Category: Sports

Winners

May 12, 2025

Two towns, two hockey teams, one tragic story. This is my review of “The Winners” by Fredrik Backman. The third and final book in the “Beartown” series.

When a reporter swoops in on Beartown at the same time a storm tears through both Hed and Beartown. It is just a matter of time one town is about to be taken down once and for all. It’s about what shoe is going to drop first.

This book truly really had me going through all the emotions from smiling, laughing, angry and crying, starting from the first page, all the way through to every last page. Fredrik Backman has a way of taking a book about hockey and turning it into a masterpiece of emotions, hidden meanings and heartwarming, and tear-jerking moments. As a reader, who read the other two books “Beartown” and “Us Against You” I have been rooting for these characters from the very beginning.

The Beartown series was not just a hockey series. It is a series of hardships, friendships, and relationships. A series of political wars, wars against towns, and a lesson of resilience above all. 

I would highly recommend this series for anyone who loves taking a journey through a series, appreciates drama, and enjoys good characters.

Us Against You

May 27, 2024

Have you heard about Beartown? A town dedicated to their towns hockey team! Do you enjoy reading about a town divided but all the while the town is trying to pick themselves up from a terrible situation and they just are struggling to do so! Well do I have a book for you! It is called “Us Against You” by Fredrik Backman. A story of a small towns trials and tribulations!

Beartown has never been the same after their star hockey player is accused of attacking the coach’s daughter and is forced out of town. Leaving the town and the girl Mia to pick up the pieces of what he destroyed. The town is now divided like never before. The once popular hockey is dismantled and half the team goes to the next town over to play. While the loyal players stay and try to create a team with what is left.

My favorite aspect of Fredrik Backmans stories of his characters. The characters make the stories what they are. His characters have backstories, strengths, weaknesses and depth to them. These are characters that you fall in love with, cry for and root for from beginning to end. Mia, Anna, Benji, and their families really made the town of Beartown what it is. A town is just a town. But a town is a home with the people who live in it!

From the every first book that I’ve read from Fredrik “A Man Called Ove” to this one, I have fallen in love with all of his characters! That is why I will always read a book by Fredrik Backman.

BearTown

June 14, 2023

Small town, hockey and the truth are three words that come to my mind after reading “BearTown” by Fredrik Backman. When the truth comes about a terrible incident the small hockey town will never be the same.

BearTown has always lived and breath hockey. It is the type of town that treats their athletes as stars around town. They can do no wrong.  It is also time for the team to really buckle down and win the Simi-finals. However, when a terrible incident occurs at a party, leave Maya absolutely devasted, she is left picking up the pieces and the burn of deciding to tell the truth or hold the truth to protect the only thing the town has ever known. And when the truth finally does come out, who will people believe? Will Maya finally be able to begin the healing process or will the burn just be too much for her?

This story is a story of consent, truth, and strength. A story that brings a very necessary storyline to light. The power that society and especially a small town gives their athletes can lead to devasting results one way or another. The truth is no one is above law no matter if you can make basket, shoot a goal, run for a touchdown, or even led a country. The truth is if we all care for each other, listen to one another, and respect one another, there just might be just little less hurt in this world.

Fredrik Backman’s way of storytelling is one of my favorites. He has a way of bringing his characters to life in such a way that the reader really gets invested into their lives and story. His books are full of emotion, depth and will always have an important message hidden inside. They have always left an impact on me, and I hope they will leave an impact on you.