Anxious People

An instant #1 New York Times bestseller, the new novel from the author of A Man Called Ove is a &;quirky, big-hearted novel&;.Wry, wise and often laugh-out-loud funny, it&;s a wholly original story that delivers pure pleasure&; (People).Looking at real estate isn&;t usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage. The captives include a recently retired couple who relentlessly hunt down fixer-uppers to avoid the painful truth that they can&;t fix their own marriage. There&;s a wealthy bank director who has been too busy to care about anyone else and a young couple who are about to have their first child but can&;t seem to agree on anything. Add to the mix an eighty-seven-year-old woman who has lived long enough not to be afraid of someone waving a gun in her face, a flustered but still-ready-to-make-a-deal real estate agent, and a mystery man who has locked himself in the apartment&;s only bathroom, and you&;ve got the worst group of hostages in the world. Each of them carries a lifetime of grievances, hurts, secrets, and passions that are ready to boil over. None of them is entirely who they appear to be. And all of them&;the bank robber included&;desperately crave some sort of rescue. As the authorities and the media surround the premises, these reluctant allies will reveal surprising truths about themselves and set in motion a chain of events so unexpected that even they can hardly explain what happens next. Proving once again that Backman is &;a master of writing delightful, insightful, soulful, character-driven narratives&; (USA TODAY), Anxious People &;captures the messy essence of being human&;.It&;s clever and affecting, as likely to make you laugh out loud as it is to make you cry&; (The Washington Post). This &;endlessly entertaining mood-booster&; (Real Simple) is proof that the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness, and hope can save us&;even in the most anxious of times.