A grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door.

Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon, the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. 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?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. 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. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.

I had no desire to read this book until I listened to Anxious People by Backman — his humor and tone completely resonated with me, so I decided to give this book a shot. I’m so glad I did.

Everything about Ove (pronounced oov-uh) is frustrating and endearing. You can understand his stubbornness while also wanting to smack him for it. This character is the perfect example of ‘don’t just a book by its cover’ as he grumbles about everything but goes out of his way to help while doing it.

It’s my absolutely favorite “genre” — it made me laugh and cry in the same story while wrapping up everything with hope. If his books contained a sweet romantic thread, he’d be my favorite new author, but even without strong romantic elements his books (including this one) are completely worth the time to read.

PG-13 for some crass language and situations. Get your copy here!