The Answer is No
By: Fredrik Backman, Elizabeth DoNoma (Translator)
Genre: Short Story
Number of Pages: 68
Published: December 1, 2024
Publisher: Amazon Original Stories
Dates Read: November 10, 2024
Format: eBook

Lucas knows the perfect night needs just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai with peanuts. Oh, and of course, no other people in sight – why complicate things?

Things were going great until one day, a trio from the housing authority rang his doorbell, demanding to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of simply removing the item like Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the culprit. But, their plan backfires, and Lucas somehow ends up in the middle of it.

As per usual, I absolutely love Fredrik Backman and anything he writes. His humor and wit can always make me laugh out loud, especially when it’s about the human experience or connections to one another.

After hearing Backman speak at the Simon & Schuster centennial, I really heard his voice coming through on these pages.

It’s all a bit silly and though some of the conversations between Lucas and his neighbors seem like they could be unrealistic, I can promise you, I have had a very similar version of conversation with patrons at my library.

If you liked Backman before, you’ll love him again with this novel. And, anyone whose day has been ruined by a frying pan (or a piece of trash/rubbish), you’ll also enjoy this witty story.