A review by julieshuff
Beartown by Fredrik Backman

challenging dark funny reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

Extremely slow start- so many side characters and it takes awhile to get going. Once I was invested though, the pages flew by. The ending felt a bit rushed to me as well, given all of the time that went into set up and development. 

This book deals with lots of heavy topics in passing (class, sexism, alcoholism, homophobia, abuse, death of a child), and pivots around a graphic on-page rape and the fallout that comes from the girl going to the police. It was very anxiety inducing to see how few people in the town believed her, even if it wasn’t surprising.  

P.S. there is rampant unexamined fatphobia throughout this book as well.
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