Where does one begin when it comes to describing an author whose books constantly amaze you to the point you cannot easily put them down for any reason other than an emergency? Fredrik Backman has struck gold with the second book in the Beartown series, Us Against You. After I survived a book daze last year with the series debut, I read another of his works which catapulted Backman into my top 5 of favorite authors. Once I learned he had written a second book in the Beartown series (they are all translated from Swedish) recently, I had to read this next one... and his publisher, Atria, contacted me to see if I was interested. How lucky can a guy get? When I finished it, Backman is now sitting pretty, completely unreachable for a good while, in my top 3 all-time favorite authors.

At first I was a little worried, I must admit. I'm not a big sports fan, and while I loved the first book, could I really become immersed in hockey again? I worked at Madison Square Garden for 10+ years and spent many a night with NY Rangers fans and players. Once I started reading the new book, I also realized the first 15% was a re-hash of the earlier book. It's extremely well-written, so it was easy and smooth, but what did that mean for the rest of the novel? Well that concern quickly disappeared because enter a smooth-talking politician playing games in the background to re-ignite the flames between Hed and Beartown all in the name of getting himself more power. All the earlier characters are back in action, fighting to save the Beartown hockey team, protect Maya AND Kevin (her rapist). What??? What's wrong with people is all I have to say. The words on the pages truly push readers to ask a simple question. Is the attack of one girl worth losing someone who could save an entire town from bankruptcy and possible dismay. Hopefully we all think FIRST about poor Maya, but then you wonder: Do you allow 1 person to keep suffering all in the name of saving the rest? Should the Anderssons just leave Beartown and start over, despite never having done anything wrong? It's questions like this that plague you as you read the book -- yet never ONCE does any character actually ask that. It's all subtle. And I'm not weighing in with my opinion as it's fiction... all meant to transport us to a world of torment and shock.

Enter my favorite character, Benji. He's tragic. He's powerful. He's weak. He's lost. He's yearning for something he can't control. He is trapped between right and wrong. The story focuses on him this time in the same respect as it did Maya last time. While he's not attacked in the same way as she was last time (as he'd kill anyone who tried to hurt him), Benji is abused on so many more levels. But don't worry, he gives back just as much as he gets, and that's why I adore him. He makes mistakes, but he fixes them. He hides, but he's got a plan to emerge more victorious. He loves his sisters and is an honorable man (boy? he's 17/18) we all should respect. But he's gay, and well, you know what that means: Beartown can't support him. Hed will do everything to hurt him. They constantly chant "Fags. Whores. Rapists." Yet deep down, you know they all want to support him. I'm not giving away any spoilers, as we learned he was gay in the first book. I just didn't expect the second to focus on him.

Yet Backman nearly killed me about 2/3 through when disaster happens and I thought for a moment, I can't finish this book. After what he's done to Benji, I'm just done. But I trudged on and I'm so glad I did. I can't think of another author right now who can let me down and build me up so many times in a book... to the point where they could be talking about hockey or pencils and I still feel a passion I rarely feel in life about most things outside of books. I want Beartown to win. I want Peter to get his dignity back. I want the new coach to prove women can be better than men at things. I want it all... and Backman delivers it all -- just never in the way I expect.

Someone loses. A few people actually. And it's harsh. You will cry. You will throw the book. But you will pick it up again because it's become part of you. This must become a movie. I will be the first in line to watch it, and I don't often go to the movies.

There's very little to dislike in this book. You may hate certain characters, but they make you love the story all that much more. You might disagree with a plot line, but it will lead you to the right ending. You may want to strangle a few teenagers, and honestly, it may be okay in this instance. I'm not advocating killing kids, but there are just some people who need to be punished for the things they say or do . (Don't quote me on that!!!)

I'm really left with... PLEASE give us a third book of equal power and humility. I will do anything.

As much as I loved the first one, I love this one better. Except Peter. I get that he is conflicted, but he is just so weak that it is hard to sympathize with him. Everyone else is so well written and characterized that I really think I will run into them while I'm running errands.

