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lillypillygooseberry 's review for:
The Winners
by Fredrik Backman
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
This book was so slow at the beginning that I thought I might like it less than Us Against You. But the ending made me so emotional, it made the beginning part a little bit more worth it. I don't think the sequels to Beartown quite reach the impact that the first book had on me. I felt like a lot of characters had already gotten some closure in the first book, and while the second book kinda bored me with all its meandering politics and packs and stuff, The Winners felt like a long epilogue for many of the characters that live in this town. I loved all of the moments when people are hanging out and laughing with their friends, Backman conveys the beauty of a certain type of friendship really well, the type of friendship I never had but dearly wish I could have.
Overall, the two sequels tie up a few threads that were hanging from the first, but honestly I don't think you need to read past Beartown if you don't want to; especially since neither are as good as Beartown in my opinion. If you do pick up the second book, you'll probably end up picking up the third book too because it doesn't stand on its own like the first book. this book is quite sad though, so if you prefer to just imagine that the characters all had happy endings stop at Beartown lol.
Overall, the two sequels tie up a few threads that were hanging from the first, but honestly I don't think you need to read past Beartown if you don't want to; especially since neither are as good as Beartown in my opinion. If you do pick up the second book, you'll probably end up picking up the third book too because it doesn't stand on its own like the first book. this book is quite sad though, so if you prefer to just imagine that the characters all had happy endings stop at Beartown lol.