A Man Called Ove
A grumpy yet lovable curmudgeon who gave up on life after his wife's death has his world turned upside down by boisterous new neighbors.
Where A Man Called Ove keeps showing up
16 of our editors' lists feature this novel.
Also by Fredrik Backman
Books in conversation with A Man Called Ove
A few of the closest reads from our full list.
What you might want to know about A Man Called Ove
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
A rule-following Swedish widower has decided he is done with the world. Then a young family moves in next door, backs a trailer into his mailbox, and refuses to leave him alone.
Yes. A 2015 Swedish film adaptation was a major international success and was nominated for two Academy Awards in 2017. Sony released a 2022 American remake titled A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks, which follows the novel closely.
No. Fredrik Backman has said Ove is fictional but inspired in part by an article he read about a grumpy older man, plus observations of his own neighbors. The character has resonated as universally familiar despite being invented.
A Man Called Ove was written by Fredrik Backman, published in 2022 by Simon and Schuster.
A Man Called Ove is 368 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, A Man Called Ove takes most readers 6 to 8 hours to finish.
A Man Called Ove is a standalone novel by Fredrik Backman, not part of a series.
A Man Called Ove is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.
