“A warm and tender story about love, loss and second chances, peppered with memorable characters, wonderful set pieces and some beautifully black humour.”

NO MAJOR SPOILERS

I have to say this hadn’t really caught my eye on the new releases list but when a few of our Facebook group read and loved it, it took off like wildfire and quickly became the most talked about book of our group. Not wanting to be left out, I picked myself up a copy and I have to say I was not disappointed!

I already have a soft spot for curmudgeons, and if you do too then you’re going to love Ove. The story begins with Ove grumbling about people driving into the no vehicle area and it’s on ongoing theme as you see the world through the eyes of this grumbly, not-so-old (Ove is 59) man.

This is a really well-written/translated book with believable realistic characters and anyone who reads it is likely to be able to draw parallels with at least one of the characters whether it be Ove, his wife, or many of their neighbours.

Ove is on a mission, and there’s something he’s determined to do but life keeps getting in the way and scuppering his plans. A Man Called Ove is beautiful, touching, wonderfully written, endearing and funny and if you don’t shed at least a single tear before the end I’m assuming you have a swinging brick in place of your heart. For someone who tries so hard to make himself unlovable, Ove fails completely, by the end of the book I was completely in love with him and would be proud to call him my father or grandfather, and I suspect many of you may feel the same.

Great contemporary fiction, as good as it gets!