A Man Called Ove. by Fredrik Backman (Goodreads Author), Henning Koch (Goodreads Author) (Translator) A Man Called Ove 4.31 · Rating Details · 83,502 Ratings · 13,740 Reviews. 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.