I picked up Anxious People as something light hearted to read from an author who does it the best. Backman’s A Man Called Ove made me laugh, cry and appreciate the curmudgeons in my life. So heading into Anxious People I was expecting a similar feeling but this time it was different. And not in a bad way. I ended up liking this book but not loving it like I did with A Man Called Ove. Anxious People puts the reader into an outrageous situation and when you take a step back to think about what the hell is going on it’s all a bit ridiculous. That said it has really sweet moments that keep you chugging along. The backdrop is a bank robbery turned hostage situation, but the characters involved make the story worthwhile. From lonely old ladies, to troubled parents, to new parents each of the characters are painfully relatable. Backman’s writing always nails the personas and you can’t help but to think of multiple people in your life that resemble them. This alone is always a fun experience and something I think this book excels at. You stop multiple times after witty one liners that make you appreciate your own life which is what writing is all about. So yes some of the plot was bananas but so were the people. And the people are what makes this worth the read.