This one would honestly be a 4.5. Backman is a very talented author. I enjoyed how realistic he was in his writing. His characters were brutally flawed, representing a realistic cross-section of humanity. There isn't a lot of frou frou pandering and Backman doesn't shy away from making the reader occasionally uncomfortable. Those who don't enjoy sports should not be turned off by the premise in the least. Yes, hockey is a big focus in the narrative, but it is very well done. It's more of a character study and reflection on both small town life and humanity as a whole.