Books › Anxious People
Anxious People
464 pages
A hilarious, big-hearted comedy of errors that sneaks up on you with profound truths about the messy business of being human.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting in a room full of strangers who are all deeply annoying, only to slowly realize they are just as scared, lost, and desperately trying their best as you are. It moves at a brisk, chaotic clip, bouncing between perspectives with a wry, conversational wit that frequently borders on the absurd. Yet beneath the snappy dialogue and comedic misunderstandings lies a profound, aching tenderness. The prose is highly quotable, dropping sudden, quiet truths about marriage, parenting, and loneliness that will make you pause and tear up. It is a deeply comforting, cathartic experience, perfect for anyone who feels overwhelmed by the demands of modern adulthood and needs a funny, forgiving reminder that we are all just idiots doing our best to get through the day.
- Mood
- chaotic
- heartwarming
- melancholic
- hopeful
- Tone
- wry
- compassionate
- absurd
- earnest
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- human connection · everyday anxieties · forgiveness · shared loneliness · the absurdity of modern life
- The writing
- Conversational, witty, and aphoristic, blending sharp comedic timing with sudden, gut-punching philosophical observations.
- The arc
- Starts in chaotic absurdity and cynical observation, gradually peeling back layers to reveal profound, tear-jerking empathy and hopeful connection.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love character-driven comedies of errors that make them laugh out loud before unexpectedly making them cry.
Content notes
- suicide
- suicidal ideation
- grief
- anxiety
- depression
About the book
It's New Year's Eve and House Tricks estate agents are hosting an open viewing in an up-market apartment when an incompetent bank robber rushes in and politely takes everyone hostage.
For Anna-Lena and Roger, busy buying-up apartments to fill the hole in their marriage, it's something else to talk about.
For Julia and Ro, panicky parents-to-be, it's yet another worry.
Lonely bank manager Zara only came here for the view.
While 87-year-old grandmother Estelle seems rather pleased by the company...
As the police gather outside, the anxious strangers huddled within try to make the best of a very sticky situation - but could it be that they have a whole lot more in common than meets the eye?
Description from Open Library.
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