasing Fredrik Backman’s talent for creating quirky, deeply relatable charact...
Britt-Marie was Here is the best-selling novel by author Fredrik Backman. He also penned A Man Called Ove (another book I'd highly recommend!).
This my second novel by this author and he has now placed himself on a short list of authors that I must read everything they write (Louise Penny and Ruta Sepetys are also on this list). His writing style digs at the heart of the reader moving one from laughter to tears and back again, sometimes in a single chapter; even a single sentence.
Britt-Marie is a possible divorcee. She's found herself in the position of a wife no longer needed in a town no longer worthy of her. After her husband's affair (Kent - a character you hate, then like, the hate, then sort of like...it's a conundrum really how Backman runs the gambit of emotions for this man) and his then subsequent heart-attack...karma? of which Britt-Marie learns about from "the other woman," she finds herself in need of change. A trip to the unemployment office to find a job for the first time in many years begins for her a new life; one she would have never imagined. Her list of daily chores that she must do (especially if she wrote her list in pen) and her love for Faxin window cleaner and balconies make Britt-Marie a character you love despite her quirks. It's her insertion of personality into the misfit tiny town of Borg as a cleaning lady and the tiny changes that resonate at the heart of who she is that make you question why we try to change people? Can't we find what is good in them and let them be?
This novel reminds the reader not to take others for granted, to understand that within our circumstances there is room to consider others' circumstances, and it's never too late to begin again.
A full ☕☕☕☕☕ from me and looking forward to reading more of this author's work.
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, as well as a novella, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer. His books are published in more than thirty-five countries. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children.
For more about him and his novels, visit his page with Simon and Schuster:
http://simonandschuster.com/authors/Fredrik-Backman/411545926
This my second novel by this author and he has now placed himself on a short list of authors that I must read everything they write (Louise Penny and Ruta Sepetys are also on this list). His writing style digs at the heart of the reader moving one from laughter to tears and back again, sometimes in a single chapter; even a single sentence.
Britt-Marie is a possible divorcee. She's found herself in the position of a wife no longer needed in a town no longer worthy of her. After her husband's affair (Kent - a character you hate, then like, the hate, then sort of like...it's a conundrum really how Backman runs the gambit of emotions for this man) and his then subsequent heart-attack...karma? of which Britt-Marie learns about from "the other woman," she finds herself in need of change. A trip to the unemployment office to find a job for the first time in many years begins for her a new life; one she would have never imagined. Her list of daily chores that she must do (especially if she wrote her list in pen) and her love for Faxin window cleaner and balconies make Britt-Marie a character you love despite her quirks. It's her insertion of personality into the misfit tiny town of Borg as a cleaning lady and the tiny changes that resonate at the heart of who she is that make you question why we try to change people? Can't we find what is good in them and let them be?
This novel reminds the reader not to take others for granted, to understand that within our circumstances there is room to consider others' circumstances, and it's never too late to begin again.
A full ☕☕☕☕☕ from me and looking forward to reading more of this author's work.
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, as well as a novella, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer. His books are published in more than thirty-five countries. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children.
For more about him and his novels, visit his page with Simon and Schuster:
http://simonandschuster.com/authors/Fredrik-Backman/411545926
The first chapter of this book had me laughing out loud. Britt-Marie is an endearing character who is coming into her own at 64 having left her husband and moving to a little town called Borg. If you enjoyed A Man Called Ove you will enjoy this one.
Absolutely astonishing. A side of Britt-Matie that is unexpected and heart warming. She reminded me of my own grandma in the loving way. This is the second book I have read by Fredrik Backman and I absolutely love it. A true tale of you are never too old to reinvent yourself and find a new passion.
If you like reading about quirky people, you will like this book. We are all unique and may not fit just anywhere, but we all fit in somewhere.
Facebook was absolutely adorable I love Brit I enjoyed that she has like an odd add type personality it was really cool to see that and a book I wish more people would put that out there as I have dyslexia and it'd be cool to have a book about somebody that has dyslexia Maybe they discovered something cool or something I don't know but anyway this book was really good I really enjoyed it
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.