Mocha Girls Read - Harlem

REMEMBER:
Support a Black-owned Bookstore called RESIST BOOKSELLERS and get 15% off when you use the code MGR22.

About the Book:
Looking at real estate isn’t usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage.

The captives include a recently retired couple who relentlessly hunt down fixer-uppers to avoid the painful truth that they can’t fix up their own marriage. There’s a wealthy banker who has been too busy making money to care about anyone else, and a young couple who are about to have their first child but can’t seem to agree on anything, from where they want to live to how they met in the first place. Add to the mix an eighty-seven-year-old woman who has lived long enough not to be afraid of someone waving a gun in her face, a flustered but still-ready-to-make-a-deal real estate agent, and a mystery man who has locked himself in the apartment’s only bathroom, and you’ve got the worst group of hostages in the world.

Each of them carries a lifetime of grievances, hurts, secrets, and passions that are ready to boil over. None of them is entirely who they appear to be. And all of them—the bank robber included—desperately crave some sort of rescue. As the authorities and the media surround the premises, these reluctant allies will reveal surprising truths about themselves and set in motion a chain of events so unexpected that even they can hardly explain what happens next.

Humorous, compassionate, and wise, Anxious People is an ingeniously constructed story about the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness, and hope—the things that save us, even in the most anxious of times.

Includes short story – The Last Round of Golf.

About the Author
Fredrik Backman is an internationally bestselling Swedish author and columnist known for his deeply human storytelling and emotional insight. Born in 1981 in Stockholm, Sweden, Backman worked as a truck driver and blogger before turning to fiction. His unique blend of humor, empathy, and honesty has made his novels beloved across the globe.

Backman’s breakout success came with A Man Called Ove (2012), a novel about a grumpy but tender-hearted man whose life is changed by unexpected friendships. It became an international sensation, selling millions of copies and inspiring film adaptations in both Swedish and English (A Man Called Otto, starring Tom Hanks). His other bestselling works — including My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, Britt-Marie Was Here, and the Beartown trilogy — explore small communities, ordinary people, and the quiet heroism found in everyday acts of care.

In Anxious People, Backman once again shines a compassionate light on human vulnerability, exploring how loneliness, fear, and love bind us together. His writing, often both laugh-out-loud funny and quietly heartbreaking, reminds readers that even in our most chaotic moments, we’re all searching for connection and grace.

Backman currently lives in Stockholm with his wife and children. His works have been translated into more than 40 languages and continue to resonate with readers worldwide.

Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/yaa-xizx-enf
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 478-974-7656‬ PIN: ‪436 159 421‬#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/yaa-xizx-enf?pin=9065284083160

Warmly,
Mocha Girl Rene'e

Our January 2026 monthly book selection is "Anxious People" by Fredrik Backman.

Remember, if you don't finish the book, you are still welcome, so come anyway!

R.S.V.P. Etiquette:
Please make sure to RSVP to an event or book club meeting ONLY if you are going. Do not RSVP if you are thinking about going or would like to go.
Thanks in advance and I can't wait to see you all!

REMEMBER:
Support a Black-owned Bookstore called RESIST BOOKSELLERS and get 15% off when you use the code MGR22.

About the Book:
Looking at real estate isn’t usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage.

The captives include a recently retired couple who relentlessly hunt down fixer-uppers to avoid the painful truth that they can’t fix up their own marriage. There’s a wealthy banker who has been too busy making money to care about anyone else, and a young couple who are about to have their first child but can’t seem to agree on anything, from where they want to live to how they met in the first place. Add to the mix an eighty-seven-year-old woman who has lived long enough not to be afraid of someone waving a gun in her face, a flustered but still-ready-to-make-a-deal real estate agent, and a mystery man who has locked himself in the apartment’s only bathroom, and you’ve got the worst group of hostages in the world.

Each of them carries a lifetime of grievances, hurts, secrets, and passions that are ready to boil over. None of them is entirely who they appear to be. And all of them—the bank robber included—desperately crave some sort of rescue. As the authorities and the media surround the premises, these reluctant allies will reveal surprising truths about themselves and set in motion a chain of events so unexpected that even they can hardly explain what happens next.

Humorous, compassionate, and wise, Anxious People is an ingeniously constructed story about the enduring power of friendship, forgiveness, and hope—the things that save us, even in the most anxious of times.

Includes short story – The Last Round of Golf.

About the Author

Fredrik Backman is an internationally bestselling Swedish author and columnist known for his deeply human storytelling and emotional insight. Born in 1981 in Stockholm, Sweden, Backman worked as a truck driver and blogger before turning to fiction. His unique blend of humor, empathy, and honesty has made his novels beloved across the globe.

Backman’s breakout success came with A Man Called Ove (2012), a novel about a grumpy but tender-hearted man whose life is changed by unexpected friendships. It became an international sensation, selling millions of copies and inspiring film adaptations in both Swedish and English (A Man Called Otto, starring Tom Hanks). His other bestselling works — including My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, Britt-Marie Was Here, and the Beartown trilogy — explore small communities, ordinary people, and the quiet heroism found in everyday acts of care.

In Anxious People, Backman once again shines a compassionate light on human vulnerability, exploring how loneliness, fear, and love bind us together. His writing, often both laugh-out-loud funny and quietly heartbreaking, reminds readers that even in our most chaotic moments, we’re all searching for connection and grace.

Backman currently lives in Stockholm with his wife and children. His works have been translated into more than 40 languages and continue to resonate with readers worldwide.

✨ Silent Reading Hour ✨
Join us every Monday for an hour of peaceful reading together!
How it works:
1️⃣ Pick any book you love.
2️⃣ Log in to the meeting.
3️⃣ Read for as long as you’d like.
💡 “Don’t wait for the perfect moment. Take the moment and make it perfect.” – Zoë Saldana
🌐 Where: Virtual via Google Meet
📅 When: Every Monday
📲 Video call link: https://meet.google.com/msv-pyyp-eig
We can’t wait to see you there! 📖✨