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A Man Called Ove: A Novel Paperback – May 5, 2015

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 196,194 ratings

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“You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll feel new sympathy for the curmudgeons in your life.” —People

The #1 New York Times bestseller about the grumpy old man next door that’s an uplifting exploration of the unreliability of first impressions and a reminder that life is sweeter when it is shared with other people. Also a major film called A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks.

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).
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From the Publisher

A Man Called Ove: A Novel

Customer Reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Also by Fredrik Backman

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A charming debut…You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll feel new sympathy for the curmudgeons in your life. You’ll also want to move to Scandinavia, where everything’s cuter.” ― People

"
A Man Called Ove is exquisite. The lyrical language is the confetti thrown liberally throughout this celebration-of-life story, adding sparkle and color to an already spectacular party. Backman's characters feel so authentic that readers will likely find analogues living in their own neighborhoods." ― Shelf Awareness (starred review)

"Readers seeking feel-good tales with a message will rave about the rantings of this solitary old man with a singular outlook. 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 funny crowd-pleaser that serves up laughs to accompany a thoughtful reflection on loss and love… The author writes with winning charm.” ―
Publishers Weekly, starred review

“This charming debut novel by Backman should find a ready audience with English-language readers… hysterically funny… wry descriptions, excellent pacing… In the contest of Most Winning Combination, it would be hard to beat grumpy Ove and his hidden,generous heart.” ―
Kirkus Reviews

"There are characters who amuse us, and stories that touch us. But this character and his story do even more: A Man Called Ove makes us think about who we are and how we want to live our lives. A Man Called Ove seems deceptively simple at the start, yet Frederik Backman packs a lifetime's worth of hilarity and heartbreak into this novel. Even the most crusty curmudgeon will love Ove!" -- Lois Leveen, author of Juliet's Nurse and The Secrets of Mary Bowser

“One of the most moving novels I have read this year. I defy anyone to read this book and look at a quiet withdrawn person the same way ever again.” ―
Cayacosta Reviews

“[T]he revelations about his past are what make the story so endearing. Suffice it to say that along with the characters in the story, who come to discover that Ove is more than just the grumpy old man they first met, the reader is in for an enjoyable ride.
A Man Called Ove reminds us that even the most difficult people have a back story that helps explain their current way of interacting- and perhaps, reveals the positive side of those qualities.” ― eMissourian.com

"If you have not heard of this author, Fredrik Backman, you are in for a major treat. Major.” ―
Dunn County News

About the Author

Fredrik Backman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, Britt-Marie Was Here, Beartown, Us Against You, Anxious People, The Winners, My Friends, as well as two novellas and one work of nonfiction. His books are published in more than forty countries. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children. Connect with him on Facebook and X @BackmanLand and on Instagram @Backmansk.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1476738025
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atria Books; Reprint edition (May 5, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781476738024
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1476738024
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 870L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.92 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 196,194 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
196,194 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They describe the story as heartwarming, beautiful, and profound. The humor is amusing and poignant, making readers laugh and cry. Readers praise the writing style as clever, well-written, and respectful. They develop an emotional connection with the characters and consider them likable and sympathetic. The book brings up thought-provoking topics like human nature, family, and intercultural relationships.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

9,357 customers mention "Readability"8,669 positive688 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and touching. They describe it as a casual read that reads like a foreign film, emphasizing different aspects of human life. The story is described as feel-good with unexpected twists.

"This book is one of my favorite books that I’ve read in a long time. It’s heart wrenching at times, heartwarming at others...." Read more

"...it is funny, sad and real. Even loved the cat. Easy, casual reading. I will look for other books by this auther" Read more

"...I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the story moved and by how charming the book was...." Read more

"...I was kinda bored with the semantics of this novel but it quickly begins to get cute, then interesting, then unstoppable!!..." Read more

5,505 customers mention "Heartwarming story"5,382 positive123 negative

Customers enjoy the heartwarming story. They find the book touching and hopeful, with profound moments of humanity. The story is about finding love and friendship despite life's challenges. Readers appreciate the backstory with the wife. Overall, it's described as a beautiful tale of a wounded soul finding his place among new friends.

