Reviews

Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

rklewinski's review

4.0

I will literally read anything this man writes and I will do so with a pen because there are always parts I want to return to.

ila_mae's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

aotora's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad slow-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

This was probably one of my favourite reads so far this year, if not my favourite. The story follows Britt-Marie, a 63 years old woman who leaves her cheating husband and finally decides to live on her own and for herself. She has OCD and we learn about her throughout the story and what made her the way she is. I also loved all of the other characters and a certain character's death broke me - I rarely cry but I did. Overall a really great book with a warm message about standing up for yourself, living for yourself and not for others and love. It's a different story and the mc can be a bit hard to understand but it's a really sweet and warm story either way. 

_tink_'s review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

natmart99's review

I could not get into this one. I feel that Backman’s books are usually a little slower to get into and for the story to come full circle, but this one was feeling too slow. Maybe I’ll try again someday 

lisakerd's review

2.0

Meh. Britt-Marie is the type of character I love reading about but hate actually interacting with in real life. I just couldn’t get invested in this book.

vortimer's review

3.0

Very similar to the earlier A Man Called Ove, with some of the situations, characters and incidents been effectively the same.
Perhaps the major difference been that Ove's wife had been a positive influence on him, providing him with his life, and Britt-Marie's husband been a negative influence, holding her back.

jenhurst's review

3.0

I struggle with quirky characters.

aroda's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-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

lubleu's review against another edition

reflective

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No

Even some poignant writing can't make me care about a football-centric plot.

This only gets three stars because of that line on p232.