Beartown
by Fredrik Backman
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Now an HBO Original Series
"You'll love this engrossing novel." --People
Named a Best Book of the Year by LibraryReads, BookBrowse, and Goodreads
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Anxious People, a dazzling and profound novel about a small town with a big dream--and the price required to make it come true.
By the lake in Beartown is an old ice rink, and in that ice rink Kevin, Amat, Benji, and the rest of the town's junior ice hockey team are about to compete in the national semi-finals--and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.
Under that heavy burden, the match becomes the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown.
This is a story about a town and a game, but even more about loyalty, commitment, and the responsibilities of friendship; the people we disappoint even though we love them; and the decisions we make every day that come to define us. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world.
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Book Details
- ISBN
- 9781501160776
- Binding
- Paperback
- Authors
- Fredrik Backman
- Publisher
- Atria Books
- Published Date
- February 6, 2018
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 432
- Physical Info
- 1.2 in H x 8.1 in L x 5.3 in W (0.75 lb)
A hockey town. One night. One decision that fractures everything—and forces you to ask what loyalty really costs.📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚Beartown — Fredrik BackmanFormat: Immersive Read (Book + Audiobook)⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⸻Beartown follows a small, hockey-obsessed town where everything—pride, identity, future—rests on a junior team headed for the semi-finals. But when a violent act shatters a young girl’s life, the town begins to crack. Loyalties are tested, friendships strained, and the truth becomes something people either protect or bury.⸻I went into this one pretty blind I just knew it involved hockey. And honestly, it wrecked me a little.You can feel the pressure building the whole time, especially with how much the town puts on these kids. When things start to unravel, it hits hard.What stayed with me most is how real it all feels—the relationships, the tension, the way people justify things to protect what they love. It’s uncomfortable at times, but in a way that feels honest.Reading + listening made this even more powerful. Marin Ireland brings so much emotion to the audiobook. You can hear the weight of every moment.At its core, this isn’t really about hockey. It’s about people—loyalty, choices, and how complicated doing the right thing can be. I will definitely be reading the other two books in this series.———⚠️ Content Warningssexual assault • trauma/PTSD • victim-blaming • violence • bullying • alcohol abuse • homophobia⸻✅ WHAT WORKED• Real, flawed characters• Emotional depth• Strong narration• Moral complexity⚠️ WHAT DIDN’T WORK• Heavy themes• Large cast
What a great book! It’s an interesting story around a a hockey town and what individuals will do. I’m excited for the other couple of books.
As I sit here crying I don’t have the right words to explain what this book meant to me. How the writing and the story touched something in me. I am a sexual assault nurse examiner and this book , the accuracy, the hard truths, the realities. It’s heartbreaking. It’s real. This is only part of the story and the characters, the other stories were just as real. Just as touching. Masterful Mr. Backman. A masterpiece. All the stars.
Great storyline through til the end. Would recommend as a read. First half was a little slow. Haven’t watched the show.
Such a gripping and compelling novel. It made me feel like I lived in Beartown with all the characters. It could be any town that idolizes sports (in this case hockey) and how it can bring people together and tear them apart. I was angry, sad, cheerful and appalled during the whole roller coaster ride of this book. What brilliant writing by Bachman. Totally recommend 100%.