"...It’s heart wrenching at times, heartwarming at others. The writing was beautiful and easily digestible...." Read more

"Characters are the neighbors next door. it is funny, sad and real. Even loved the cat. Easy, casual reading...." Read more

"...This is a book about finding love and friendships despite the curveballs that life throws your way...." Read more

"...This is a sunny and hopeful book. It was a wonderful choice for my Thanksgiving week reading. Is it great literature? Probably not, but I loved it!..." Read more

5,183 customers mention "Humor"4,972 positive211 negative

Customers enjoy the book's humor. They find some passages amusing and insightful, while others ramble on. The book is well-balanced between humor and drama, exploring how lives interact and mesh.

"...It’s heart wrenching at times, heartwarming at others. The writing was beautiful and easily digestible...." Read more

"Characters are the neighbors next door. it is funny, sad and real. Even loved the cat. Easy, casual reading...." Read more

"...blew life into each character in the neighborhood and their interactions were amusing and heartwarming...." Read more

"...the semantics of this novel but it quickly begins to get cute, then interesting, then unstoppable!!..." Read more

2,817 customers mention "Writing style"2,610 positive207 negative

Customers find the writing style clever and humorous. They describe it as simple yet engaging, with a respectful tone. The English idiom is perfect, making it easy to read and relatable.

"...It’s heart wrenching at times, heartwarming at others. The writing was beautiful and easily digestible...." Read more

"...it is funny, sad and real. Even loved the cat. Easy, casual reading. I will look for other books by this auther" Read more

"...stories do and without spoiling specifics the characters are fun and relatable...." Read more

"...but it became a sleeper hit, and since then it has been translated into 38 languages (one of which, fortunately, was English) and it has become..." Read more

2,624 customers mention "Character development"2,493 positive131 negative

Customers enjoy the character development. They find the characters likable, sympathetic, and colorful. The book is described as an enjoyable companionship with Ove's grumpy love.

"...The writing was beautiful and easily digestible. The characters all started to feel like family, and I laughed and cried alongside them...." Read more

"Characters are the neighbors next door. it is funny, sad and real. Even loved the cat. Easy, casual reading...." Read more

"...This was the Fredrik Backman book that I read and I was impressed by his character development...." Read more

"...ending as all good stories do and without spoiling specifics the characters are fun and relatable...." Read more

716 customers mention "Thought provoking"708 positive8 negative

Customers find the book insightful and funny. They appreciate the author's insight into human nature, family, and intercultural relationships. The book uses wonderful descriptive analogies and characterization. It is perfectly suited to the topic and makes readers learn to love Ove.

"...More important than anything though, is that the book brings up subject matter that affects many individuals...." Read more

"...of the story, as so much of the charm of this novel is the cultural specificity. It made me laugh, it made me cry...." Read more

"I liked this book overall. It has passages that are amusing and insightful, but also others that ramble on a bit." Read more

"...Ove, a man of few words but great natural abilities, so alone after his wife passes away that he doesn't know he's lonely, wants to die...." Read more

443 customers mention "Human nature"440 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's message about human nature. They find it a lesson in empathy, believing in people, and accepting differences. The author is described as caring and compassionate, with an extraordinary commitment to ordinary decency. The book is a compelling testament to the power of simple kindness and seeing the light shining. Readers say the book reminds them that all people are special when you take the time to know them.

"...Illness at old age, the bureaucracy of medical care, the kindness and heart of foreigners, and the benefits gained when people choose not to judge..." Read more

"...“A Man Called Ove” has many amusing incidents, as well as many sweet moments of kindness as Ove is dragged into helping his neighbors, mostly..." Read more

"...It is about love, grief, and HUMANITY. The humanity of people and the lack of it in government officials...." Read more

"I liked the humanness of Ove! He became a real person to me that I could understand and care about what happened to him!..." Read more

715 customers mention "Predictable story"400 positive315 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the story. Some find it believable and inventive, with little surprises. Others feel the story is predictable and hard to believe at times. The book is described as odd and not an action-packed thriller.

"...There are many lessons, both hilarious and cogent ones, to be learned from 'A Man Called Ove'...." Read more

"...The writing, although unconventional as mentioned, captures the reader in its simplicity as it creates a world of complexity that creates havoc to..." Read more

"It’s witty, it’s character driven and what happens next is never predictable. Worth rereading. I can’t get enough." Read more

"...I felt the story was drab and irritating but by far the most irritating aspect was the audio actor's voice and cadence...." Read more

4.25 Stars: Swedish Mr. Roper with Several Swedish Jack Trippers
4 out of 5 stars
4.25 Stars: Swedish Mr. Roper with Several Swedish Jack Trippers
I love to watch and re-watch all eight seasons of the 1970s sitcom 'Three's Company'. If I could characterize and compare the character Ove into another fictional character, it would be that of Stanley Roper, the landlord. Both are good men, but are misunderstood due to their layer of grouchiness. 'A Man Called Ove' is one of the funniest, charming, poignant, and saddest books I've read in a long time, with all four of these descriptors having equal measure and affect on me throughout the entire book.Within two pages into 'A Man Called Ove' and throughout the entire book, I was in stitches, laughing out loud heartily in a manner that had my whole body heaving, with laughing tears in my eyes. Within 35 pages, I was in love with Ove, charmed by him, despite his curmudgeon ways. Within 75 pages, with Ove's past further illuminated, the scope of Ove's life and his behavior comes through heart-breakingly in a way that made me at times forget that he is an ill-tempered, disputatious, and snappish man who never lets anything get by him.Ove is 59 years old, lives in a row house in Sweden and drives a Saab. Due to two recent life-altering change to his life and his routine, Ove plans for a major decision. As Ove does his best to navigate the unfairness that is life and the unforgiving nature of getting older, his plans are stalled and inadvertently thwarted by an array of offbeat neighbors and oddball characters who Ove thinks are all "good-for-nothing idiots." Ove just wants to be left alone to go about with his decision. As luck or lack of it would have it, nothing goes according to Ove's plan, throwing Ove into an uproarious spin of irritability, threats of bodily harm and colorful choice words of disdain for his foes and prying neighbors. Just typing this makes me laugh out loud and smile as I relive the scenes in my head.As previously mentioned, while reading 'A Man Called Ove', I kept thinking how much Ove reminded me of the miserly, cranky, parsimonious, but ultimately lovable Mr. Roper of 'Three's Company'. Like Stanley Roper, Ove is set in his ways and gets upset when anyone throws a wrench in his schemes or his plans. But also like Stanley Roper, through patience, kindness, and time exercised by those around him, you get to love Ove, warts and all. And oh how much I love and adore Ove.The book is hysterically funny, lighthearted, and at times farcical. Yet, it equally has very serious and dark themes that will not only break your heart, but perhaps might make some readers uncomfortable. More important than anything though, is that the book brings up subject matter that affects many individuals. Illness at old age, the bureaucracy of medical care, the kindness and heart of foreigners, and the benefits gained when people choose not to judge by first impressions alone. All these are explored in an equally compelling, funny, but respectful way by the author.There are many lessons, both hilarious and cogent ones, to be learned from 'A Man Called Ove'. One of the simplest but most profound is what it means to reach across and be kind - to strangers, to your neighbors, to those who have been cast aside, to misfits, to underdogs, and even to a smug cat that has shed most of its fur and hisses at you. Yes, be kind to all of them. You never really know what people are going through, and you never really know who people truly are until you give them a chance and see what goodness their hearts hold.I highly recommend 'A Man Called Ove'. The reason I've rated it 4.25 stars is because several scenes, especially towards the later end of the book, were rushed and too convenient, for what seemed to be the sake of pacing or perhaps the sake of length. They were written in a too simplified, glossed-over manner. Whereas they would have benefited the book more if they had been fleshed out with more details. In the instance of this book in particular, it's fine, since I don't believe the author's intention was to write a literary masterpiece.Regardless, I LOVED the entire book. I adored all the characters, especially Ove. Sonja, Parvaneh, Nasanin, and even the unnamed cat, were all wonderful too. Like the back of the book says "All you need is Ove." Indeed. All you need is Ove.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2024
    This book is one of my favorite books that I’ve read in a long time. It’s heart wrenching at times, heartwarming at others. The writing was beautiful and easily digestible. The characters all started to feel like family, and I laughed and cried alongside them. A Man Called Ove allowed me to reminisce about days gone by with that bittersweet ache, all while reminding me that I’m not alone. I can’t recommend this book enough.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2024
    Characters are the neighbors next door. it is funny, sad and real. Even loved the cat. Easy, casual reading. I will look for other books by this auther
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2023
    Ove is the grumpy old neighbor you don't want in your neighborhood. He complains about everything, insists on people following strict rules, and has no interest in befriending others. When a new family moves in next door, Ove makes it known that he is annoyed by their presence. Little by little, the family and other neighbors worm their way into his life.

    When I first read this book, I didn't think I would like it. It was a book club pick and I went into it thinking I was going to be bored. I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly the story moved and by how charming the book was. This was the Fredrik Backman book that I read and I was impressed by his character development. He blew life into each character in the neighborhood and their interactions were amusing and heartwarming. As I re-read this book via audiobook, I was reminded by how special this story was.

    My favorite parts of the book was when it went back in time to scenes with Ove and his wife. His love for her was tremendous and I thought it was sweet that such a cranky man could have such a big love in his life. Ove had some personal challenges early in his life and it seemed with he met his wife, it was his chance to find happiness. Their life together wasn't a happily ever after in a traditional sense, but their love transcended the struggles that life put them through.

    This is a book about finding love and friendships despite the curveballs that life throws your way. Although there are tragic elements to it, it will warm your heart.

    ⚠️: death of a loved one, grief, suicidal thoughts & attempts, paralyzing accident, miscarriage, cancer, homophobia
    23 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2025
    At first I was kinda bored with the semantics of this novel but it quickly begins to get cute, then interesting, then unstoppable!! It leaves you feeling like it was a happy ending as all good stories do and without spoiling specifics the characters are fun and relatable. I did see one review that mentioned the cat not being much of a typical cat in what it preferred but not all animals are alike. They have personalities too and this one did sound a bit like a dog at times. Will definitely recommend this book a million times over! Well done Backman.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2017
    The man called Ove is fifty-nine years old and all he wants in life is to die. His sole purpose for living, the only thing he truly loved, left his world six months before when his wife of almost forty years, Sonja, died.

    Ove is a man for whom life is black or white. There is a right way and a wrong way of doing things. Ove adheres to the right way, the way his father taught him. His ambition is to be as little different from his father as is possible. Most of the rest of the world does things the wrong way and this makes Ove the irascible man that people see him to be.

    Sonja saw the world in bright hues. She was interested in the people around her and lived to make their lives better. She was a teacher who was assigned to teach ADHD children "before ADHD was invented." She took to her job with passion and belief in the children's ability to learn. She got them to read Shakespeare.

    Sonja loved cats. Ove didn't.

    Ove and Sonja had lived in the same neighborhood, the same house, since their marriage. Ove was known as the curmudgeonly neighbor who everyone saw as a bitter man. Sonja was the loving woman who everyone loved in return. And Ove loved her, too. He lived for her.

    And then she died.

    We get to know Ove in a series of vignettes from his life. Each chapter of the book is a separate vignette. They might almost be a series of short stories, but, taken together, they give us the full picture of a man called Ove. We learn that tragedies in his and Sonja's lives gave him every excuse for being bitter.

    As we meet him, Ove has made the decision to end it all and join his beloved Sonja underground. He makes repeated attempts to fulfill his aim, but inconvenient life keeps interrupting him.

    His most inconvenient interruption comes when a new family moves in next door; the "Lanky One," a Swedish man, and his very pregnant Iranian wife and their two young daughters. They accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox in the process of moving in and, from then on, their lives are inextricably intertwined as Ove grudgingly shows the Lanky One the right way to back up a trailer and the right way to do other things around the house. Even as he struggles to evade their clutches, the wife, Parvaneh, continues to seek him out and treat him as a friend and the children see him, and draw him, as a man of many bright colors.

    This quirky novel, the debut of Fredrik Backman, was first published in Sweden in 2012, to very little notice, but it became a sleeper hit, and since then it has been translated into 38 languages (one of which, fortunately, was English) and it has become something of an international sensation. The New York Times called it one of the most popular literary exports since Stieg Larsson's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. It could not be more different from than dark thriller.

    This is a sunny and hopeful book. It was a wonderful choice for my Thanksgiving week reading. Is it great literature? Probably not, but I loved it! I often found myself laughing out loud and then a few minutes later my cheeks would be wet with tears. It combines hilarity and poignancy in a marvelous cocktail of emotional reading.

