26 March 2025

Alicia’s Review

Another Buddy Read! I loved buddy reading this and discussing it as we went.

Beartown is a book that digs deep into human nature. At its core, the story revolves around a small town obsessed with hockey, but it’s really about the people in the town, and how they think, react, and struggle when faced with a devastating event.

The book is packed with characters, and it can be overwhelming at times. Some characters stood out for me more than others like Amat, Benji, and Kira but every perspective felt necessary. I think one of my favourite things about this book was how as you read you kept connecting people and figuring out everyone’s dynamic and where they fit.

Something about this book felt like it was missing something. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I think a part of Backman’s magic got lost in translation. His writing is still beautiful, and the emotions still hit hard, but there was a certain spark that didn’t fully come through the way I think it should have. I won’t lie, I normally avoid books written by men as I feel I just relate to female writers more but I am glad I read this one. Backman’s writing really was beautiful and the way he wrote certain scenes was handled with such grace and I take my hat off to him for doing the research when writing about certain topics.

I also had such high hopes for some of these characters, but they let me down. I know that’s part of what makes this story realistic people don’t always do what we want them to but it was still frustrating. I wanted certain characters to step up, to make different choices, to be better. Instead, I found myself feeling disappointed in them, even if I understood why they acted the way they did.

One thing to note is that Beartown is a slow read. It’s not the kind of book where the plot moves quickly or there are big, dramatic twists on every page. Instead, it focuses heavily on the characters, their thoughts, emotions, and relationships. If you prefer fast-paced books, this one might feel like it drags. But if you are more of a character person than a plot person, I do think you will love this book.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, it was outside of my typical genre and I enjoyed the change. However, I understand that not everyone will love this book but I think if you are willing to go into this book with an open mind then I would recommend it.

Zelda’s Review

A Powerful and Unforgettable Story of Community, Grit, and Heartbreak

Beartown by Fredrik Backman is one of those rare books that gets under your skin and stays with you long after you’ve finished it. It’s a raw, honest, and unflinchingly human story about a small, struggling community built around one thing—ice hockey. Backman’s storytelling is beautiful, weaving together the lives of Beartown’s residents in a way that feels intimate and authentic.

The heart of the story lies not just in the sport itself but in what the sport represents to this dying town—hope, pride, and the dream of something better. The junior hockey team’s journey to the national semi-finals is the spark that ignites both excitement and unimaginable pain, as one horrific act threatens to tear the town apart.

Backman does an exceptional job of portraying the complexity of human nature and the ripple effects of trauma. The way he writes about the burdens placed on young athletes and the weight of collective expectations is both heartbreaking and eye-opening. The book doesn’t shy away from tough subjects, and Backman’s exploration of loyalty, guilt, and justice is handled with profound empathy.

The characters are beautifully flawed and deeply human. From the young hockey players to the parents, coaches, and community members, everyone has a story worth telling. My heart broke for Maya, whose life was shattered by violence, and I admired her courage and resilience. Similarly, Amat’s journey from the edges of society to the ice rink’s centre is moving and beautifully written.

Backman has an uncanny ability to make readers feel every bit of pain, anger, and hope that his characters experience. His writing is poetic and powerful, capturing both the fierce loyalty of a tight-knit community and the ugliness that surfaces when loyalty is tested.

Beartown is not just about hockey—it’s about the cost of silence, the struggle for justice, and the strength it takes to stand alone when the world turns against you. It’s one of the most profoundly moving books I’ve read, and I can’t recommend it enough. This is a story that will break your heart, mend it, and leave you thinking about it for days to come. An absolute must-read!

Thanks to Alicia for recommending this book – it made a fantastic Buddy Read book which gave us loads to talk about while reading it. (I must thank my husband for reading this one with us….. even when you didn’t join the endless discussions, we know you loved listening to us talking about the characters…. Remember Peter?)