Fredrik Backman

PangoBooks readers generally found the novel to be a deeply emotional and humorous read with well-developed, relatable characters. Many appreciated the book's exploration of human behavior, love, and community, noting that each character's story added a significant layer to these themes. While some readers mentioned that the book had a slow start and felt disjointed due to its numerous characters and subplots, they expressed that it ultimately came together meaningfully, with touching and insightful resolutions. The witty and whimsical storytelling style, combined with serious topics like mental health and financial struggles, was praised for its unique charm and ability to evoke a wide range of emotions. Overall, despite minor criticisms regarding the book's pacing and complexity, it left a positive impact on most readers.

Hardcover (1 to 2 lbs)

New York

Large Print Edition

Taken hostage by a failed bank robber while attending an open house, eight anxiety-prone strangers--including a redemption-seeking bank director, two couples who would fix their marriages, and a plucky octogenarian--discover their unexpected common traits.

Anxious People

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A Novel

#1 New York Times bestseller From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and “writer of astonishing depth” (The Washington Times) comes a poignant comedy about a crime that never took place, a would-be bank robber who disappears into thin air, and eight extremely anxious strangers who find they have more in common than they ever imagined. Viewing an apartment normally doesn’t turn into a life-or-death situation, but this particular open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes everyone in the apartment hostage. As the pressure mounts, the eight strangers begin slowly opening up to one another and reveal long-hidden truths. First is Zara, a wealthy bank director who has been too busy to care about anyone else until tragedy changed her life. Now, she’s obsessed with visiting open houses to see how ordinary people live—and, perhaps, to set an old wrong to right. Then there’s Roger and Anna-Lena, an Ikea-addicted retired couple who are on a never-ending hunt for fixer-uppers to hide the fact that they don’t know how to fix their own failing marriage. Julia and Ro are a young lesbian couple and soon-to-be parents who are nervous about their chances for a successful life together since they can’t agree on anything. And there’s Estelle, an eighty-year-old woman who has lived long enough to be unimpressed by a masked bank robber waving a gun in her face. And despite the story she tells them all, Estelle hasn’t really come to the apartment to view it for her daughter, and her husband really isn’t outside parking the car. As police surround the premises and television channels broadcast the hostage situation live, the tension mounts and even deeper secrets are slowly revealed. Before long, the robber must decide which is the more terrifying prospect: going out to face the police, or staying in the apartment with this group of impossible people. Rich with Fredrik Backman’s “pitch-perfect dialogue and an unparalleled understanding of human nature” (Shelf Awareness), Anxious People’s whimsical plot serves up unforgettable insights into the human condition and a gentle reminder to be compassionate to all the anxious people we encounter every day.

PangoBooks readers are overwhelmingly captivated by this novel, often describing it as thought-provoking and emotionally impactful. They praise the writing style and character development, noting that even minor characters are well fleshed out, making the residents of Beartown feel incredibly real. Many draw comparisons to other emotionally resonant books, like "Daisy Jones," and appreciate how the story dives deep into both personal and community conflicts. The themes of hockey and small-town dynamics are woven into a narrative that transcends the sport itself, tackling heavy, relatable human issues. However, some readers found the multitude of characters occasionally overwhelming, and there are important content warnings related to sensitive topics such as sexual violence and trauma. Overall, it's a highly recommended read, credited with leaving a lasting impression on many.

Light Paperback (1 lb or less)

Wisconsin

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY: LibraryReads • BookBrowse • Goodreads “You’ll love this engrossing novel.” —People The bestselling author of A Man Called Ove returns with a dazzling, profound novel about a small town with a big dream—and the price required to make it come true. People say Beartown is finished. A tiny community nestled deep in the forest, it is slowly losing ground to the ever-encroaching trees. But down by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals, and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys. Being responsible for the hopes of an entire town is a heavy burden, and the semi-final match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown, leaving no resident unaffected. Beartown explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world.

Beartown

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PangoBooks readers overwhelmingly praise this book for its emotionally compelling story that balances humor and heartbreak. The character of Ove, initially seen as a grumpy and rigid old man, becomes deeply endearing as the narrative unfolds, revealing his deep love for his late wife and his complex, yet caring nature. Readers appreciate the nuanced portrayal of Ove’s relationships with his neighbors and his personal struggles, describing the book as both inspirational and life-changing. The story's themes of love, loss, and how people impact each other's lives resonate strongly, making it a highly recommended and unforgettable read.

Arizona

Read the New York Times bestseller that has taken the world by storm In this "charming debut" (People) from one of Sweden's most successful authors, a grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door. Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon--the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him "the bitter neighbor from hell." But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time? Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations. A feel-good story in the spirit of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, Fredrik Backman's novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. "If there was an award for 'Most Charming Book of the Year, ' this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down" (Booklist, starred review).

A Man Called Ove

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Now a major motion picture A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks!

#1 New York Times bestseller--more than 3 million copies sold!

Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon--the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him "the bitter neighbor from hell." But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?

Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations.

Fredrik Backman's beloved first novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. "If there was an award for 'Most Charming Book of the Year,' this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down" (Booklist, starred review).

Florida

NYT Bestseller

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and Beartown returns with an unforgettable novel “about people—about strength and tribal loyalty and what we unwittingly do when trying to show our boys how to be men” (Jojo Moyes). Have you ever seen a town fall? Ours did. Have you ever seen a town rise? Ours did that, too. A small community tucked deep in the forest, Beartown is home to tough, hardworking people who don’t expect life to be easy or fair. No matter how difficult times get, they’ve always been able to take pride in their local ice hockey team. So it’s a cruel blow when they hear that Beartown ice hockey might soon be disbanded. What makes it worse is the obvious satisfaction that all the former Beartown players, who now play for a rival team in the neighboring town of Hed, take in that fact. As the tension mounts between the two adversaries, a newcomer arrives who gives Beartown hockey a surprising new coach and a chance at a comeback. Soon a team starts to take shape around Amat, the fastest player you’ll ever see; Benji, the intense lone wolf; always dutiful and eager-to-please Bobo; and Vidar, a born-to-be-bad troublemaker. But bringing this team together proves to be a challenge as old bonds are broken, new ones are formed, and the town’s enmity with Hed grows more and more acute. As the big game approaches, the not-so-innocent pranks and incidents between the communities pile up and their mutual contempt intensifies. By the time the last goal is scored, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will be forced to wonder if, after everything, the game they love can ever return to something as simple and innocent as a field of ice, two nets, and two teams. Us against you. Here is a declaration of love for all the big and small, bright and dark stories that give form and color to our communities. With immense compassion and insight, Fredrik Backman—“the Dickens of our age” (Green Valley News)—reveals how loyalty, friendship, and kindness can carry a town through its most challenging days.

Us Against You

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South Carolina

A cloth bag containing 10 paperback copies of the title, 1 large print edition, 1 audio book, that may also include a folder with sign out sheets.

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry

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#paperback #fiction #fredrikbackman #britt-marie #bestseller #heartwarming 

Walking away from her loveless marriage and taking a job in a derelict, financially devastated town, sixty-three-year-old Britt-Marie uses her fierce organizational skills to become a local soccer coach to a group of lost children.

Britt-Marie Was Here

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Britt-Marie can't stand a mess, but when she walks out on her cheating husband, she has to fend for herself as a caretaker amidst children, locals, drunkards, and a handsome new policeman.

Exlibrary book in  good condition.

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Light Hardcover (1 lb or less)

Indiana

A breathtaking new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Anxious People and A Man Called Ove, The Winners returns to the close-knit, resilient community of Beartown for a story about first loves, second chances, and last goodbyes.

Over the course of two weeks, everything in Beartown will change.

Maya Andersson and Benji Ovich, two young people who left in search of a life far from the forest town, come home and joyfully reunite with their closest childhood friends. There is a new sense of optimism and purpose in the town, embodied in the impressive new ice rink that has been built down by the lake.

Two years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about. Everyone has tried to move on, but there's something about this place that prevents it. The destruction caused by a ferocious late-summer storm reignites the old rivalry between Beartown and the neighboring town of Hed, a rivalry which has always been fought through their ice hockey teams.

Maya's parents, Peter and Kira, are caught up in an investigation of the hockey club's murky finances, and Amat--once the star of the Beartown team--has lost his way after an injury and a failed attempt to get drafted into the NHL. Simmering tensions between the two towns turn into acts of intimidation and then violence. All the while, a fourteen-year-old boy grows increasingly alienated from this hockey-obsessed community and is determined to take revenge on the people he holds responsible for his beloved sister's death. He has a pistol and a plan that will leave Beartown with a loss that is almost more that it can stand.