    Of many favorite moments in the book, one that resonated deeply with me was Sonja's explanation of the evolution of a long relationship.
    "Loving someone is like moving into a house," Sonja used to say. "At first you fall in love with all the new things, amazed every morning that all this belongs to you, as if fearing that someone would suddenly come rushing in through the door to explain that a terrible mistake had been made, you weren't actually supposed to live in a wonderful place like this. Then over the years the walls become weathered, the wood splinters here and there, and you start to love that house not so much because of all its perfection, but rather for its imperfections. You get to know all the nooks and crannies. How to avoid getting the key caught in the lock when it's cold outside. Which of the floorboards flex slightly when one steps on them or exactly how to open the wardrobe doors without them creaking. These are the little secrets that make it your home."
    Yes, exactly. How could I not love this book?
    56 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Matt D Jamieson
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece of Humanity and Humor – 6/5 Stars for A Man Called Ove
    Reviewed in Canada on December 16, 2024
    If there were a scale that allowed for more than perfection, A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman would transcend it. This book is a profound, heartwarming, and unexpectedly hilarious tale that takes the seemingly mundane life of a curmudgeonly man and turns it into a symphony of laughter, tears, and triumphs.

    Ove, the titular character, is the grump we all recognize—the kind of man who yells at stray cats and meticulously measures parking spaces. But as Backman peels back the layers of his life, we discover a man of profound love, loss, and resilience. It's in these small, intricately woven moments that the story truly shines.

    Backman’s genius lies in his ability to mix dry wit with deeply emotional storytelling. One minute you're laughing out loud at Ove's cantankerous antics; the next, you're wiping tears as his past is revealed. Every character is wonderfully drawn, from Ove's persistent neighbors to the stray cat that becomes his reluctant companion.

    This book isn’t just about one man—it’s about life itself, in all its messy, beautiful complexity. It’s a celebration of community, compassion, and the connections we make when we least expect them.

    Backman’s prose is deceptively simple, yet every word carries weight, resonating with a truth that hits home. Few authors can make you feel as though you've lived an entire life within the span of a few hundred pages, but Backman does it effortlessly.

    A Man Called Ove is more than a book—it’s an experience. It will break your heart and put it back together in a way that makes you see the world a little brighter. If you haven’t read it yet, you’re missing out on one of the greatest literary gifts of our time.

    Final Verdict: 6/5 stars. A must-read for anyone with a pulse.
  • Marta Rivera
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muy entretenido
    Reviewed in Mexico on August 14, 2023
    Muy simpático, muy humano, me hace reír y pensar. Es interesante ver cómo cambian los lugares con el tiempo a través de la historia. Voy a la mitad y lo disfruto mucho.
  • Pry Salomao
    5.0 out of 5 stars O Primeiro Favorito do Ano
    Reviewed in Brazil on June 21, 2023
    Esse não é um livro triste, não é um livro feliz, não é mais uma historia de vida de uma pessoa.
    Aqui iremos conhecer o velho e rabugento Ove, sua vida toda, os acontecimentos, os motivos de alegria e os motivos de tristeza. O que fez com que hoje ele chegasse a ser quem é. Com toda certeza ou você vai se identificar 100% com sua rabugice ou vai simplesmente ter vontade de desistir porque Ove com toda certeza é um baita de um velho rabugento, mas eu te peço dê uma chance a esse senhor, conheça ele, tente entender quem ele é, porque ele é assim. E só depois tire sua conclusão.

    Um livro que todo inicio de capitulo você começa rindo, porém após cada final de capitulo você leva um soco no estomago, depois que ver tudo o que ele passou e todo aprendizado que ele nos trás.

    Com toda certeza um livro incrível, um daqueles que deveria se tornar um clássico e deveria com toda certeza ser lido por todos, ao menos uma vez na vida.

    "He was a man of black and white. And she was colour. All the colour he had."
  • Manesh Kumar
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on December 9, 2024
    Good book
  • Yvone
    5.0 out of 5 stars el libro me conmovió profundamente. De vez en cuando muy comico y también un poco triste
    Reviewed in Spain on September 6, 2024
    Se trata de un cascarrabias poco sociable que se enfada por cualquier cosa.Es también comico a la vez. Más avanza el libro mas te das cuenta que este hombre tiene un buén corazón. Me encantó el libro y voy a leer mas libros de este escritor.