Title: My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry
Author: Fredrik Backman
Release Date: 2013
Pages: 450
Genre: Novel, Humorous Fiction, Domestic Fiction
Goodreads Reviews: 4.1/5
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry Summary
This is not my first Fredrik Backman book, so I knew it would be an easy and enjoyable read, filled with humor and heartwarming moments.
Elsa is ALMOST eight years old. She’s not like other girls her age—she’s different, smart, and a huge Harry Potter fan who proudly wears her Gryffindor scarf everywhere. Her best and only true friend is her grandmother, who often tells magical stories about the five kingdoms, including Miamas.
However, things take a serious turn when Elsa’s grandmother passed away. After her death, Elsa discovers a series of letters her grandmother left behind. These letters, meant for various neighbors in their apartment building, contain apologies from her grandmother.
As Elsa delivers each letter, she faces a series of dangerous adventures, learns about the hidden lives of her neighbors, and discovers her grandmother’s deep connections with each of them. Through this journey, Elsa realizes that her grandmother trusted her with this mission because she knew Elsa was unique—brave, strong, and smart.
From beginning to end, the story emphasizes that every ALMOST eight-year-old needs a superhero. For Elsa, that superhero was her grandmother.
Review
I think of books like this as “sunflower seeds”—perfect for when you’re in the mood for something light and enjoyable without diving into heavy or complex themes.
Having previously read Anxious People by Fredrik Backman and loved it, I had high expectations for this book. I plan to explore more of his works and leave reviews in my blog.
One aspect of the story that I struggled with was how much responsibility and danger Elsa faced. As a parent to an ALMOST eight-year-old son, I couldn’t imagine letting him face such challenges alone. I’d always know where my child was and make sure he was protected. That said, I also understand that not all people are the same, so I am not saying that this fact made me dislike the book, but it also did not make me like that as much as I expected too.
Overall this is a good book, and Backman knows how to make you laugh and explain things to the reader in the easiest way possible.
Ending with Spoilers
After her grandmother’s death, Elsa finds letters hidden in various places, each addressed to a neighbor in their building. Alongside her, Grandma’s dog, “The Monster,” becomes a loyal companion on this journey.
Elsa discovers a cast of neighbors, each with their struggles:
The Brave Heart, who has OCD.
A grieving woman who drinks after losing her two sons in a hurricane.
Alf, who is always drinking coffee.
Britt-Marie and Kent who are clearly not for each other
A boy ALMOST eight years old with a syndrome
Nora and Lennard the grandparents of the boy with a syndrome
In each letter, Grandma apologizes for her past actions and seeks forgiveness. However, the story takes a dramatic turn when Sam, the father of the little boy with the syndrome, tries to harm him but mistakes Elsa for his son. With the help of the neighbors, Elsa survives, and Sam is sent to prison.
In the end, Grandma leaves the entire building to Elsa, allowing her to decide how to manage it for the neighbors. Through this, Grandma ensures Elsa learns about compassion, connection, and community by getting to know the people around her.