As it beautifully captures all the complexities of daily life and explores questions of friendship, loyalty, loss, and identity, this emotion-packed novel asks us to reconsider what it means to win, what it means to lose, and what it means to forgive.

The Winners

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Return to the close-knit, resilient community of Beartown with this “engrossing page-turner” (Woman’s World) about first loves, second chances, and last goodbyes—from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Anxious People and A Man Called Ove. Over the course of two weeks, everything in Beartown will change. Two years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about. Everyone has tried to move on, but there’s something about this place that prevents it. The destruction caused by a ferocious late-summer storm reignites the old rivalry between Beartown and the neighboring town of Hed, a rivalry which has always been fought through their ice hockey teams. Maya Andersson and Benji Ovich, two young people who left in search of a better life, come home and joyfully reunite with their closest childhood friends. There is a new sense of optimism and purpose in the town, embodied in the impressive new ice rink that has been built down by the lake. Maya’s parents, meanwhile, are caught up in an investigation of the hockey club’s murky finances, and Amat—once the star of the Beartown team—has lost his way after an injury and a failed attempt to get drafted into the NHL. Simmering tensions between the two towns turn into acts of intimidation and then violence. All the while, a fourteen-year-old boy grows increasingly alienated from this hockey-obsessed community and is determined to take revenge on the people he holds responsible for his beloved sister’s death. He has a pistol and a plan that will leave Beartown with a loss that is almost more that it can stand. Discover what it means to forgive with this “hell of a conclusion to an outstanding series” (Booklist, starred review).

A Novella

Paints the portrait of an elderly man's struggle to hold on to his most precious memories and his family's efforts to care for him even as they must find a way to let go.

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

Utah

It's Christmas Even morning. Years ago a man abandoned his son to pursue professional success; now he wonders if it's too late to forge a relationship with him. One week earlier, in a hospital late at night, the man met a five-year-old girl with cancer. When the man is given the chance to do something selfless that could change the destiny of the little girl in the hospital bed, he needs to find out what his own life has actually been worth in the eyes of his son before he makes the deal of a lifetime.

The Deal of a Lifetime

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California

Cosas Que Mi Hijo Necesita Saber Sobre el Mundo

El autor bestseller del New York Times de Un hombre llamado Ove comparte una colecci n irresistible y conmovedora de ensayos honestos y humor sticos sobre la paternidad, con el prop sito de brindarle su hijo reci n nacido perspectiva y las herramientas que necesitar para abrirse camino en el mundo. Las cosas que mi hijo necesita saber acerca del mundo es un compendio personal repleto de l neas sobre la paternidad y que significa experimentarla por primera vez. Fredrik Backman no teme revelar sus propios errores y defectos como padre. Aborda temas importantes y los m s triviales como, por ejemplo: la masculinidad, crisis de mediada edad, chistes pr cticos y caca de beb . Devela lo que significan las largas noches sin poder dormir, pero tambi n lo maravilloso que trae consigo Backman nos relata lo que es el amor incondicional y lo retos que trae enamorarse de una mujer completamente diferente a l. Entre la picard a y la cruda realidad, estas lecciones no solo son para su hijo, sino que tambi n para todas las personas que experimentan la paternidad y buscan una voz amiga y sincera.

Things My Son Needs to Know about the World Cosas Que Mi Hij (Spanish Edition)

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The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove shares an irresistible and moving collection of heartfelt, humorous essays about fatherhood, providing his newborn son with the perspective and tools he’ll need to make his way in the world. Things My Son Needs to Know About the World collects the personal dispatches from the front lines of one of the most daunting experiences any man can experience: fatherhood. As he conveys his profound awe at experiencing all the “firsts” that fill him with wonder and catch him completely unprepared, Fredrik Backman doesn’t shy away from revealing his own false steps and fatherly flaws, tackling issues both great and small, from masculinity and mid-life crises to practical jokes and poop. In between the sleep-deprived lows and wonderful highs, Backman takes a step back to share the true story of falling in love with a woman who is his complete opposite, and learning to live a life that revolves around the people you care about unconditionally. Alternating between humorous side notes and longer essays offering his son advice as he grows up and ventures out into the world, Backman relays the big and small lessons in life, including: -How to find the team you belong to -Why airports explain everything about religion and war -The reason starting a band is crucial to cultivating and keeping friendships -How to beat Monkey Island 3 -Why, sometimes, a dad might hold onto his son’s hand just a little too tight This is an irresistible and insightful collection, perfect for new parents and fans of Backman’s “unparalleled understanding of human nature” (Shelf Awareness). As he eloquently reminds us, “You can be whatever you want to be, but that’s nowhere near as important as knowing that you can be exactly who you are.”

