A Man Called OveA Man Called Ove
Score Modern
What it's about
Ove is a curmudgeon with strict routines, strong principles and a short fuse, the neighbor everyone calls bitter. But behind the cranky exterior there's a story and a sadness. When a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and flatten his mailbox, it sets off a comical and heartwarming chain of events that changes Ove's life and his neighborhood.
Why it's worth reading
It was one of the ten best-selling books in America in both 2016 and 2017. Funny on one page and moving on the next, it's the kind of book people press on their friends.
You'll love it if you liked
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Lessons in Chemistry
The House in the Cerulean SeaGood to know
It's warm and easy to read, though it deals with grief and loss. Most readers end up crying and laughing in the same chapter.
By the numbers
- Readers96 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller88 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #9 of the 233 romances we rank
- #11 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #55 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #96 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Funny, Uplifting
More by Fredrik Backman
My Friends
Anxious People
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's SorryIf you like this, read next
The Rosie Project
Funny Story
Fortune and Glory
Part of Your World
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Me Before YouExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is A Man Called Ove worth reading?
Yes. It was one of the ten best-selling books in America in both 2016 and 2017. It ranks #96 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 86.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Man Called Ove about?
Ove is a curmudgeon with strict routines, strong principles and a short fuse, the neighbor everyone calls bitter. But behind the cranky exterior there's a story and a sadness. When a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and flatten his mailbox, it sets off a comical and heartwarming chain of events that changes Ove's life and his neighborhood.
How long does it take to read A Man Called Ove?
About 7 hours (295 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after A Man Called Ove?
If you liked it, try Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus or The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.