𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 5/5⭐️

Beartown by Fredrik Backman is the first book in the Beartown series. Beartown is a small Swedish town that is obsessed with hockey. The town is shrinking in the passing years but had an opportunity to grow again when their junior hockey team is in the finals. 

I honestly had no idea what this book was really about going into it. This does have a really slow start as it introduces the town and the characters. Sets up the scene and what it means to live in Beartown. 

I am so glad I stuck with it though because wow! I could not even pick a favorite quote because I think it just had such a great message. I would say this is very character driven that touches on some pretty sensitive and heart breaking topics. 

The amount of pressure placed on these boys to play hockey and live up to this expectation is truly insane. The emphasis on right and wrong, good and bad, and doing what is right is so palpable. 

I highly recommend this book to those who like emotionally charged character driven literary fiction.