Fredrik Backman has a distinct writing style. He creates characters that seem like caricatures of real-life people. This book is about a bank robbery turned hostage situation gone comically wrong in a small town. This book is hilarious and deep at the same time. It has a handful of interesting characters, and as the story progresses, you get to learn about them slowly. Their quirks, what makes them tick, why they are anxious people, and how they start to connect with each other in that situation. Fredrik Backman beautifully handles heavy topics here. This book discusses depression, suicide, suicidal ideation, and the loss of loved ones. The author can really write people. They are all very fleshed-out and dimensional characters. They are flawed like real people. This book is essentially about people and the exploration of their emotions. Each character has their own untold stories, joys, regrets, missed opportunities, hopes and dreams. It also talks about how people judge one another so quickly. How people are so quick to be offensive and defensive. What’s it like being alive in this twenty-first century. The writing style of this author is thought provoking and beautiful. Every page of this book is quotable. He writes books and characters that stick with you for a long time. His characters slowly grow on you. This story gives off a warm vibe while dealing with heavy topics. The author has a way with words that can make you burst out laughing one moment and wiping away tears the next. You’re guaranteed to fall in love with his writing and his amazing storytellings.

-Ariana