'A light hearted, deeply moving novel about a grumpy but loveable curmudgeon who finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door. 'An inspiring affirmation of love for life and acceptance of people for their essence and individual quirks.a perfect selection for book clubs.bittersweet, tender, often wickedly humorous and almost certain to elicit tears.” San Diego Union Tribune, Best Books of 2015 You will never look at the grumpy people who come into your life in quite the same way. “You will laugh, you will cry, as his heartbreaking story unfolds through the diverse cast of characters that enter his life, all uninvited. It's one of those good stories that connects.'

It covers a lot of ground: marriage, love, race, class, division, gentrification. 'A magnificent homage to humanity and to the possibility of friendship and faith in long-lost love. “Even the most serious reader of fiction needs light relief, and for that afternoon when all you want is charm, this is the perfect book.' I wager that you’ll soon fall in love with Ove and be deeply moved by his situation, and after spending time with him, may perhaps gaze at the world around you with a little more empathy than when you turned the first page.' You’ll also want to move to Scandinavia, where everything’s cuter.” “A charming debut…You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll feel new sympathy for the curmudgeons in your life. “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). All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.įredrik 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. 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. 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?īehind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse.

He’s a curmudgeon-the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. #1 New York Times bestseller-more than 3 million copies sold! Now a major motion picture A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks!