Anxious People: The No. 1 New York Times bestseller, now a Netflix TV Series - From the Author of My Friends

it took a while to get int this but gradually , as the themes started to appear, it became clear that it was a very good book with many wonderful lines and some deeper messages which made for a very readable and enjoyable read. have immediately bought another of his books which is always a good sign and is not lightly done.

Really enjoyed this unusual book. Lots of layers unpeel, lots of truths and untruths, lots of insights into people’s characters. Comical in some ways but quite sad in others. Worth a read

Loved this book, so well written with so many stories within the story. Inspirational, thought provoking, did not want the story to end.

An easy read but be warned it does contain references to suicide, that may upset some people. Estelle was my favourite character and I loved the awkwardness of ‘Stockholmers’ term explanations. Story not very believable but was an original take.

The unusual narrative style of this story was arresting from the start – with characters deliberately obfuscated and obfuscating – and it was a little startling for the first few pages as I was trying to get a feel for who everyone was and what was happening, but it didn’t take long for the rambling, conversational style of the narration to become one of my favourite things about this book. Other favourite things included the humour, the pathos, the initially ridiculous but eventually incredibly relatable character, the riddle-in-a-mystery-in-an-enigma plot that felt so intricate and interconnected and yet was somehow very easy to read… everything really. One minute I was laughing at the silly police interview dialogue and the next I was nodding enthusiastically at a description of the difficulties of adulthood and its many responsibilities. The coincidences in the plot are not meant to be believable or realistic, but they make for a very satisfyingly neat finale and are balanced by the realism of the pain, worries and fears of the small cast of characters. The story hangs around a banking system and a bridge, but its heart is the despair and kindness of ordinary, everyday people. This is one of those books that made me immediately seek out everything else the author has written to add them to my wish-list and also create a mental list of people in my life that I need to buy copies for as soon as possible (three so far, and counting!) I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a unique, people-centred locked-room mystery that really gets how hard modern life can be for all sorts of different people and reasons.

Well, I read and listened to this one, and it initially felt like a random farce with bit part actors. But when I took a step back, I realised there was much more to it. We have Jim, a police officer who didn’t want his son Jack to follow in his footsteps. However, Jack joined the force anyway. While it’s clear they love each other, there’s continued stress and irritation from Jack. They have their own story. On New Year’s Eve, an estate agent is hosting an open viewing. As the guests arrive, they’re met with a rather reluctant and accidental bank robber. This wasn’t the intention; the bank robber is going through heartbreak and a breakup. She’s at the end of her tether, which causes a desperate act that turns into more than anyone realises. As the strangers get to know each other, they start to bond. Each person is holding something within, and bit by bit, we get to hear about their backstories. Some of the stories were emotional, while others made me cry. I also laughed at some of the absurdity of what was going on, like the guy wearing a rabbit’s head. We learn that behind the facade, everyone is going through something. Some of the stories were relatable, and we see the very real and human side that we often conceal. At the end of the day, we learn that as humans, we all make mistakes. We need kindness and not judgement. Patience and love go a long way. This turned out to be a clever and moving story, cleverly woven despite the collection of characters. It didn’t feel crowded at all.

i don't have the words to describe how much I enjoyed this book, but my Kindle highlights is full of profound thoughts and funny lines from this book. I'm a below average reader but found this book so engaging and uplifting, and the subject is original and well ordered.

This book infuriated me at times but also moved me to tears often. It seems shallow and trivial to start with, farcical, but evolves into a very in-depth psychological analysais of personalities, frailties, forgiveness, kindness and eternal love.