Eleanor Oliphant lives a predictable isolated life. She's blunt, socially awkward, and doesn't usually click with others.
But deep down, Eleanor struggles with past trauma, and when an unlikely friendship begins through a simple act of kindness, her lonely routine starts to transform. Honeyman balances humor and heartfelt moments as Eleanor discovers community and acceptance.
Just as in A Man Called Ove, readers will watch a socially isolated loner navigate unexpected relationships, revealing the warmth and connection beneath a prickly exterior.
In Anxious People, a failed bank robber accidentally turns a viewing of a house for sale into a hostage crisis. But there’s a catch—the strangers held hostage begin forming surprising connections as their lives and secrets overlap.
Backman skillfully creates humor, chaos, and poignant moments. Like in A Man Called Ove, the seemingly ordinary yet quirky characters reveal emotional depth as they forge unexpected bonds, reminding readers of how human relationships often hold both comedy and heartbreak.
Britt-Marie, perhaps familiar to readers as a minor character from My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry, finds herself starting over in a small, disadvantaged town. Britt-Marie is orderly, judgmental, and quite set in her ways.
However, when she reluctantly becomes the coach of a children’s soccer team she knows nothing about, her life shifts course.
Just as in A Man Called Ove introduces a curmudgeon opening himself up to others, we watch Britt-Marie learn to find value, purpose, and community in unexpected places.
Seven-year-old Elsa is deeply bonded with her eccentric grandmother, whose vivid imagination and adventurous stories shaped Elsa's view of the world. When her grandmother passes away and leaves behind a curious set of instructions, Elsa embarks on a journey of discovery.
Elsa meets quirky and memorable characters and navigates grief just as Ove does after losing his wife. Backman creates a relatable connection through honoring loved ones and nurturing imaginative, heartfelt human relationships.
A.J. Fikry, a gruff bookseller on a small island, barely tolerates those around him after losing his wife. Then an unexpected package arrives at his bookstore, completely changing A.J.'s carefully managed solitude.
Zevin celebrates books, community, and second chances as A.J.’s life fills with unexpected warmth.
Readers who enjoyed Ove’s grumpy exterior that gives way to tenderness and renewed purpose will find a similar transformation waiting for them in A.J. Fikry's emotional and literary journey.
Set in a quaint English village, this novel introduces the traditionally minded and somewhat stuffy Major Ernest Pettigrew. After losing his brother, the Major sparks an unlikely romance with Mrs. Ali, a Pakistani shopkeeper.
This friendship challenges not only the village’s long-held prejudices but also Pettigrew’s own biases and habits. Similar to Ove’s story, this novel layers humor and quiet dignity, exploring love, loss, and connection with grace and wit.
Arthur Less, a struggling novelist overwhelmed by heartbreak, decides to attend various literary events around the globe to avoid his ex-partner’s wedding.
Through humorous misadventures, awkward encounters, and poignant reflections, Greer presents a journey of self-awareness and personal growth.
Just as A Man Called Ove blends comedy and emotional depth, Less serves up comedic escapades alongside bittersweet insights into growing older, finding courage, and what really matters in life.
Don Tillman, a brilliant but socially challenged genetics professor, decides logically that it’s time to find a wife by creating a detailed scientific questionnaire. Enter Rosie, who completely defies his careful criteria. Don's meticulous life turns upside down.
This novel echoes the humor of Ove's stubborn predictability, contrasting it with the humanity and warmth found through unexpected relationships, acceptance of quirks, and discovery of genuine connection.
When eccentric architect and mother Bernadette unexpectedly disappears, her daughter Bee pieces together Bernadette's emails and documents to find out why.
Richly funny, the book explores dysfunctional family dynamics and social satire while revealing truths about motherhood, isolation, and love.
Like Ove, Bernadette can seem harsh and difficult at first, but underneath lies vulnerability and warmth, as the story brings humor, pathos, and insight into everyday relationships.
In this gentle and unique novel, Tova, a grieving older woman working at an aquarium, forms an unusual friendship with a sharp-minded octopus. As she copes with loss, loneliness, and the mystery of her past, Tova discovers new friendships and lasting connections.
Similar to Ove's experience, readers explore heartwarming relationships and found family, even between species, highlighting relatable challenges of grief, loneliness, and meaningful connection.
When Julian, an elderly and lonely artist, writes his honest life story into a notebook, he intentionally leaves it behind for strangers. One by one, others add their stories and begin finding meaning and support through this shared experience.
Like Ove’s story, the charm here lies in humans connecting despite differences and loneliness. Strangers becoming family creates warmth and hope out of isolation.
Young journalist Kate struggles with anxiety, while 86-year-old Rosemary fights to save a community outdoor pool that's central to her memories, love, and history.
Through their bond, they form a friendship bridging generations, united by shared purpose, courage, and determination.
Readers attracted to Ove’s gruff yet compassionate narrative about community and belonging will find similar satisfaction with Kate and Rosemary’s moving journey.
Eudora Honeysett, elderly and independent and weary of her weakening health, makes plans regarding her own inevitable passing on her terms. But when exuberant young Rose moves in next door, along with widower Stanley, Eudora’s self-imposed solitude unexpectedly shifts.
Similar themes of late-life friendship, newfound optimism, and choosing connection over isolation highlight the novel’s warm familiarity for readers who loved Ove’s growth and transformative friendships.
Tom Hazard appears forty but, due to a rare disease, has lived centuries. Reflecting on loss, history, and the meaning of love and belonging, he begins to reconsider his lonely existence. Haig takes the reader through history and memories filled with both sadness and beauty.
Like in Ove's story, Tom discovers that the present moment and connections with others can heal past wounds and open up entirely new possibilities.
Evvie Drake, recently widowed and dealing silently with complex emotions, forms an unlikely bond with retired baseball star Dean, who's wrestling with his own struggles.
Set in a cozy Maine town, their relationship gradually heals cuts from the past and sheds protective barriers.
Similar to Ove’s reluctant blossoming, readers see two weary souls finding strength, solace, and humor in each other's company, rediscovering everyday comforts and hope.