Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove is a warm, bittersweet novel about a grumpy old man and the neighbors who upend his solitary life. Beneath Ove’s gruff exterior lies a story of deep love and grief – and the unexpected ways a community can pull a person back toward life.
Get the A Man Called Ove Audiobook on AmazonListen on Audible · also in Kindle & printWhat A Man Called Ove is about
A Man Called Ove introduces Ove, a rigid, curmudgeonly widower whose ordered, lonely existence has lost its meaning since the death of his beloved wife. Grieving and isolated, Ove has decided he is finished with the world – until a boisterous young family moves in next door and refuses to leave him alone.
Through a series of interruptions, mishaps, and slowly revealed memories, the novel uncovers the tender history behind Ove’s grumpiness. By turns funny and deeply moving, it’s a story about grief, community, and how connection can give a life new purpose.
| Author | Fredrik Backman |
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Why A Man Called Ove is great on audio
Backman’s blend of humor and heartache carries beautifully in audio, and Ove’s prickly charm makes the A Man Called Ove audiobook a delight. It’s an easy, emotional listen that earns both laughs and tears.
Who should listen
For listeners who love heartfelt, character-driven fiction and stories of unlikely friendship. Note that the plot centers on a grieving widower who is contemplating ending his life, so it handles suicide and loss directly, even as it builds toward warmth and hope.
If you like A Man Called Ove, listen to these next
- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
- The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
How to listen to A Man Called Ove
A Man Called Ove is available on Audible and Amazon. If you’re new to Audible you can listen with a free trial, or buy the audiobook (also in Kindle and print) on Amazon.
Get the A Man Called Ove Audiobook on AmazonListen on Audible · also in Kindle & printFrequently asked questions
What is A Man Called Ove about?
A grieving, ill-tempered widower whose plans to give up on life are repeatedly interrupted by his lively new neighbors, who slowly draw him back into the world.
How can I listen to the audiobook?
It’s available on Audible and Amazon. New Audible members can start with a free trial, or buy it on Amazon.
Is it a light, feel-good read?
It’s often funny and ultimately uplifting, but it deals seriously with grief and a character contemplating suicide, so it’s more bittersweet than purely lighthearted.
Was it adapted into a film?
Yes – it inspired a Swedish film and a later English-language adaptation, but the audiobook tells the complete original story.