Roswell Reads, in partnership with the City of Roswell and Bookmiser, will feature Fredrik Backman, the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of “A Man Called Ove,” “Beartown,” “Anxious People” and several other works, May 14 in Roswell. 

Backman will discuss his new novel, “My Friends,” which will be released just eight days earlier. He will be in conversation with Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of 32 novels, including “Summers at the Saint” and “Bright Lights, Big Christmas.”

Roswell will be one of only 12 stops on Backman’s U.S. tour.

The event will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Roswell Presbyterian Church, 755 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell, GA. Two ticket prices are offered: $25 for general admission; or a $45 bundle that includes an autographed and/or personalized hardcover copy of “My Friends” and priority seating for the first 100 purchasers. 

Backman’s appearance will kick off Roswell Reads’ 20th anniversary celebration with attendees invited to “Save a bundle, buy a bundle.” Priority seating is limited, so purchase tickets now by clicking here.

Backman is a Swedish author, blogger and columnist whose other titles include “My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry,” “Britt-Marie was Here,” “Us Against You,” “The Winners,” two novellas and one work of nonfiction, “Things My Son Needs to Know About the World.”

Several of his novels have been adapted for big and small screens. “A Man Called Ove” inspired a 2015 Swedish film of the same name as well as a 2022 American movie titled “A Man Called Otto” starring Tom Hanks. In 2019, a Swedish film of “Britt-Marie Was Here” was released. “Beartown” became a five-episode HBO miniseries in 2020, and a Netflix miniseries was based on “Anxious People” in 2021.

Backman’s new book, “My Friends,” is an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a complete stranger’s life 25 years later. A stunning testament to the transformative, timeless power of friendship and art, Backman’s latest work is a reminder that happy endings don’t always take the form we expect.

Roswell Reads, a program of Friends of the Roswell Library, has been bringing well-known authors to Roswell since 2005 and promoting the value of reading, literacy and lifelong learning. Through the shared communitywide experience of reading and discussing a common book, readers are able to collectively examine relevant issues, establish bonds and forge a better understanding of their community and society.