Beartown by Fredrik Backman Review


I've had this book on my shelf since it was published and somewhat always pushed it down my TBR list until a fellow Bookstagrammer (@mama_needs_to_read) suggested hosting a group read together. Seemed like the perfect time to read it!

To be honest, I'm glad I read Beartown for a group read because I don't think I would have finished it if I read it alone. I personally thought the first 100 or so pages were dreadful. So many characters being introduced and so little action happening. The book did a complete 180 as soon as the semi-final hockey game started. I had planned to read only a few chapters everyday but I could not put it down from this point on. 

Books like this is the reason I love reading! The story was intense and moving and I could feel the character's emotions as well as the intense hockey mentality in this small town. Having grown up in a small isolated hockey town in Northern Ontario, I could relate to some of the characters. Hockey is a very important sport here and there's a lot of pressure on the kids who play the sport to succeed, both on and off the ice. 

I loved how some characters were strong in face of adversity, more particularly, Maya and Amat. For teenagers, they showed immense strength relating the scandal. Not many people would have been able to keep their heads high and tell the truth, knowing they would face harsh consequence from people who are desperate to keep their  secret hidden.

The writing was excellent. The reader could feel like a part of the town as well as everything the characters went through right along with them. I loved when the author included little nuggets of what would happen in the future following certain events. The 10 year jump at the end was intense and left me picking my jaw off the floor. I am definitely going to read the sequel as soon as I can get over this book. It was simply amazing. A must read!

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy reading, 

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