A review by serendipitysbooks
Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

emotional 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

4.5

I really enjoyed this but felt it didn't have quiet the same impact as Beartown. The storyline involving the conniving politician in particular did not engage me. Apart from that there were so many fascinating and intertwined storylines, -  Benji coming to grips with his sexuality and being outed as gay, Maya struggling with the fallout from being raped and trying to protect her parents, Bono and Amat getting to grips with being in the A team while one of them struggled with a family tragedy, Peter trying to balance his love of the club with the needs of his  marriage and with manipulative external forces. Just like the previous book Backman showcases the best and worst of people. I know some people dislike his writing style - the philosophical interludes by an all knowing narrator that often feature a high level of foreshadowing. I enjoy them because Its a unique style and it really draws the reader into the action, and highlights the fact that even though our lives may be a world away from  small town hockey-obsessed Sweden the people and events are universal. We all are Beartown. 
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