Anxious People

Anxious People is Fredrik Backman's 2020 novel about a failed bank robbery in a Swedish apartment building. The story unfolds through the perspectives of a cast of ordinary people whose lives intersect during an open house viewing - a moment that becomes unexpectedly transformative for each of them. Backman examines loneliness, connection, and the small ways people affect one another, with the kind of warmth and dark humor that defined his earlier work.

The narrative moves between present-day events and backstory, revealing how each character arrived at this particular afternoon. Rather than dwelling on the attempted robbery itself, Backman focuses on the invisible struggles people carry: financial anxiety, relationship strain, parenting doubts, and the fear of being left behind. The tone balances humor with genuine emotional depth, offering both laugh-out-loud moments and quiet observations about what it means to feel out of place in the world.

If you enjoyed A Man Called Ove, this novel delivers similar character-driven storytelling with a wider ensemble cast. The book works both as a comedy of errors and as a meditation on how desperate circumstances can reveal unexpected bonds between strangers.

• Published 2020 by Fredrik Backman
• Contemporary fiction exploring themes of anxiety, belonging, and human connection
• Multiple interlocking character perspectives
• Approximately 400+ pages

Available with Cash on Delivery across Pakistan. We ship nationwide.