Please Note:  I received an advance audio copy of this book from Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review.  This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

This is a poignant comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined.

Viewing an apartment normally doesn’t turn into a life-or-death situation, but this particular open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes everyone in the apartment hostage. As the pressure mounts, the eight strangers slowly begin opening up to one another and reveal long-hidden truths.

As police surround the premises and television channels broadcast the hostage situation live, the tension mounts and even deeper secrets are slowly revealed. Before long, the robber must decide which is the more terrifying prospect: going out to face the police, or staying in the apartment with this group of impossible people

Review:

Never has a title of a book been more appropriate for our time.  Anxious People is filled with people with major issues.  And at first, I found these characters more obnoxious than anxious.  But, by the end of the novel, I grew to love each personality.  This is a wonderful, funny book that is a perfect read in these uncertain times.  I loved it.

What I Liked:

Format:

The story is told in police interviews, and character flashbacks.  With each chapter, we learn more and more about each person.  Each point of view adds a new layer to each character.  This makes this book a page-turner as we try to figure out who these people really are.

Characters:

This is a character-driven book.  As the story progresses, characters, who we think we understand, are seen in a new light as more information is revealed.  Take Roger and Analena for example.  I found this couple so annoying at first.  Roger is a typical obnoxious older man who puffs around the real-estate showing.  His wife Analena seems clueless.  But as the story unfolds, you really see the humanity and love in this marriage.  

I also love that several of these people are not meeting randomly.  There are connections that are revealed as the story progresses.  This is fun and explains the motivations of some of the characters.  

For instance, the two policemen aren't just colleagues.  They are father and son.  Their bickering demonstrates what a colossally bad idea working with your children is.  It's impossible for the pair to act professional with each other.  While this may not be realistic, it is quite funny.  

Narrator:  

The narrator, Marin Ireland, does a wonderful job with the many characters in this story.  Most of these people have big personalities and attitude, and Ireland finds ways to show their personalities in her delivery.  From the snotty twenty year-old bank teller, to the jaded banker, each character is a distinct individual.

Story:

The fun of this book is that, aside from all the wonderful characters, this is a mystery.  It begins in the aftermath of a hostage crisis after a failed bank robbery.  But when the hostages are released, the bank robber cannot be found.  Where did he go?  Who was he?  All this is slowly unveiled through the story.

Rating: 

Release Date:  September 8th, 2020

Author:  Fredrik Backman

Genre:  Contemporary Fiction

Narrator:  Marin Ireland

Audio Publisher:  Simon & Schuster Audio

Audio Length:  9 hours, 53 minutes

Print Publisher:  Atria Books

Print Length:  352 Pages

Source:  Libro.fm

Format:  Audiobook

Recommendation:  This was a wonderful, funny novel.  I highly recommend it.