Us Against You
by Fredrik Backman
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The #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove and Beartown returns with an unforgettable novel "about people--about strength and tribal loyalty and what we unwittingly do when trying to show our boys how to be men" (Jojo Moyes).
Have you ever seen a town fall? Ours did.
Have you ever seen a town rise? Ours did that, too.
A small community tucked deep in the forest, Beartown is home to tough, hardworking people who don't expect life to be easy or fair. No matter how difficult times get, they've always been able to take pride in their local ice hockey team. So it's a cruel blow when they hear that Beartown ice hockey might soon be disbanded. What makes it worse is the obvious satisfaction that all the former Beartown players, who now play for a rival team in the neighboring town of Hed, take in that fact. As the tension mounts between the two adversaries, a newcomer arrives who gives Beartown hockey a surprising new coach and a chance at a comeback.
Soon a team starts to take shape around Amat, the fastest player you'll ever see; Benji, the intense lone wolf; always dutiful and eager-to-please Bobo; and Vidar, a born-to-be-bad troublemaker. But bringing this team together proves to be a challenge as old bonds are broken, new ones are formed, and the town's enmity with Hed grows more and more acute.
As the big game approaches, the not-so-innocent pranks and incidents between the communities pile up and their mutual contempt intensifies. By the time the last goal is scored, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will be forced to wonder if, after everything, the game they love can ever return to something as simple and innocent as a field of ice, two nets, and two teams. Us against you.
Here is a declaration of love for all the big and small, bright and dark stories that give form and color to our communities. With immense compassion and insight, Fredrik Backman--"the Dickens of our age" (Green Valley News)--reveals how loyalty, friendship, and kindness can carry a town through its most challenging days.
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Book Details
- ISBN
- 9781501160806
- Binding
- Paperback
- Authors
- Fredrik Backman
- Publisher
- Atria Books
- Published Date
- March 5, 2019
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 448
- Physical Info
- 1.2 in H x 8.1 in L x 5.3 in W (0.75 lb)

Rarely are the second books in a series just as good as the first in my opinion but this is an exception!
📚 BOOK REVIEW 📚Us Against You — Fredrik BackmanFormat: Immersive Read (Book + Audiobook)⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫⸻Us Against You picks up in the emotional wreckage of Beartown, where a fractured community tries to rebuild around the one thing it’s always clung to: hockey. But this time, the stakes feel sharper, loyalties thinner, and the line between rivalry and something far more dangerous starts to blur. Reading and listening to this felt like stepping back into that cold forest air—raw, intimate, and painfully human.⸻This sequel doesn’t play it safe. It takes everything that worked in Beartown, puts it under pressure, and asks you to keep watching.Backman delivers another deeply emotional, character-driven story. Benji. Amat. Ana. Bobo. The whole messy, complicated heart of Beartown. He writes people the way they actually are—flawed, frustrating, and completely worth caring about.This book really sits in the aftermath. It’s uncomfortable in a way that feels honest. Instead of just telling a story about hockey, it digs into loyalty, identity, and how quickly “us vs. them” can turn into something destructive. The immersive read made it hit even harder. The narration adds weight to every silence and every shift in perspective. I didn’t just read this, I felt it.⸻⚠️ Trigger Warnings* Sexual assault (referenced aftermath)* Suicide / suicidal ideation* Death (including sudden/violent death)* Violence and physical assault* Bullying and harassment* Substance abuse / alcoholism* Homophobia* Mental health struggles* Grief and trauma* Toxic masculinity / abuse of power* Community division and mob mentalityThe story focuses more on the emotional fallout than graphic detail, but the themes are heavy and present throughout.⸻✅ WHAT WORKED• Character growth — no one is magically “okay,” and that feels real• Social commentary — how power and sports shape a community• Writing style — the “we” narration makes the town feel alive• Themes of loyalty + identity — honest and layered⸻❌ WHAT DIDN’T WORK• Some slower pacing in the political threads• Emotionally heavy — definitely a “right mood” read• Large cast can feel a bit overwhelming at times
Great book but read Beartown first!!
The second in the series is a page turner. I love all the characters and find surprises with them all.
I don’t know if it is because I’m a hockey mom but this book spoke to my heart. Backman leaves so many wonderful quotes and expresses feelings beyond words. Do yourself a favor and read this trilogy whether a hockey mom or not. It will speak to your soul.
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