Us Against You is set right after Beartown. But you know, if you're a Backman fan, that not all of his timelines run consistently, which is something you probably about his writing as much as I do. So mostly, it is set after Beartown.
We meet a couple of new characters in this sequel and we get to know others better and more intimately. I loved Ramona in Beartown and I really love her here.

I cannot recommend this series enough, especially with Us Against You being even better than Beartown. When "they" say reading fiction helps increase empathy in people, Us Against You is what they had in mind

This sequel shows us what happens to a town in crisis. Beartown is a small town ripped apart, not only by the loss of its heart - the hockey team but also by its soul - the people who have left adrift with nothing to anchor to. Hockey was everything to Beartown, the whole reason people wake up in the morning and with the loss of the team to a neighboring rival town and most of the star players, Beartown just wants to pull up the covers and hide. A new female coach is brought in who just may be able to patch up the team using unconventional methods and a dangerous combination of volatile boys along with the support of the old coach and new management. After some "boys will be boys" pranks, not all committed by boys and other more dangerous events take place it is hard to see if this new team will make it. Marriages will falter, old friendships will be tested and childhood cut short for some. Backman once again seduces us with colorful, yet everyday characters blended with thoughtful phrasing all the while prying our eyes wide open to the effects of hate and stupidity that drives the human race. You don't have to read the first book to enjoy this one but you will be missing the finer points of what led up to these events and denying yourself one beautifully crafted read. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Mr Backman has done it again. This return trip to a small hockey-loving town is absolutely as riveting as the first. The characters are so rich and well-drawn and there is such perfect world building that I can picture every scene effortlessly. This is a must-read for anyone, not just sports fans or fans of Backman’s previous novels.

Hockey in Beartown is everything. The townspeople revolve their whole lives around the hockey season and game schedule. After a devastating previous year the town is dealt another blow when they find out the local team will be disbanded. Most of the players decide to play for the rival team in Hed, but some players choose to stay and save Beartown hockey. Politicians become involved, an unconventional new coach is hired, and new players are brought in. Hed and Beartown play each other twice during the season. The first game was a disaster. Everything is leading up to the last game of the season when Beartown and Hed face each other for the second time. Friendships are once again put to the test as new relationships are formed and old ones are strengthened.

I loved Beartown. Loved. It was my favorite book I read last year. When people ask me what their next book should be that it what I suggest. I was hoping to love the sequel just as much but it didn't live up to my expectations. It became too political for me instead of focusing on the characters that I loved so much. I wasn't as emotionally invested and wanted more character development. When I was reading the Richard Theo parts I found myself bored. It took me longer to get into this book as a result. At times it felt like I was reading the news. I wanted more of Amat and Bobo in this book, they were my favorites. I still loved Backman's style of writing, however I did notice in this book a ton of one sentence foreshadowing. It became a bit much. Especially with Ana and Vidar. He must have mentioned how their love would be cut short at least 5-7 times before something actually happens. I would have preferred that to just happen at the end instead of expecting it the whole time.

Overall I would recommend it but it won't be my "go to" recommendation like Beartown was.

A huge thank you to both the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me with an ARC of this novel to read and review.

Beartown was one of my favorite reads last year and I have been singing its praises for months. I was surprised to learn Mr. Backman had intended to write a trilogy since I felt Beartown was perfect on its own. The sequel, Us Against You very much follows the same formula used in Beartown but somehow it felt forced and less authentic.

The story picks up where Beartown ended. Like book one, Backman takes a long time to set the scene and introduce his characters. We are treated to both old favorites and new residents and locals. I found the beginning to be drawn out and felt it took a long time to actually get to the heart of book two.

There are plenty of twists, heartbreaks, disappointments and surprises along the way but ultimately this book fell short for me. I'm still interested to see how this story wraps up and I always enjoy a visit to this special community.

