The Answer Is No
Charming
Compelling
Witty

The Answer Is No

In a hilarious short story from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control. Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone? Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally. Told in Fredrik Backman’s singular witty style with sharply drawn characters and relatable antics, The Answer Is No is a laugh-out-loud portrait of a man struggling to keep to himself in a world that won’t leave him alone.
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Reviews

Photo of Adwait Kulkarni
Adwait Kulkarni@adwaitkulkarni
3.5 stars
Jul 30, 2025
Unique
Insightful
Meaningful
Photo of diya
diya@diyankilaco
5 stars
Mar 13, 2025
Photo of Aims
Aims@aimz
4 stars
Jan 22, 2025
Witty
Charming
Delightful
Compelling
Thought provoking
Photo of rhi
rhi@paedynsgf
3 stars
Jan 15, 2025
Clever
Fascinating
Intelligent
Page turning
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🥔@tati_be_reading333
5 stars
Jan 1, 2025
Photo of Lili V Guba
Lili V Guba@liligubav
5 stars
Dec 29, 2024
Photo of Stas
Stas@stasreads333
5 stars
Dec 17, 2024
Photo of Mia McCoy
Mia McCoy@mmccoy22
4.5 stars
Aug 17, 2025
Photo of turtle
turtle@everytinegoes
4 stars
Mar 31, 2025
Photo of sky na
sky na@otterwott
4.5 stars
Mar 6, 2025
Photo of newella
newella@newella
4 stars
Feb 10, 2025
Touching
Emotional
Compelling
Photo of Apurva  Kaul
Apurva Kaul @akreads
3 stars
Jan 24, 2025
Refreshing
Photo of Andrea Hak-Kovacs
Andrea Hak-Kovacs@andreareads
4 stars
Dec 14, 2024
Playful
Charming
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
5 stars
Dec 12, 2024

Highlights

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Stas@stasreads333
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Stas@stasreads333
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Photo of Stas
Stas@stasreads333
Photo of Stas
Stas@stasreads333
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Stas@stasreads333