Literary Fiction · Free kit
My Friends
Most people look at the world's most famous seascape and see water. Eighteen-year-old Louisa looks closer and finds three tiny figures at the end of a pier — then spends a train ride learning how those friends, twenty-five years earlier, turned one brutal harbor-town summer into a painting that outlived them. Backman's novel is about found family, art that refuses to stay a landscape, and the people who call you one of us before you believe it.
“If you've had people who can make you laugh like that, you never forget it. If not, words are pointless.”
Complete free book club kit
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Plan your meeting
BookClubee take
Vibe check
Our editorial snapshot of how this book tends to land at club night — not a crowd average.
Craft
- Overall5
- Plot4
- Characters5
- World building4
- Ending4
How it feels
- Spice—
- Tears5
- Surprises3
- Humor4
- Comfort3
What’s in this kit
Everything below is free — open a section, use it at your meeting, or print what you need. No account required.
- Discussion Questions20 book-specific questions labeled warm-up, debate, and deep dive.
- Icebreakers15 fast warm-ups about the reader — not the plot.
- CharactersProfiles, dynamics map, and superlative awards.
- Trivia20 interactive questions from easy to hard.
- Would You Rather25 impossible choices inspired by the book.
- BingoPrintable book-club bingo for reading and live discussion.
- This or That40 rapid-fire choices plus a 60-second speed round.
- Speed DebatesPick a side and defend it against the clock.
- Hosting GuideShopping list, timeline, surprise touch, and wrap-up.
- PrintablesStickers, quote cards, invites, and review sheets.
How to run your meeting
1. Warm up
Start with icebreakers or a quick trivia round.
2. Discuss
Use the labeled discussion questions — warm-up to deep dive.
3. Play & wrap
Would You Rather, bingo, or a speed debate — then rate the book.
Frequently asked questions
Is this My Friends book club kit free?+
Yes. Everything on this page is free — discussion questions, games, trivia, and hosting tips. No account required.
Does this kit spoil My Friends?+
Yes. Discussion questions, trivia, character material, superlatives, bingo, and debates assume you know who painted The One of the Sea, why Louisa is given the painting, what happened to Ali and Christian, Joar's plan and his father's accident, and how the story lands years later. Finish the novel first. Icebreakers are about the reader, not the plot. The book includes child abuse, foster-care harm, addiction, overdose, illness, and death — give your group a content note.
What's in the Premium Kit?+
The Premium Kit on Etsy is the full printable pack: discussion guide, character cards, trivia, bingo, games, hosting checklist, and review sheets — ready to print for your meeting.
How long should our My Friends book club meeting run?+
Plan 75–90 minutes. This is a long, dual-timeline novel that invites argument and tears: 10 minutes of icebreakers, 10 minutes of trivia, 35–40 minutes of discussion (the painting-as-gift and Joar's choices will run long), 15 minutes of a game or speed debate, then wrap-up. Use the Hosting Guide for a minute-by-minute outline.
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