I had a hard time rating this book. Not because it isn't well written, because it is. Maybe it is because it makes me think TOO much. I don’t want to believe there are so many people filled with hatred and prejudice, and I want happy ever after. I want Beartown to be this idyllic town, where everyone watches out for everyone else. And they do. Those people are there. But there is still so much sadness and bullying--and that just tore at my heart and made me angry. Kids leaving hate notes in lockers at school, people trying to force Anderrson to move away by sending moving vans to their house, kids walking around with guns in the woods, grown men chanting hate words at hockey games, and absent parents or kids having to take care of their parents because they can’t care for themselves--let alone their children. And that isn’t even the worst of what happens in this small town. It made me sad, angry and frustrated, and that my friend is what is supposed to happen when you read a good book. If the characters and the story are that compelling, you have to give it a five star. That is what makes this book so real, so believable and the characters so authentic.

This book picks up where Bear Town left off. It is just a few months later and the town is still trying to recover from the ramifications of what happened. Most of the same people are in the book, but the focus is on some different characters. You know something is going to happen, that someone is going to die, because he lets that be known pretty soon; but you don't know who and you don’t know how and you don’t know when. Backman drops hints in his books by making full out statements, such as he did in Beartown by letting us know that Maya will eventually become a songwriter and performer, and we continue to know the future of many of these characters. I don’t know if this story continues, but there certainly could be a third book and if so, I’m sure it will be just as good.

Fredrick Backman….you, sir, can write.

Backman does it again. A rich and compelling read which his fans will adore.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Beartown" by Fredrik Backman and was looking forward to this follow up when I saw the Advanced Reader Copy (thank you netgalley.com, as well as the author and publisher!) was available. And I did enjoy this novel as well, but not quite as much. Perhaps I was now too familiar with the author's literary devices, or perhaps the element of surprise wasn't there. It's well written and insightful, but I think I would have preferred to let Beartown stand alone.

I was nervous for Us Against You because I loved Beartown and didn't feel that it needed a sequel. This one was harder to get into, but Backman has a way with words and characterization that he can do no wrong in my eyes. Once again a tear jerker.

*Thanks toNetgalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This should not have been a book I picked up. I do not know anything about ice hockey and the paranoia almost that surrounded the game in this small town of Beartown was not something I could understand!

Having said that, the petty jealousies, the envy and finally the strong emotions that tie people down to a town, a thing or in this case to a sport was hard for me to understand. The town was overshadowed by the sport and the whole book is about how the sport controlled everyone's lives, their attitudes and how they wanted things to work out. That money was involved was obvious but the sport overshadowed it all.

That pranks and minor jealousies could erupt into this with one person dead is quite imaginable but the story did not do anything very much for me. It was almost a DNF but I plodded on. I get books with a lot of difficulty and I appreciate that publishers send them on to us, so I think it is an obligation to give it a fair go.

Considering my negative review, this review will only go on my blog mid May 2018. I did not post on Goodreads or Amazon.

This is the sixth Fredrik Backman book I read. In less than three years he’s become one of my favourite writers, so it’s always exciting to read something new from him.

Us Against You continues to delve into the lives of some of Beartown’s inhabitants. We are acquainted with many of them from his previous novel, Beartown (also known as Scandal in other countries).

Again, at the centre of this novel we have the Beartown Hockey Team manager – Peter Andersson, his lawyer wife, Kira, their kids, Maya, 16 and Leo, 12. What happened to Maya in the past year still affects her, her family and, to a certain extent, the entire town. The only thing that makes Beartown tick is hockey, but they’re about to lose that as well. Many players had moved to the bigger neighbouring town, Hed. There’s conflict between the two towns stemming from hockey rivalry but also due to socio-economic issues. Add a sociopathic, master manipulator politician to the mix, and you’ve got yourself an explosive mixture.

We come across some of the hockey players we met before: Benji, the excellent hockey player, who’s in the closet; Amat – the immigrant, very talented player and his best friend, Bobo, hardworking, less talented but with a heart of gold. Benji gets more play time on the pages of this novel, I personally didn’t mind, as he was intriguing in so many ways. There are some new characters, who are given more or less air-time.

I loved the pacing of the book and how Backman kept adding layer, upon layer, upon layer, creating a tower of tension about to topple.

