My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • FROM THE AUTHOR OF A MAN CALLED OVE

Written by acclaimed Swedish author Fredrik Backman, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry is a charming, warmhearted novel that explores grief, imagination, individuality, and the bond between generations.

Seven-year-old Elsa knows she is "different," which makes her an easy target for school bullies. Her seventy-seven-year-old grandmother—a eccentric, retired physician who shoots paintball guns from her balcony and breaks into zoos—is Elsa’s best and only friend. To comfort Elsa, her grandmother invents the fairytale realm of the Land-of-Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas, where being different is celebrated as a superpower.

When her grandmother passes away, she leaves Elsa a final quest: hand-delivering a series of apology letters to various neighbors in their apartment building. As Elsa carries out her mission, she discovers that the building is filled with real-world versions of the monsters, soldiers, and heroes from her grandmother's fairytales, uncovering the complex history and quiet heroism of the woman who loved her most.

"To love someone is like moving into a house. At first you fall in love with all the new things... then over the years the walls become weathered, the wood cracks here and there, and you start to love the house not so much for all its perfection, but for its imperfections."

Core Themes & Key Highlights:

• The Power of Storytelling & Imagination: Examines how fairytales help children process trauma, loss, and the confusing realities of the adult world.

• Embracing Individuality: Celebrates "the right to be different" and challenges rigid societal norms of what is considered "normal."

• Unpacking Grief & Healing: Highlights how an eccentric legacy can guide a young girl through loss while bringing a fragmented community together.

Key Characters & Fairy-Tale Parallels:

Perfect For:

• Fans of Heartfelt & Whimsical Fiction: Readers who loved A Man Called Ove, Anxious People, or Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.

• Lovers of Magical Realism & Fairytales: Anyone who enjoys stories blending real-world emotion with imaginative, fairytale-like storytelling.

• Multigenerational Story Enthusiasts: Great for readers who appreciate deep relationships between children and grandparents.