Author: Fredrik Backman
Genres: Novel, Humor, Humorous Fiction
Originally published: October 31, 2014
Number of pages: 420
Britt-Marie Was Here Summary
Britt-Marie is a 63-year-old “housewife” whose favorite cleaning agents are baking soda and a window cleaner called Faxin. One day, she hears on the radio about an elderly woman who died alone in her home, with no one to check on her. The neighbors only discovered her death days later because of the smell coming from the house.
This deeply upsets Britt-Marie and makes her reflect on her own life. She never had children of her own and instead took care of her husband’s two children, who rarely visited them, even on holidays.
One day, her husband, Kent, suffers a heart attack. The woman whose perfume Britt-Marie had often smelled on his shirts calls her to inform her that Kent is in the hospital.
Deep down, Britt-Marie always suspected her husband’s infidelity, but this moment shatters her pride and dignity. She decides to leave him.
She turns to the local unemployment office, where the only job available is a low-paying temp position at the recreation center in the declining village of Borg. Borg is a place with only two ways out—one leading home and the other to Paris, a city Britt-Marie has dreamed of visiting for a long time.
Around this time, Britt-Marie also recalls the tragic death of her sister, Ingrid, in a childhood car accident. Their mother was never the same after that and, no matter what Britt-Marie did, she could never earn her approval or encouragement.
In Borg, Britt-Marie meets a group of children who play soccer, and, at some point, she even takes on the role of their coach for a local championship. She also develops a connection with the local policeman, who seems to care for her.
During her temporary stay in Borg, she faces several important decisions, including whether to forgive Kent and return to her old life or continue on the path of self-discovery.
Review
Britt-Marie Was Here is the fourth book I’ve read by Fredrik Backman. And to be straightforward, it’s the one I liked the least.
Backman’s books tend to be around 400 pages, but this one could have easily been a short story. It reminded me of another book of his that I loved, A Man Called Ove. Britt-Marie felt like the female version of Ove—obsessive about cleaning, drawn to order, deeply afraid of change, yet ultimately forced to embrace it, whether she wanted to or not.
I was already familiar with Britt-Marie from another Backman book, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry. I knew about her tragic childhood—her sister who died young in a car crash, and her mother who never made peace with the fact that it was Britt-Marie who survived. Interestingly, most of Backman’s characters have deeply tragic backstories.
The central message of Britt-Marie Was Here is clear: it’s never too late to change your life. Age is not an excuse to stay with a cheating husband, nor is it a reason to avoid dating and meeting new people. I understand the theme, but I feel Backman is too young to fully capture the dreams and ambitions of a 63-year-old woman.
The goal of my review is not to discourage you from reading the book—I’m just being honest. I always recommend Backman because I loved two of his books and was genuinely impressed by them: Anxious People and A Man Called Ove. You can read more about them on my blog.
Ending with spoilers
As Britt-Marie Was Here reaches its conclusion, Britt-Marie, who has spent most of her life defined by routine and societal expectations, finds herself at a crossroads. Throughout the novel, she gradually builds relationships with the people of Borg, particularly the children she coaches in football and individuals like the kind-hearted café owner, Somebody, and the caring policeman, Sven, who shows romantic interest in her.
However, when the recreation center is shut down, and the town faces further economic hardships, Britt-Marie must decide whether to stay in Borg, go back to her husband or move on.
Although part of her is tempted to return to the familiar life she once knew, she ultimately chooses to continue on her own path.
The novel ends on a hopeful note, as Britt-Marie heads toward an uncertain but self-determined future. Since Borg had only two ways out—one leading home and the other to Paris—I assume she finally made her dream come true and decided to visit Paris.