This is another ambitious novel that deals with trauma, parenting, friendship, small town mentalities, gay issues, sexism, and politics. Oh, and some hockey.

While I agree with every single message of the book, I did find this novel a bit too sanctimonious – it pains me to say that, but that’s how I felt. Also, I would have preferred he’d dialled-down the melodrama. In saying all that, I adore the guy - Backman is a Renaissance man – I don’t say that lightly.

As always, I cannot wait to see what he comes up with next. His writing is a treat which I hope to indulge in for many years to come.

I typically really enjoy Fredrik Bachman's books so I was thrilled to see that he had a new one coming out. <i>Us Against You</i> is a sequel to 2016's <i>Beartown</i>, a book that kind of broke the Bachman mold but that I enjoyed very much. The sequel was also good, although difficult to read in some parts.

Most of the characters in this book are well drawn and fairly likable, even the less likable characters are understandable, which I like. All the characters are drawn in sympathetic ways. Benji was one of my favorites in <i>Beartown</i> and continues to be a favorite in the sequel. One gripe I have with the book is that the Benji character is in significant distress and even seems to threaten (or possibly attempt) suicide at one point. Despite his obvious struggles, no on in his life seems interested in getting him help. In fact, his suicidal tendencies area almost romanticized.

I have a great deal of struggle with the Kira Andersson character as well. Peter and Kira's marriage seems to be falling apart and the solution that is presented is for Kira to completely give and and even lose herself and her goals. Everything in their lives and marriage revolves around Peter and hockey. It is very lopsided and even a small resolution at the end of the book doesn't begin to address the marital problems presented in the book.

Maya Andersson is also troubling. Despite continuing to struggle deeply as a result of being raped, (that whole story line is in <i>Beartown</i>) she and her family keep presenting falsely positive fronts to one another. She has been given no support or assistance from her family and really seems to be falling through the cracks. Bachman keeps throwing in small references to her future that, I guess, are supposed to make the reader feel better about the absolutely miserable and unrelenting sadness that Maya's life has become.

And don't get me started on Leo. I just want to parent that child. Someone should.

I have feelings about this book, you can tell. That's how you know it's a good book!

I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review. It comes out June 5, 2018.

Beartown was one of my top five books of 2017 and </b> Us Against You </b> I'm happy to say is definitely making the same ranking for 2018.

After finishing, I took the night to collect my thoughts. Backman makes so many subtle observations about relationships and group dynamics that even a day later I'm still processing.

Benji, Maya, Peter, Ana, Kira... They all make appearances in Backman's new release and again when they shattered, so did I. Backman begins just a few weeks after he left off in Beartown. Maya is still healing, Kira and Peter are still trying to cope, Benji is trying to sort of where he fits in. Nothing in Beartown will ever be the same when Backman is done telling the story this time, yet nothing will seemed to have changed either. The Pack will always be there, hockey will always be the pride of the small forest town, and while some faces will come and go there will always be those there that remain the same.

Fredrik Backman did not disappoint. This story was captivating from the very first chapter. Though the subject of sexual assault is serious and complex this book manages to be witty and entertaining with out being crass or condescending. I love family dynamics and Backman is a master at capturing the raw and real.

The sequel to Beartown, Us Against You is similarly dark, but with moments of humor and joy. The town is on the verge of losing it's hockey team, and struggling economically as well. In the midst of the sports related drama, a Machiavellian city councilor is involved in bringing industry to town while playing all the different factions (political and sports rivals) against one another. Families are struggling in the aftermath of the events of the previous book, friendships have become fragile and threaten to shatter. Mr. Backman brings us relatable characters to cheer and to mourn. I can't recommend Us Against You highly enough.

I received the English version, Us Against Them, as an ARC from the publisher and net galley.com

I was so excited to be chosen to read this. Beartown is one of my all time favorite books (and I am a huge Frederik Bachman fan in general). This book continues the second part of what is going to be a trilogy with Beartown being the first book.

