Us Against You: A Novel (Beartown Series) Paperback – March 5, 2019

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman is a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of the power dynamics within a community and the consequences of prioritizing success over morality.The novel is the second in the series set in a small, hockey-obsessed town in Sweden where the local team is once again the center of the community. With the arrival of a new coach comes a “new” vision for the team and the town, and the community is forced to confront difficult questions about loyalty, inclusion (and exclusion), and the power of groups (both positive and negative).One of the standout elements of the novel is the exploration of the themes of community and belonging. The novel delves into the ways in which people are connected to one another and the importance of finding a sense of purpose and connection. The characters in the novel are all searching for their place in the world, and the story explores the ways in which they find and create meaning in their lives.In addition to further developing the compelling characters, the themes of the novel are thought-provoking and poignant. For me, Us Against You was a powerful read with themes and questions that have lingered with me long after I finished the last page. Fredrik Backman is a talented storyteller, who again boldly explored complex issues and the fundamental aspects of the human condition, with enough new plot to not seem redundant.As with the first novel in this series, I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven stories with thought-provoking themes.

I loved Beartown so was thrilled that there would be more to this story. As sequels go, this was good. Not great, but good. Backman focused on many of the same characters (Benji, Bobo, Maya, Ana, Peter, Kira, Ramona), but many he just touched on (Amat, Kevin, David, Jeannette, Sune), and some he didn’t mention at all (Amat’s mother, club president.) He also brought in a new cast of characters (hockey coach, Pack members/brothers, politician, five old men and their wives), which was refreshing. Also, Beartown was to rape as Us Against You is to ignorant attitudes about sexuality. I speak from experience that Beartown got rape and its aftermath right. SO. MUCH. RIGHT. I can’t speak from experience about Us Against You, but it felt right—living in the closet, coming out against your will, the ignorance and small mindedness of a community...that felt authentic to me. So...-No, Us Against You wasn’t perfect. I didn’t get closure in some ways I wanted; I got closure in other ways I wasn’t seeking. But always, always, ALWAYS Backman tells stories the way I want, with heart and prose that move me. Backman’s stories give me the feels. I’ll read everything he ever writes. I am 99% sure I highlight more passages in his books than any other—his words and phrases are honest and heartbreakingly beautiful.

5 ⭐️ - it was perfect!🎶 Happiness - Taylor Swift“When you strip away all the nonsense surrounding it, the game is simple: everyone gets a stick; there are two teams, two nets. Us against you.”Us Against You was a stunning, heartbreaking, consuming continuation of the Beartown series. This one started a little slow in the beginning since it has a decent amount of recap from book 1, but I was happy to be back with these characters and immediately feeling an array of emotions as their new rivalry unfolded.Backman has a way of writing such complex characters that makes it difficult for me to hate even the very worst of them. I feel like I know this town and these people, so when they face difficulty or challenges or grief I feel it right alongside them. Despite being a hockey-centric series, it’s more so just an achingly realistic depiction of the human experience. Happy endings aren’t always reality, and there’s something tragically beautiful about being able to escape into a series like this. I’ve met some of my most favorite fictional people in Beartown, and while I’m scared for my mental state to read book 3, I’m excited to continue to see these characters grow.What you can expect:📚 contemporary fiction🏒 small hockey town👫 character driven novel😭 emotional story🌪️ consuming, atmospheric writing🧠 mental health representation⌛️ coming of age

I was thrilled that my long wait for the sequel to the wonderful Beartown had finally come to an end. After finishing Beartown, my favourite book of fiction in 2017, I was impatient to learn what was next for the town and its people. I felt a close connection with the deeply drawn characters. Love some and hate some; they were always intriguing and compelling. The author has a great understanding of human nature. Us Against You doesn’t disappoint. It was possibly even better than Beartown.Fredrik Backman writes with emotion and is an exceptional story teller. His characters come to life on the pages and in our hearts and minds. There is humor but also great tragedy and passages of wisdom. At times heartwarming, but also heart wrenching and heartbreaking, I found it an intense reading experience as there was foreboding throughout which made me worry that something bad lay ahead on the pages.This is the story of a small town in decline set in the Swedish forests. The people live for hockey and the local games are the highlight of the lives of players and their many fans. This should not deter any reader. I have no interest in hockey, but none is needed. It is about so much more: it is about the lives of people and the good and bad choices they make. It involves family connections, friendship, love, hate, rivalry, violence. Sometimes I had to interrupt my reading to wipe tears from my eyes.I have heard there will be a third book and hope it is true. I want to know the future for Maya, Ana, Benji and his sisters, Ramona, Peter, Amat, Leo, Bobo, Zackell, Alicia, Teemu and all the others I have to come to know and love. Have already ordered a book as a gift and one for myself. Now for the long wait for the next book in the series!