The Winners

About the ONLY thing I can complain about this book is the length, but then towards the end I was resenting the idea that it was ending. I love the artistry and the deep sensitivity of Mr. Backman. Only rarely has I encountered such a writer. I will follow him “into the forest.”

What can I say about Backman that hasn't been said already - that I haven't said already? Last book in the series - I can’t even tell you what I am feeling after reading this masterpiece. He had to go ahead and break my heart. He had to go ahead and smother me in an avalanche of emotions. He had to go ahead and teach me some hard lessons. He had to go ahead and make me feel all the feels. Was it the ending that I was looking for? Well with Backman it hardly ever is.I cannot write much about the story without giving too much away. I can say that those dear to us who had left Beartown are back. I can say that the unthinkable happens. I can say that new characters are introduced - some will break you and some will make you sigh. I can say that you will fall more deeply in love with the person you loved before. I can say that you will laugh, you will cry and you will hug this book tightly once it is over. I can say that each and every page of this book is peppered with wisdom. I can say that you will feel like annotating each and every page of this book.“We fool ourselves that we can protect the people we love, because if we accepted the truth we’d never let them out of our sight.”There is so much I want to say about this book that I can go on forever. Right from the first page, this book will grab you by the throat and not let go. You will be choked with emotions and you will spill a tear or two. Benji, Alicia, Ana, Maya, Peter, Kira, Bobo, Johnny, Hannah, Ramona, Teemu and so many more will stay in your heart forever. I took my time reading this book because I did not want it to get over, secondly, there was so much to absorb in this book that you cannot rush it.Stunning masterpiece by one of the greatest authors I have come to love. Absolutely recommend.

I would give this book 100 stars if I could!If I thought that Beartown ripped out my heart and broke it into a million pieces, then Backman’s latest instalment in the series just ground them to fine dust. At least now I know to stock up on tissues before starting any of his books!I don’t even know where to begin with a review because it’s difficult to express how much I loved this book. After the three Beartown novels, I almost feel part of the community. I’m not sure how Backman does it, but his characters are so well drawn that they are totally real to me. Often, characters remain a hazy outline, but this cast is as vivid in my mind as people I have known all my life.With the Beartown themes of community, parenthood, coming of age, friendships and the fine threads that connect us all to one another, there wasn’t many tissues left in the box by the time I finished reading. Backman’s writing resonates deeply with me, as do his characters.THE WINNERS is set 2 years after the events in BEARTOWN, and we get to find out how all our favourite characters have fared in that time. There are a few surprises in store, but one thing has not changed – the rivalry between the two hockey clubs of Beartown and Hed. As someone who knows nothing about hockey and isn’t particularly sports orientated, even I soon realised how much the sport reflected the hopes and dreams of the community, and was swept away by their love for the sport. As hockey gets embroiled in the political power games of influential people trying to make Beartown and Hed’s animosity work in their favour, the simmering tension is about to erupt into violence. With the constant foreshadowing in the story, I knew that something terrible was about to happen, which had me torn between reading quickly to find the answers and savouring the story. Backman injects so many snippets of insight and wisdom into his stories that touched me deeply, drawing out emotions that are often repressed or overlooked.I can confidently say that THE WINNERS is my favourite book for 2022 and one that I will revisit again when the open wounds in my heart are no longer so raw and I can savour the fine details I may have overlooked. Please note that this is not a stand-alone novel and needs to be read in the right order of the Beartown series to make sense and to get the full value out of this wonderful tale. I loved every minute of it and was sad to say good-bye to characters who feel like good old friends – I will miss them. A truly wonderful book! If you haven’t discovered this series yet, what are you waiting for?

If you have not read Fredrik Backman, do yourself a favor and pick up any of his books. You'll thank me.

This is the third and final part in the Beartown series and I felt that it was a fitting finale to my favourite characters. Backman’s writing will make you stop and think. His writing is both evocative and emotional. The character developments are strong. And just when you think you know how it’s going to end, you get an unexpected but gut wrenching twist.If you haven’t read the first two parts….please do, I promise you’ll love it