Newmag Summerfest 2025 to Feature Fredrik Backman’s "Britt-Marie Was Here" (Trailer)
06/10/2025
When life offers a second chance, are you brave enough to take it? Newmag presents the Armenian edition of "Britt-Marie Was Here" by international bestselling author Fredrik Backman, a heartwarming story about starting over, unexpected friendships, and the quiet courage of change.
Swedish author Fredrik Backman rose to global fame with his debut novel "A Man Called Ove" (2012), which spent 42 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list and became a beloved international success. His books are known for their emotional depth, quirky characters, and profound reflections on everyday life.
The heroine of "Britt-Marie Was Here" is a 63-year-old woman who has built her life around routines, spotless surfaces, and strict order. She wakes early, writes only in pencil, and has little patience for chaos. But when her husband betrays her, Britt-Marie’s carefully structured world collapses.
Suddenly alone, she finds herself in the remote, struggling town of Borg, home to abandoned buildings, curious townspeople, and a failing youth center in desperate need of a soccer coach. Against all odds, Britt-Marie begins to rediscover purpose, connection, and even joy.
Tender, funny, and quietly powerful, "Britt-Marie Was Here" is a novel about resilience, community, and the unexpected ways people heal. It speaks to anyone who has ever felt invisible, and anyone who dares to start over.
The novel was translated from Swedish into Armenian by Ashkhen Bakhchinyan. The main partner of the book is Bookinist, which also partnered with Newmag to publish Backman’s bestseller "My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry."
The presentation of "Britt-Marie Was Here" will take place on June 22, the second day of Newmag Summerfest 2025, at 8:00 PM in Yeraz Park.
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Fredrik Backman
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Description
The New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and Anxious People captivates readers with this “warm and satisfying” (People) story “about a woman rediscovering herself after a personal crisis…fans of Backman will find another winner in these pages” (Publishers Weekly).
Britt-Marie can’t stand mess. A disorganized cutlery drawer ranks high on her list of unforgivable sins. She is not one to judge others—no matter how ill-mannered, unkempt, or morally suspect they might be. It’s just that sometimes people interpret her helpful suggestions as criticisms, which is certainly not her intention.
But hidden inside the socially awkward, fussy busybody is a woman who has more imagination, bigger dreams, and a warmer heart that anyone around her realizes.
When Britt-Marie walks out on her cheating husband and has to fend for herself in the miserable backwater town of Borg—of which the kindest thing one can say is that it has a road going through it—she finds work as the caretaker of a soon-to-be demolished recreation center. The fastidious Britt-Marie soon finds herself being drawn into the daily doings of her fellow citizens, an odd assortment of miscreants, drunkards, layabouts. Most alarming of all, she’s given the impossible task of leading the supremely untalented children’s soccer team to victory. In this small town of misfits, can Britt-Marie find a place where she truly belongs?
Funny and moving, sweet and inspiring, Britt-Marie Was Here celebrates the importance of community and connection in a world that can feel isolating.
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