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4.55 AVERAGE
4.55 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
medium-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
emotional
hopeful
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
This is the story of 4 friends Joar, Ted, Ali (the only girl), and the artist, as teenagers, 25 years ago. They are each dealing with their own issues- absent parents, domestic abuse, and depression. However, the kids hang out together every day and help each other through their issues. I would say they had no idea that they would be lifelong friends, but they did know, even back then. Fast forward to the present, Louisa has just aged out of the foster care system, and she has recently lost her best friend, Fish. She meets “the artist” one day as she is spray painting an old church. He paints with her and has the best time, so much so that he adds her to his will. There is a good portion of the book where Ted is telling Louisa stories as they travel by train. Although Louisa was born 20+ years later, she totally fits with the group of 4. I was carried away by the stories and loved each of the characters.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a hard one to rate because this author has a skill of making deep emotional moments both deeply felt and also humorous. At times, this story felt too much like trauma porn, but maybe that's because it centers children (adolescents) with entirely negligent adults, normalizing the abuse and mental health issues they are each/all facing. Then there are some plot choices that seemed unnecessary to try and mislead the reader, which I found tedious and gimmicky. But there were also parts that made me tear up and beautiful connections between art and life and friendship.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, Grief, Alcohol
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
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
fredrik backman must have signed a deal with the universe for this.
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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