Take a photo of a barcode or cover
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book but was torn apart ! I want to go on to The Winners right away but need a little bit of happiness. Ugh what to do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Child abuse
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Car accident, Outing
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Child death, Drug use, Rape, Suicide, Sexual harassment
dark
emotional
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Quotes
The biggest lie Peter has ever managed to make himself believe is that hockey and politics aren’t linked. They always are. But when politics work in our favor, we call it cooperation, and when it favors others, we call it corruption.
——
Hospitals and hockey aren’t funded from the same budget. Those decisions aren’t even made by the same politicians. But if you ask a difficult enough question, there will always be a receptive audience for the simplest answer. So day after day, in different comment sections, Richard Theo has been doing what he does best: creating conflict, setting one thing against another. Countryside against big city. Hospital against hockey. Hed against us. Us against you.
—-
It’s easy to call that attitude cynical, but cynicism is just a chemical reaction to too much disappointment.
——
“Do your job” leaders are constantly being told. The impossible part of the job is, of course, a leader can carry on leading only as long as someone follows him. And people‘s reactions to leadership are always the same. If a decision of yours benefits me, you’re fair. And if the same decision harms me, you’re a tyrant. The truth about most people is as simple as it is unbearable. We rarely want what is best for everyone. We mostly want what’s best for ourselves.
—-
She puts in more hours than any of her colleagues, but will soon be known in the office as the woman who always goes home early. Being a mother can be like drying out the foundations of a house or mending a roof. It takes time, sweat and money, and once it’s done, everything looks exactly the same as it did before. It’s not the sort of thing anyone gives you praise for. But spending an extra hour in the office is like hanging up a painting or a new lamp. Everyone notices.
—-
The biggest lie Peter has ever managed to make himself believe is that hockey and politics aren’t linked. They always are. But when politics work in our favor, we call it cooperation, and when it favors others, we call it corruption.
——
Hospitals and hockey aren’t funded from the same budget. Those decisions aren’t even made by the same politicians. But if you ask a difficult enough question, there will always be a receptive audience for the simplest answer. So day after day, in different comment sections, Richard Theo has been doing what he does best: creating conflict, setting one thing against another. Countryside against big city. Hospital against hockey. Hed against us. Us against you.
—-
It’s easy to call that attitude cynical, but cynicism is just a chemical reaction to too much disappointment.
——
“Do your job” leaders are constantly being told. The impossible part of the job is, of course, a leader can carry on leading only as long as someone follows him. And people‘s reactions to leadership are always the same. If a decision of yours benefits me, you’re fair. And if the same decision harms me, you’re a tyrant. The truth about most people is as simple as it is unbearable. We rarely want what is best for everyone. We mostly want what’s best for ourselves.
—-
She puts in more hours than any of her colleagues, but will soon be known in the office as the woman who always goes home early. Being a mother can be like drying out the foundations of a house or mending a roof. It takes time, sweat and money, and once it’s done, everything looks exactly the same as it did before. It’s not the sort of thing anyone gives you praise for. But spending an extra hour in the office is like hanging up a painting or a new lamp. Everyone notices.
—-
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Violence
Moderate: Death
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
dark
hopeful
inspiring
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
I absolutely loved this follow up to Beartown. After reading the first book and getting to know the characters so intimately, this next story felt like coming home to familiar friends. I have come to appreciate Backman’s writing style all the more as I’ve continued with this series, and love the reflections he’s built in about love, life, and loss. This story comes at an especially relevant time for me whilst dealing with personal loss, and the revelations Backman weaves in to this story hit me straight in the gut. I adored the rebuilding in this story and found myself rooting for those characters I loved to get a happy ending. I can’t wait to delve into the final book of the series and see where the journey takes the rest of this cast. Stellar work by Backman and a great book to end the year on!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Violence
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This definitely felt like it was setting up the sequel. Felt very slow at times and some of the recap was repetitive.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Who needs sleep, not me... but regardless, this book held my attention fully, just as it's predecessor did. The politics & Richard Theo were definitely some of my least favourite parts which certainly surprised me given I often love political intrigue. There a plethora of undesirables in this book once more - rape, homophobia, violence. But this book is about emotions and the humans those make us into. It is the failures of families and the healing of admission of guilt. It is the dynamic and loyalty of brothers and sisters and best friends that stood out.
What's the pack? A family of bandits.
Unlike the first book that dealt more with crowd mentality, this one focuses much more on the duality of the two towns and how they make enemies of each other it. There's a focus on individuality within a group who does not value uniqueness, and the formation of teenage identity while wrestling with mistakes and hurt.
What's the pack? A family of bandits.
Unlike the first book that dealt more with crowd mentality, this one focuses much more on the duality of the two towns and how they make enemies of each other it. There's a focus on individuality within a group who does not value uniqueness, and the formation of teenage identity while wrestling with mistakes and hurt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Rape, Violence
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
I don’t actually know if I can even make a review. I don’t think I can put into words what this books is to me. It’s everything, it’s so empathetic and human. It’s heart wrenching and hopeful. It is all contradictions. This one did drag a little in the beginning which I would usually give a lower star rating for, I just can’t do that here. No book has ever made me feel this deeply. I feel deeply for books I love, I have sobbed and thrown books. This however is such a deep emotional experience that I just can’t articulate it properly. Anyway this probably makes no sense but if you wanna cry read this series. Beartown against the rest!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Violence, Car accident, Suicide attempt
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
This is quickly becoming my favorite series of all time. Which is so wild because this is SO far from the fantasy books I usually get obsessed with. I laughed, I gasped, I smiled, and I SOBBED all throughout this story. These characters feel so real to me, especially Benji Ovich... oh, Benji... he literally makes my heart ache just to think about. I'm terrified to pick up the next book. I'm just not ready to leave Beartown.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Violence
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book fucked me over emotionally. If I could I’d be starting book 3 right away but I sadly have to wait. But holy shit this is such a good series, everyone should read it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Blood, Grief, Outing, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Car accident, Alcohol