Things My Son Needs to Know about the World

A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here

From beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, a beautiful boxed set collection of his first three charming, matchless novels that have taken the world by storm: A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, and Britt-Marie Was Here. Fredrik Backman’s novels have delighted readers with their irrepressible charm, whimsy, and warmth. Now, for the first time, all three of his novels are collected in one boxed set, making this a perfect gift for both longtime and new fans. In A Man Called Ove, an unexpected friendship forms when a young family moves next door to the neighborhood curmudgeon. In this feel-good tale of love and redemption, Backman explores the profound impact one life has on countless others. My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry is the story of a young girl named Elsa who is struggling after the death of her beloved and eccentric grandmother. When she discovers a series of letters her grandmother wrote apologizing to people she had wronged, Elsa embarks on a life-changing adventure. With humor and heart, this is a story about life and death and one of the most important human rights: the right to be different. Finally, in Britt-Marie Was Here, Backman tells the “heartwarming story about a woman rediscovering herself after a personal crisis…fans of Backman will find another winner in these pages” (Publishers Weekly). When the fastidious Britt-Marie leaves her cheating husband and starts over in a small backwater town, she never expects to find herself drawn into the lives of its quirky and odd inhabitants. 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?

The Fredrik Backman Collection

In this short story enhanced with beautiful illustrations, the bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and Beartown delivers an insightful and poignant tale about finding out what is truly important in life.

A father and a son are seeing each other for the first time in years. The father has a story to share before it's too late. He tells his son about a courageous little girl lying in a hospital bed a few miles away. She's a smart kid--smart enough to know that she won't beat cancer by drawing with crayons all day, but it seems to make the adults happy, so she keeps doing it.

As he talks about this plucky little girl, the father also reveals more about himself: his triumphs in business, his failures as a parent, his past regrets, his hopes for the future.

Now, on a cold winter's night, the father has been given an unexpected chance to do something remarkable that could change the destiny of a little girl he hardly knows. But before he can make the deal of a lifetime, he must find out what his own life has actually been worth, and only his son can reveal that answer.

With humor and compassion, Fredrik Backman's The Deal of a Lifetime reminds us that life is a fleeting gift, and our legacy rests in how we share that gift with others.

The Deal of a Lifetime and Other Stories

#1 New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, who "captures the messy essence of being human" (The Washington Post), returns with an unforgettably funny, deeply moving tale of four teenagers whose friendship creates a bond so powerful that it changes a stranger's life twenty-five years later. Most people don't even notice them--three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier in the corner of one of the most famous paintings in the world. Most people think it's just a depiction of the sea. But Louisa, an artist herself, knows otherwise and she is determined to find out the story of these three enigmatic figures. Twenty-five years earlier, in a distant town, a group of teenagers find refuge from their difficult home lives by spending their days laughing and telling stories out on a pier. There's Joar, who never backs down from a fight; quiet and bookish Ted who is mourning his father; Ali, the daughter of a man who never stays in one place for long; and finally, there's the artist, a boy who hoards sleeping pills and shuns attention, but who possesses an extraordinary gift that might be his ticket to a better life. These four lost souls find in each other a reason to get up each morning, a reason to dream. Out of that summer emerges a transcendent work of art, a painting that will unexpectedly be put into eighteen-year-old Louisa's care. As she struggles to decide what to do with this bequest, she embarks on a surprise-filled cross-country journey to learn the story of how the painting came to be. The closer she gets to the painting's birthplace, the more she feels compelled to unleash her own artistic spirit, but happy endings don't always take the form we expect in this fresh testament to the transformative power of friendship and art.

My Friends

The Deal of a Lifetime/and Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer

Deal Lifetime and Every Morning SPA

Oscar Unzueta

¿Alguna vez has visto a un pueblo derrumbarse? El nuestro lo hizo.

¿Alguna vez ha viso a un pueblo levantarse? El nuestro lo hizo, también.

Una pequeña comunidad ubicada en los más profundo del bosque, Beartown es el hogar de gente dura, trabajadora, que no esperan que la vida sea fácil o justa. Sin importar la dificultad del momento, ellos siempre se han sentido orgullosos de su equipo local de hockey sobre hielo. Por eso, cuando se enteran de que el equipo de Beartown pronto podría desintegrarse, la noticia los golpea con crueldad. Lo que empeora las cosas es la satisfacción obvia de todos jugadores anteriores de Beartwon (que ahora juegan en el equipo rival del pueblo vecino de Hed) ante la noticia. Mientras crece la tensión entre los dos adversarios, un recién llegado le da al equipo de Beartown un nuevo entrenador y una oportunidad de volver a jugar.

Pronto, el equipo empieza a tomar forma alrededor de Amat, el jugador más rápido que se haya visto; Benji, el intenso lobo solitario; el solícito y complaciente Bobo; y Vidar, el problemático nacido para ser un mal muchacho. Pero unir a este grupo resulta un reto, ya que los lazos que los unían se han roto, se tienen que crear nuevos vínculos y la enemistad del pueblo con Hed se hace más y más intensa.

Mientras el gran partido se acerca, se van acumulando las no tan inocentes bromas e incidentes entre las comunidades, y el desprecio mutuo se intensifica. Para cuando el último gol entre en la portería, un residente de Beartwon estará muerto, y la gente de ambos pueblos se verá forzada a preguntarse si, después de todo, el deporte que aman puede algún día volver a ser tan simple e inocente como una pista de hielo, dos redes y dos equipos. Nosotros contra ustedes.

He aquí una declaración de amor por todas las historias, grandes y pequeñas, luminosas y oscuras, que dan forma y color a nuestras comunidades.



Have you ever seen a town fall? Ours did.

Have you ever seen a town rise? Ours did that, too.

A small community tucked deep in the forest, Beartown is home to tough, hardworking people who don't expect life to be easy or fair. No matter how difficult times get, they've always been able to take pride in their local ice hockey team. So it's a cruel blow when they hear that Beartown ice hockey might soon be disbanded. What makes it worse is the obvious satisfaction that all the former Beartown players, who now play for a rival team in the neighboring town of Hed, take in that fact. As the tension mounts between the two adversaries, a newcomer arrives who gives Beartown hockey a surprising new coach and a chance at a comeback.

Soon a team starts to take shape around Amat, the fastest player you'll ever see; Benji, the intense lone wolf; always dutiful and eager-to-please Bobo; and Vidar, a born-to-be-bad troublemaker. But bringing this team together proves to be a challenge as old bonds are broken, new ones are formed, and the town's enmity with Hed grows more and more acute.

As the big game approaches, the not-so-innocent pranks and incidents between the communities pile up and their mutual contempt intensifies. By the time the last goal is scored, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will be forced to wonder if, after everything, the game they love can ever return to something as simple and innocent as a field of ice, two nets, and two teams. Us against you.

Here is a declaration of love for all the big and small, bright and dark stories that give form and color to our communities. With immense compassion and insight, Fredrik Backman--"the Dickens of our age" (Green Valley News)--reveals how loyalty, friendship, and kindness can carry a town through its most challenging days.

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Fredrik Backman

Anxious People

Fredrik Backman

Beartown

Fredrik Backman

A Man Called Ove

Fredrik Backman

Us Against You

Fredrik Backman

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry

Fredrik Backman

Britt-Marie Was Here

Fredrik Backman

The Winners

Fredrik Backman

And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer

Fredrik Backman

The Deal of a Lifetime

Fredrik Backman

Things My Son Needs to Know about the World

Fredrik Backman

The Fredrik Backman Collection

Fredrik Backman

The Deal of a Lifetime and Other Stories

Fredrik Backman

My Friends

Fredrik Backman

Deal Lifetime and Every Morning SPA

Fredrik Backman

Us Against You Nosotros Contra Ti (Spanish Edition)