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tinytrashqueen's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Infidelity
mel_j's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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 always manages to make me cry. I loved this book, Britt-Maries story will stay with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Racism, Homophobia, Ableism, Gun violence, and Hate crime
starrysteph's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
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
5.0
“If a human being closes her eyes hard enough and for long enough, she can remember pretty well everything that has made her happy.”
Britt-Marie is an eccentric 63 year old who has suddenly found herself alone for the first time in, well, all of her adult life. She's left her cheating husband and stumbled her way into the position of a caretaker in Borg's recreation center (soon-to-be defunct).
Underneath Britt-Marie's socially awkward comments, obsession with cleaning products, and slightly brittle exterior is a deep desire to be known by others, to leave a mark on her community. She's been controlled and afraid most of her life - this is her journey of stepping into herself and finding her voice.
In Backman style, we've got a peculiar set of characters that become deeply loveable and easy-to-root for as you get to know them (the children in particular were a real strength). It's a relatively quick, simple story but it packs so much depth and charm.
There were so many splendid, poignant moments of community and connection.
“One morning you wake up with more life behind you than in front of you, not being able to understand how it’s happened.”
CW: grief, death, alcoholism, gun violence, infidelity, child death, toxic relationship, death of a parent, violence, emotional abuse, ableism, fatphobia, mental illness
Britt-Marie is an eccentric 63 year old who has suddenly found herself alone for the first time in, well, all of her adult life. She's left her cheating husband and stumbled her way into the position of a caretaker in Borg's recreation center (soon-to-be defunct).
Underneath Britt-Marie's socially awkward comments, obsession with cleaning products, and slightly brittle exterior is a deep desire to be known by others, to leave a mark on her community. She's been controlled and afraid most of her life - this is her journey of stepping into herself and finding her voice.
In Backman style, we've got a peculiar set of characters that become deeply loveable and easy-to-root for as you get to know them (the children in particular were a real strength). It's a relatively quick, simple story but it packs so much depth and charm.
There were so many splendid, poignant moments of community and connection.
“One morning you wake up with more life behind you than in front of you, not being able to understand how it’s happened.”
CW: grief, death, alcoholism, gun violence, infidelity, child death, toxic relationship, death of a parent, violence, emotional abuse, ableism, fatphobia, mental illness
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Child death, Death of parent, Fatphobia, Grief, Death, Violence, Infidelity, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Ableism, and Mental illness
aura_rurubele's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Ableism and Child death
This book told me about love and loss. About learning and growing, while young or old, and most importantly about accepting that you do not need to accept every situation that comes to you "in your stride", that while this may be the best love you have ever received, it may not be the best love you will ever receive. Britt-Marie is written to brilliantly, she's smart and kind and very brave. She is autistic coded and fascinates me constantly. This book encompasses the found family dynamic and is so cute. The manner in which death is written here is so subtle but beautiful in the feeling it gives you (which is not very beautiful). The entire text is witty and comforting and gives us a peak into Britt-Marie's mind even from a bird's eye view.bexi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Grief, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Ableism, Blood, Car accident, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Minor: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Medical content, Misogyny, and Violence
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