10.2k reviews for:

Us Against You

Fredrik Backman

4.42 AVERAGE

homohexual's review against another edition

5.0

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like the first one, but more.

benjamin ovich is my favorite character of all time, ever. i have nothing but deep admiration for fredrik backman and his ability to tell such beautiful, complicated stories without ever using a single word more than necessary. not spare, precisely, but exacting. this series has wrung emotion out of me like a sponge. never have i laughed, nor cried, nor gripped my face in anticipation, nor sighed in relief more than i did over the course of reading this novel.

i'll tell you for free that it's fucking bizarre to sob on the treadmill.

based on the process of elimination & the reveal in beartown about some boys becoming pros, some becoming fathers, and some dying, i know where the next book is going, and i might need to be manfully restrained from jumping off a bridge. will check back.

idax's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

ludoslivros's review against another edition

4.0

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4.2 ⭐️

Complexo e sombrio. Uma escrita maravilhosa e observações brilhantes sobre coisas que realmente importam - certo vs. errado, medo vs. coragem, amor vs. ódio, a importância e os limites da amizade e da lealdade. E sobretudo a história toca no coração de qualquer um.

jessreadsx's review

4.5

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring 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

featherdusterr's review against another edition

4.25

emotional 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

no1zazo's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

karocranberry's review against another edition

4.5

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

leahthebooklover's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad 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: Yes

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Beartown is an awful, ominous place. I don't know how Backman can write such a heavy, horrible, pain-filled story and still manage to tug at my heartstrings. I even felt empathy for William Lyt, to a degree. Such complicated feelings and motives, and we have front row seats for all of them. I hated and loved this book. So much foreshadowing (kinda hated) but so much brutal honesty and truth (kinda loved). I could only take reading this book a bit at a time. The mounting dread and anxiety was a little toxic, but the way we got to see everything that caused it to build like it did - that kind of insightfulness is as brilliant as it is painful. One of the insights is that the people committing violent acts aren't always pure evil. The evil comes from the ones hiding in the background, pulling strings, being manipulative, inciting violence from a distance, keeping their hands clean while having hearts as black as death. The people in Beartown know about tragedy, endurance, loyalty, and strength. And they know about hockey. "Because it's a simple game if you strip away all the crap surrounding it and just keep the things that made us love it in the first place. Everyone gets a stick. Two nets. Two teams. Us against you."

kdoggdawgyman's review

5.0

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Rape

alyssone's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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: Complicated