The Answer Is No: A Short Story

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars | 25,957 ratings

Price: 1.99

Last update: 12-25-2024


About this item

In a hilarious short story from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control.

Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone?

Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.

Told in Fredrik Backman’s singular witty style with sharply drawn characters and relatable antics, The Answer Is No is a laugh-out-loud portrait of a man struggling to keep to himself in a world that won’t leave him alone.


From the Publisher

Answering his door is the ultimate eye-opener

Top reviews from the United States

Lucy Ballard
5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly charming
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2024
This short story is utterly charming, absurd in just the right amount, easily readable, relatable and moves at just the right pace. The characters in this piece are treated in a deeply empathetic manner. In finishing reading this tale, we, the readers, come away feeling that we have perhaps been seen and treated just as kindly by the author. What a delightful read!
Karissa Eckert
4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, humorous, short story.
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2024
Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone story. I got this on ebook through Kindle First Reads.

Thoughts: This is the first Backman story I have ever read, and I will definitely be reading more. This was an adorable little story. It is about a man Lucas who is happy because he avoids the most disruptive thing in the world, other people. When he mistakenly gets drawn into a conflict over a misplaced frying pan everything goes to crazy town.

This was humorous and funny and heartfelt. I liked Lucas and his routines and his attitudes. I thought it was entertaining to watch all that get turned on its head.

Yes, this was incredibly predictable and a little bit ridiculous as well. However, it was a small-time commitment, had me smiling, and was fun and easy to read.

My Summary (4/5): Overall I liked this. It was entertaining, humorous, thought-provoking, and heart-felt. It is a bit predictable and goofy as well. I would recommend for those looking for a quick humorous, heartfelt read. This was my first Backman read, and I plan to read more after reading this!
shereadbookblog
5.0 out of 5 stars Delightfully quirky
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2024
Lucas just wants to be left alone. His happy introverted world is upset when his apartment board appears at his door demanding to see his frying pan. Someone has discarded a frying pan in the recycling room and they are out to find out who did it. One thing leads to another, the frying pan sparks a debris pile and Lucas continues to be accosted by the board and other people.

Backman is one of my favorite authors; he is beloved by many. In true Backman fashion, there is humor, keen observations of human nature, pathos in this delightfully quirky short story. Take a break this holiday season and sit down with this quick read. Anyone who has ever lived in a condo will really appreciate it!
Love to read
5.0 out of 5 stars simply delightful
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2024
I’ve liked (almost) every book I’ve read by Fredrik Backman. He has great insight into human nature and especially into the ways of introverts. When I read his books I have to laugh at his exaggerated depictions of those who insist on being “joiners” and who are extreme extroverts. Likewise, I enjoy how his main characters are usually people who just want to be left alone and are unapologetic about not needed or wanting too much interaction with others. His narrative style keeps me engaged and amused throughout the entire book. This short story could have been extended into a novel, but I appreciated that it was short enough to read intermittently while I waited for an appointment and again when I was baking cookies. It’s a quick, delightful read.
Laura S. Minor
4.0 out of 5 stars funny and uncomfortable
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2024
Mr. Blackman has written a short story which painfully explores some of the frustrations of our life today from Facebook to silly rules to how Boards function to the stresses of family and work life, this short story has it all. I laughed out loud. I also took a break when the reality of what Board members of condo associations can be like made me nervous about the condo we are about to move into.

It’s clever and worth reading.
Ryan Gillen
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastically funny & heartwarming
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2024
A great quick read - perfect for that off moment when you need a good laugh right away but you’re a reader not a tv watcher. ???? The characters are awesome. My favorite was Linda.

A clean read, 100% suitable for tweens on up.
Kate Colbert
4.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious, Quirky, Strange, and Not for Everyone
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2024
Fredrik Backman is my favorite novelist. As a book editor and former English professor, I’ve read a great many pieces of literature and I consider Backman’s “Beartown” to be perhaps the best book I’ve ever read. So my expectations for his work are high. I wasn’t sure what to expect with this short story. It was often hilarious in a sardonic way and the main character reminded me a lot of my asocial, matter-of-fact autistic husband, so I felt “at home” reading “The Answer Is No.” In the end, it felt a little too quirky for my tastes, and perhaps a bit too bleak. On the final page, I felt disappointed — not because it was over, but because it felt like it had never really begun. I still gave the story four stars because the writing was impeccable and the story is memorable. If you liked “A Man Called Ove,” you might also like this curmudgeon story.
Carlotta
5.0 out of 5 stars so touching
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2024
I usually do not like short stories. This one was excellent. Of course who doesn’t like Fredrick Backman books!
It’s a wonderful little story for the holiday time. It’s funny, sweet and also disturbing. In that people can be terrible to each other. We need to learn to accept each other and be kind.

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