Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

63 reviews

alexisgarcia's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense 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

4.0

overall, i enjoyed this. i love Backman's writing and the Beartown characters are very 3 dimensional and loveable. i did not enjoy how we were introduced to a bunch of new characters and how the plot became so political. despite this, Backman never disappoints me with his strong characters that make me feel so deeply for them. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

laura_berger's review against another edition

emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, and Alcohol

cannesi's review against another edition

emotional funny medium-paced

4.25

A good follow up to Beartown, but nothing could ever beat the first book. I still loved this book and being able to follow the same characters throughout their lives. The end with Peter made me chuckle because what makes him think he is qualified?

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

alexiconic's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

4.25

It’s blown me away a bit less than the first book. I loved spending more time with the characters I loved in Bear Town. Backman is able to continue the story and at the same time tackle new, recognizable trends we might see in our lives, too. Admirably done, because it never feels like a stretch or fan service. The one drawback is just that it didn’t feel like a necessary sequel given the wrap up of the first book in this duology.  Which isn’t bad at all - still it’s one of the best sequels I’ve read - but it felt just a bit jarring to re-enter a world that seemed finished and well-rounded. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Mental illness, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Outing, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Suicide

miriamped's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, Car accident, and Death of parent

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism

wellreadjill_'s review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

aromarrie's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury

rachellewiski's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Grief, Car accident, and Outing

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Death of parent

sofiija's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Violence

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Hate crime, Self harm, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Rape, Suicide, and Terminal illness

mollyb13's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective 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

2023: I did a reread of this book so that I would remember what was going on before taking on the final book in the series. My second read was even better than the first and I wish I could rate it higher than 5 stars! While I have enjoyed the other books I've read by Backman, none of them hit me like the Beartown series does. Growing up in a small town and giving everything I had to a sport that was heavily influenced by outside politics, I relate to so much in this story. Backman captured details and feelings that I could swear he took right out of my head. And in general, this series captures humanity in a beautiful and heartbreaking manner. I continue to recommend this series to everyone that I can, as this series, and the people of Beartown, have my entire heart.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Car accident, and Death of parent

Moderate: Alcoholism, Cancer, Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol