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jscheper's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
ambeda's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
5.0
It's already been said, that this novel feels different from his others, but still so good. I only wish I read this sooner and NOT one week postpartum in-between baby naps and feeds. Very relatable thinking "how can I protect my kid from the world?"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child death
jamescaoimh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
_nenareads_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
lilo23's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning was a little slow and kinda boring to me but I still really love this book. It’s so heartbreaking and I can’t wait to read Us Against You
vanmeers's review against another edition
4.0
gotta admit it felt like it was dragging on for ages, so many continuous reminders of ‘this is a small town’ and ‘hockey is really important!’ not to mention the danish narrator wasn’t,,, amazing.
but it really picked up after the rape and it was impossible to put down afterwards. the pay off of all repetitive reminders and character building up until then made sense after. i absolutely was hooked and was compelled by sooo many characters.
so yeah it was maddening how difficult it was to get past the first act of it but it’s so worth it after and i’m definitely continuing the series (also can we talk about how backman just knows how to capture the nuances and diversity in human beings and they all felt fleshed out?? love when male authors can write men and women like real human beings).
but it really picked up after the rape and it was impossible to put down afterwards. the pay off of all repetitive reminders and character building up until then made sense after. i absolutely was hooked and was compelled by sooo many characters.
so yeah it was maddening how difficult it was to get past the first act of it but it’s so worth it after and i’m definitely continuing the series (also can we talk about how backman just knows how to capture the nuances and diversity in human beings and they all felt fleshed out?? love when male authors can write men and women like real human beings).
ddelgado45's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lauracooleyjohnson's review against another edition
4.0
The way Backman creates and evolves his characters is nothing short of amazing. He’s seriously a great author and this is a great book. But why not 5 stars you ask? It probably is unfair of me, but the content is very triggering. It involves lots of toxic masculinity, locker room talk, and rape. But I’m torn: the toxic masculinity is so well written that you almost understand how and why such things have come to be. The novel doesn’t celebrate it certainly, and it shines a light on it in a way that makes me think this should be required reading for high school sports teams. So I absolutely recommend this book. But it comes with trigger warnings. This is not a feel good sports story like Hoosiers or Rudy. And if I have to add the word “but,” after my recommendation then it cannot make five stars on my rating scale.