Us Against You

After everything that the citizens of Beartown have gone through, they are struck yet another blow when they hear that their beloved local hockey team will 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 Hed, take in that fact. Amidst the mounting tension between the two rivals, a surprising newcomer is handpicked to be Beartown’s new hockey coach.

Soon a new team starts to take shape around Amat, the fastest player you’ll ever see; Benji, the intense lone wolf; 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 enmity with Hed grows more and more acute.

As the big match approaches, the not-so-innocent pranks and incidents between the communities pile up and their mutual contempt grows deeper. By the time the last game is finally played, a resident of Beartown will be dead, and the people of both towns will be forced to wonder if, after all they’ve been through, the game they love can ever return to something simple and innocent.

Fredrik Backman has done it again!  I have to admit that whenever I see he has a new book I jump at the chance to read it.  He is a magician with words! His writing makes me feel so many emotions with each page I read.  It's hard to describe too much about this book because it's the second Beartown book.  I was nervous to dive back into this town and it's characters because I was afraid nothing could be better than Beartown.  I was wrong.  This book captured the same spirit and just continued to amaze me.  I loved watching the characters continue to develop and grow admist a new conflict.  I will not hesitate to pick up the third novel whenever it becomes available.

             * I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *