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mmccombs's review against another edition
4.0
Sometimes the look into the future (“and she will regret it” etc etc) felt a little cheesy, but this book is kind of inherently cheesy, so it works. I did have some issues with the future tense constantly teasing something terrible and then nothing would happen (or the thing would happen but to a character we didn’t even know existed), it often felt like cheap emotional manipulation just to provoke a response, but never going so far as to actually reap consequences for the characters/story. I was definitely kept on the edge of my seat, but after crying wolf so many times I eventually felt as if there were no meaningful stakes.
This felt like a very natural continuation from the first book, similar themes and turmoil and small town politics, so in some ways it felt kind of repetitive and unnecessary, but mostly it was nice to come back to Beartown. I will definitely finish out this series and am excited to get to some of Blackman’s other titles.
Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, Death, Rape, and Suicide
Moderate: Car accident and Gun violence
minionmariann's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual assault and Gun violence
claranasman02's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Alcoholism, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Blood, Drug use, Gun violence, Death of parent, Outing, and Car accident
Minor: Grief and Fire/Fire injury
marippe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
fredrik, you have done it again, constantly raising the bar for us all and doing it flawlessly. i’d say i’m surprised but i know who you are.
Graphic: Outing, Grief, Gun violence, Alcoholism, Car accident, Homophobia, Sexism, Misogyny, Death, Violence, and Hate crime
notlikethebeer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Outing and Gun violence
verafey's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Grief, Hate crime, Violence, Bullying, Cursing, Outing, Sexism, Homophobia, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death, Car accident, Child abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
ate_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Sexism, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Grief, Physical abuse, Outing, Violence, and Cursing
Moderate: Suicide, Gun violence, Lesbophobia, Death of parent, and Drug use
chamaeleontis's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Violence, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Self harm, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Classism, Misogyny, Grief, Gore, Fatphobia, Drug use, Death, Body shaming, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Car accident, Bullying, Addiction, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Outing, Medical content, Homophobia, Hate crime, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Child death, Blood, and Dementia
Minor: Biphobia
busy_bee's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Homophobia, Outing, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Alcoholism, and Death
meeklovestoread's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
However, I don't what it was but it did take me a long time to finish it (about seven days). Like for the first few days, I would only read about 30 pages a day and then not have the urge to pick up the book which is weird because the book was still good, I guess I just wasn't in the right mood for those couple days.
What did help was as I was reading this book I was also watching the show that they made for the first book; that also got me into the mood to read the book so that was great.
I love the themes the book explored and how it handled the aftereffects of Maya's r@pe and how the town's people reacted. Once I got into it again I just couldn't believe but adored the way that Backman wrote in through his multiple third-person narratives. There were parts of politics in this book that I found both confusing and also intriguing. I really wish I understood politics. I was so invested in what Rochard Theo was planning and how he was able to bend everyone to do what he wanted. Loved Benji and Amat and Bobo! And also I'm really feeling for Leo, I hope we get more of him in the next book. I also like how hopeful the ending (and everything else) was without being all "happily ever after"-like. I think I would've rated it book 5 stars if it were for the fact that it just took me so long to finish it.
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Car accident, Homophobia, Violence, Grief, Misogyny, and Outing
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexism, and Bullying
Minor: Cursing, Gun violence, Dementia, Blood, Hate crime, and Alcohol