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meeklovestoread's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book is not what I was expecting. In clever Backman fashion, he was able to turn a basic story into something much more nuanced with a lot of layers and depth. I always find it amazing how he finds a way to make all the stories connect. I feel like it's his writing that makes his books so if you're not a fan of his commentary style third-person writing you may not like this. I for one very much enjoy his writing so I found this very enjoyable. I really love the commentary that Backman adds through his characters about various different topics. There are always so many quotable lines in his books. I just relate to them so much. All in all, I really enjoyed this book, however, I feel like the last 15% was a bit underwhelming. I know you have to suspend your disbelief when it comes to this story but I just couldn't do that when Jim (the dad cop) just let the bank robber go and lowkey aided and abetted in their escape. I get that we had to move the story along, but I was really hoping for a big twist on how the bank robber got away. Them just finding the key and leaving was just a bit anticlimactic to me. Also, I know there are themes of suicide in this book but I was expecting the ending to be sadder or hopeful. I felt like everything came together too neatly and too happily. Like Zara and Lennard came out of nowhere. I felt like they were unnecessary. And the bank robber being with her kids in the end felt too neat. I don't know; I feel like some stories should've ended a bit more tragically. To have everyone have a happy ending was a bit of a letdown. Overall, again I still enjoyed this book and will most definitely be reading the rest of Fredrik's books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Pregnancy and Death
Minor: Alcohol and Infidelity
sring42's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Grief, Death, Addiction, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
erinlovestoread's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It started off a little slow and boring but this is genuinely one of the most beautiful books ever written. By the end I came to love every single character and understand them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
kadybugk's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
calla91's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
irenelpynn's review
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
marguar's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
My first book of the new year!!! It feels a little harsh giving this 3 stars, it’s more like a 3.5. It was just a liiiiiittle too sentimental at times - spoke directly to the audience just a little too much, for me personally. My heart softened a lot when I read the acknowledgements. I can understand writing the kind of book you really need to read. Honestly, the acknowledgements made me tear up more than the book itself did - gave me a whole new apprehension for it. Maybe that’s not the best way to read but hey, it’s a new year!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
_fallinglight_'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I don't care for books where the author keeps telling me how to perceive things and his way is the way. All these people are unbearable and I don't give a frick about their struggles. What you gonna do about that, Backman?
Giving it 2.5 bc for 65% of the book, I wasn't too aggravated by the writing style and it was even compulsively readable with all the hostage situation and who is the bank robber mystery going on–even if I was finding the characters grating and not relatable at all, which isn't usually a complaint I have towards characters but relatability, empathy seemed to be a pertinent factor for this book. But then, it kept beating the point over and over and over and over the head I got so incensed! I finished the book out of spite bc I'd already spent so many days on it, might as well see how this man wrapped this story up. It's so bad though. Fourth rate Dickens stuff. Oh, and the humor is intolerably bad, too.
Sincerely, an anxious person.
Giving it 2.5 bc for 65% of the book, I wasn't too aggravated by the writing style and it was even compulsively readable with all the hostage situation and who is the bank robber mystery going on–even if I was finding the characters grating and not relatable at all, which isn't usually a complaint I have towards characters but relatability, empathy seemed to be a pertinent factor for this book. But then, it kept beating the point over and over and over and over the head I got so incensed! I finished the book out of spite bc I'd already spent so many days on it, might as well see how this man wrapped this story up. It's so bad though. Fourth rate Dickens stuff. Oh, and the humor is intolerably bad, too.
Sincerely, an anxious person.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Minor: Homophobia
marysea's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
bearybooky's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Book should be tagged lgbtqia
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
Minor: Drug use, Death, Cursing, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Cancer, Grief, and Infidelity