Hello, there! Since you have clicked on this link, it means that you have finished reading Fredrick Backman’s A Man Called Ove, and have fully fallen in love. As you have read it, the wonderful Swedish curmudgeon Ove has left you wonderstruck.
And now that the story is over, you are sad. I understand. The question now stands as, what book could possibly help our heart after such a beautiful, surprising, and unexpected story like A Man Called Ove?
Here are eight such books like A Man Called Ove that you should definitely check out.
8 Best Books Like A Man Called Ove
01# Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand
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- Author: Helen Simonson
- Genre: Fiction, Romance Novel
A cozy book set in the small town of the English countryside, narrates the story of Major Ernest Pettigrew. He is the typical gentleman with a very reserved nature. Another crucial character of this book is Mrs. Jasmina Ali, a Pakistani shopkeeper.
While on the surface, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand is a swoon worthy romance story; on a deeper level it has many other emotional features. It deals with several serious issues such as racism, complicated family dynamics, classism, discrimination, and growing old.
Remind you of A Man Called Ove yet? That is, if you are looking for books similar to A Man Called Ove, then you should definitely check out Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand.
02# Where’d You Go, Bernadette?
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- Author: Maria Semple
- Genre: Humor, Domestic Fiction
Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple is a unique novel told through emails, faxes, and letters. Semple has given us a refreshing and fun story about the mysterious disappearance of Bernadette Fox. In the story it is her teenage daughter Bee, who is trying to figure out where she went.
The character development of this book is really fun and catchy. It is for sure that, by the end of this story, readers will want to befriend Bernadette. At the same time, they will want her to stay as far away as possible too. That is the magic of Semple’s story telling.
If you are looking for books similar to A Man Called Ove, then you should definitely check out Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple.
03# Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend
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- Author: Matthew Dicks
- Genre: Psychological Fiction
The concept of children having imaginary friends has always been used as a horror component in literature. But Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks takes a different look at this. The imaginary friend in this story is Budo.
He is five years old and the imaginary friend of Max. Max is eight years old and currently on the autism spectrum. He relies on Budo for protection from the difficulties he faces psychologically as a special child.
But one day Max goes missing and this is where the plot gets super sentimental. Dicks poignantly writes how Budo manages to maintain his existence and at the same time find Max back with his imaginary life. And by the end, the book paints a beautiful picture of friendship and love.
Overall, this book is a beautiful one about friendship that should be given a read by anyone who loved the book A Man Called Ove. That is, if you are looking for books similar to A Man Called Ove, then you should definitely check out Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks.
04# I Capture The Castle
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- Author: Dodie Smith
- Genre: Fiction, Romance Novel, Comedy, Domestic Fiction
I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith is about a seventeen years old Cassandra. She lives with her father who was once a famous writer. But at present, he is suffering from writer’s block. This clearly hints at the aspect of the book that talks about writing and creativity.
Apart from Cassandra’s father, she also has a sister who judges every man she meets through Jane Austen’s novels. So, any Jane Austen fan will love this book as it relies on her novels heavily.
Cassandra lives with her family in a rented old castle. They had spent a good time there. But the times have changed and things are not as good as they were once. So, the story unfolds as this family struggles to change their situation.
This book was written over 70 years ago by Dodie Smith and yet with its witty narrative, it manages to steal hearts even today. If you are looking for books similar to A Man Called Ove, then you should definitely check out I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith.
05# The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
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- Author: Jonas Jonasson
- Genre: Humor, Fiction
The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared is a comic novel by Jonas Jonasson published in 2009. It is an interesting story of Allan Karlsson who is the 100 years old man from the title. And he climbed out of the windows of his old age home and disappeared.
Just like A Man Called Ove, this story is based on the marginalized or the people who are looked down upon by the society. It gives a voice to the people of the society who have always been neglected.
After living an adventurous life, Allan ends up in an old age house thinking that it is his last stop. However, he is still in a fit shape and does not want to spend a second of his life as a burden. So he escapes on the eve of his 100th birthday to a hilarious journey.
Quirky and unique, The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared is a must read if you are looking for books similar to A Man Called Ove.
06# Etta and Otto and Russell and James
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- Author: Emma Hooper
- Genre: Romance Novel, Historical Fiction
Etta and Otto and Russell and James is a charming depiction of love and self discovery amidst a war. The story begins when 83 years old Etta decides to see the sea for the first time in her life. She sets off by foot on a journey that takes her two thousand kilometers across from her house.
The book is about Etta’s adventure and it is accompanied by Emma Hooper’s beautiful prose of magical realism. There are many other characters who you will love. But there are some who will get under your skin, and stay there for the rest of the story.
In short, Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper is a beautiful story of the journey of an 83 years old woman who wishes to see the sea. If you are looking for books similar to A Man Called Ove, then you should definitely give Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper a read.
07# The Rosie Project
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- Author: Graeme Simsion
- Genre: Fiction, Romance Novel
The Rosie Project is Graeme Simsion’s much interesting novel about a character called Don Tillman. Don is a brilliant genetics professor. But he is socially challenged. Moreover, in this book he is searching for a matrimonial relationship in the most strange way ever.
Don is looking for a wife through analyzing a sixteen page survey paper. This is where he meets Rosie Jarman. According to Don’s survey paper, Rosie is not suitable to be a wife in any way. But, when she approaches to Don asking for help to find her father, they both become friends.
Graeme Simsion uses to most bizarre way to help these two characters meet and fall in love. This interesting love story will surely melt your heart. If you are looking for books similar to A Man Called Ove, then you should definitely give The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion a read.
08# The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
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- Author: Gabrielle Zevin
- Genre: Fiction, Psychological Novel
If you love books about bookstores then you should definitely check this book out. This story is about A.J. Fikry who is the owner of a bookshop called The Island Books. But many people in his town describe him as a difficult person to deal with.
However, there are some crucial harsh reasons behind his unstable attitude. He recently lost his wife and the grief has made him unable to feel any positivity. Because of that, he is also failing to keep his bookshop steady.
Things take a shift when he hires and meets a new sales representative for his shop. At the same time he also finds a baby in his shop. Both of these new additions slowly start to change his perspective and bring him out of his grief.
In short, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin is a heart warming book about healing, affection, and bookstores. . If you are looking for books similar to A Man Called Ove, then you should definitely give The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin a read.
Final Thoughts:
It can be said that almost everyone at a certain point of their life has felt the need to escape from the struggles of their daily life. In such a situation, reading books that are easy to read AND provide comfort at the same time are very crucial.
The books listed in this article possess both of these qualities. Plus, if you are looking for more books like A Man Called Ove, then you should definitely check these out.
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