It was nice to fall back into the same characters as before and hear about their lives continuing. Beartown is not an easy place to live and all the characters are damaged in some way. In this book, there are new sets of tragedies that befall the characters and the town. You definitely don't have to be a hockey person to enjoy this book.

Frederik Bachman's insights on parenting and just human nature in general are spot on at times. This book could make you cry and make you fearful, but it is well written and well done.

I cannot wait for the 3rd book to come out! Thanks for the opportunity to read it!

I feel like I could almost copy my review of Beartown, because I have very similar reactions to both books. I was happy to have the opportunity to read an advance copy of the sequel, Us Against You. Once again, I could do without so much hockey, but Backman makes his readers care so much for the characters that I couldn’t put the book down once I got into it. It is a very intense read, and worrying about the characters made it very suspenseful. I found reading about many of the disturbing and depressing issues in the book difficult; this was not a happy book, but the interpersonal relationships made it worthwhile. There are many ethical issues which are addressed, and it would be a great choice for book discussion groups.

Unlike Beartown, in Us Against You there are more tears and people are more emotional. At the same time, people are crueler and the atmosphere is more charged. The novel felt heavy and I kept wondering if it could get any worse. It could and it did. The turn the events took made me gasp quite a number of times, it made me stop and reread, but it definitely made me turn one more page.

It was interesting to see how some of the characters I met in Beartown evolved. A few new ones are introduced, and one character in particular is so bad, it adds to the gut-wrenching feeling. To do this, however, he uses a politician, and for this political aspect I did not care too mcuh. In the end, it didn't influence the novel very much, except make it longer and winding. Some characters were introduced too late to fully get to know and like/dislike them, and some characters were just plain extra (see: Teemu and Vidar). I did like how he created tension by presenting the two teams, the Beartown hockey team (the greens) and the Hed hockey team (the reds) as enemies; you see the lows and the highs of the human nature as a result. I also liked how he presented the obvious "bad" characters from different perspectives to see how easy it is to judge, and they aren't as bad as you're tempted to think.

Us Against You seemed at times unlikely. Not every action the characters engaged in had authenticity, and I am sure people don't usually speak like that, but in the cold Beartown people are so different that you let this slide. Speaking of the town, it's so unlike any city or town I have read about. Even compared with Hed, the other town in the novel, it seems very different and out of place.

The shorter chapters are so full with emotion (and I don't like this cheesy word, nor cheesy emotions) and dripping with feeling, that you can't close this book untouched. Of course, you have to give the writing style some time. I see how Fredrik Backman's writing may not appeal to every reader, but once you see how he uses language smoothly and apparently effortlessly to draw you in, you can't help but applaud him. There are moments when you expect the plot to go in a certain way, but he shifts it and it takes a different direction.

I must say, though, I am not sure I want there to be a #3. (Although of course I will read it!) The story dragged a little bit in this novel, and if I think about it, not much was actually going on. There isn't really a happy ending, but better times for some of the characters are hinted at. Maybe Beartown is made to be tough, but without being a winner and champion. I am afraid that another book in the series will be just a commercial one, without the depth Beartown had. Comparing Beartown and Us Against You, the first one is much better. It was good to see how the characters recovered from/dealt with what happened in the first book, but we don't need to see them more than we already did, despite the unfinished feel the second book has. Also, the moments where the author has to make a paranthesis to help everyone catch up with the characters and events in the first book are annoying.

For fans of Fredrik Backman, yes, you must read this. It does add a new layer to the story, albeit not a crucial one. I hope this is it with Beartown; we know the people and the town, but farewell. I like the author's writing better in stand alone novels. Harsh? Maybe, but I like to think I'm a picky reader.

I will one day sue Fredrick Backman for all the emotional pain he has given me. This is his most painful book he has written. The citizens of Beartown are still cruel to people who should be treated better. Last book and part of this book they showed how they felt about rape victims, now they show their homophobia. This book is so beautifully written that I wanted to highlight parts.
My one problem was that we had a villain in a book that didn't need one person to play the part because two towns were already acting villainous enough.