This book was sent to me by Netgalley for review…intrigue…mystery…going back…living in the present with others who have changed…family dynamics…love…careers…themes running throughout this novel…written by a talented author…

Fredrik Backman is perfection, every word and description is to be savored. Every character is beautifully written. Every relationship insight is spot on (note: the description of Peter and Kira’s marriage.) The Winners is the third in his Beartown series about love, family, friendship, community, sacrifice, addiction, rape, corruption, rivalry and hockey.

“The Winners,” by Fredrik Backman, translated by Neil Smith, Atria Books, 688 pages, Sept. 27, 2022.

The long-awaited conclusion to the Beartown series follows the small Northern Sweden hockey town’s residents as they grapple with change.

There’s an old rivalry between Beartown and the neighboring town of Hed, a rivalry which has always been fought through their ice hockey teams. “You want to understand hockey towns? Then you need to understand that here, sport is about much more than sport.”

Maya Andersson and Benji Ovich, two young people who left in search of a life far from the forest town, come home and joyfully reunite with their closest childhood friends. They can see how much Beartown has changed.

Two years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about: Maya was raped by Kevin Erdahl. He was the best hockey player anyone had ever seen in those parts. Kevin and his family moved away. Maya left to study at the College of Music. Everyone has tried to move on, but there’s something about this place that prevents it.

Benji was once best friends with Kevin. Benji, now 20, drinks too much and smokes too much. Men like Benji die young. And they die violently. In Hed, Johnny, a firefighter, and his wife, Hannah, a midwife, have four children.

Maya’s parents, Peter and Kira, are caught up in an investigation of the hockey club’s murky finances, and Amat—once the star of the Beartown team—has lost his way after an injury and a failed attempt to get drafted into the NHL. Nearby, Matteo, 14, is not interested in hockey. He is mourning his sister Ruth’s death.

Then a severe storm hits both Beartown and Hed. And people return to Beartown when another beloved member of the community dies.

Fredrik Backman’s writing is outstanding. These characters are so real they jump off the page. At its most basic, it is a story of community and survival. You will follow the story better if you first read “Beartown” and “Us Against You.” Fans of the series will savor every page, and you don’t need to be a hockey fan to like it. Don’t let the length deter you; you’ll wish it would go on longer.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

All the Feels. This is truly a work of art, each word in the book had a purpose. The characters are flawed and felt like friends. Perfection. This book is absolute perfection.

wonderful book. 5 stars! Frederik Backman never lets you down! An extremely powerful story. left me speechless ! This is dreamy reading journey for the bookworms who get used to lose themselves inside a well written story.

The Winners is a novel which weaves so many of the character arcs from the previous two novels (Beartown + The Winners) in such a way that reminds the reader how complicated community and personal growth can be. I appreciated the variety of relationships Backman wrote into the novel, from romantic to friendship to familial to professional. Each character is dynamic as they progress through the novel and are faced with internal and external conflicts. The alternating perspectives reminds the reader that there are deep complexities behind the decisions and actions (or lack thereof) which have short- and long-term effects on the character and their community.

The Winners
by Fredrik Backman
Pub Date: Sept. 27, 2022
Atria
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Two years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about. Everyone has tried to move on, but there’s something about this place that prevents it. The residents continue to grapple with life’s big questions: What is a family? What is a community? And what, if anything, are we willing to sacrifice in order to protect them?

As the locals of Beartown struggle to overcome the past, great change is on the horizon. Someone is coming home after a long time away. Someone will be laid to rest. Someone will fall in love, someone will try to fix their marriage, and someone will do anything to save their children. Someone will submit to hate, someone will fight, and someone will grab a gun and walk towards the ice rink.

So what are the residents of Beartown willing to sacrifice for their home?
So many things have changed in two years.
The only thing that didn’t change is lifelong rivalry and hostility between Beartown and Hed. Great book! 5 stars

can't really write how I'm feeling about this book because of major spoilers. But Fredrik Backman, I am just gutted. Backman's writing style is difficult for me - a lot of words, and back and forth. The other thing is seeing how many times people laugh - it is used so many times in the story that it felt repetitive to me. The story of Beartown and Hed continues, and the themes of trauma, dealing with sexual predators, rape, and anger override the story of hockey. There are no real games played in this novel. Although the series comes to a believable conclusion, and I feel that Backman probably agonized over some of the plot lines, I was not 100% satisfied. I wish it could have ended differently. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy.

Phew I feel like I just went through an emotional marathon. Cue the book hangover. I was happy with this conclusion of the Beartown series. While I thought it was too long, I think the payoff was necessary. I didn’t jive with one story line but again, minor. So well written per usual and I’m so sad it’s over.

THE WINNERS is a winner. The author shows humanity at its best and its worst. You don't necessarily have to read the other two Beartown books first, but for those who have, it brings closure to so many issues. It will break your heart, but also give you hope. Paraphrasing one quote that stuck with me: life doesn't go on, life just starts over again with new possibilities and realities. Way too long but still highly recommended.

I've been putting off writing my review for this one. Not because I didn't love it, but because I have so many thoughts and I want to be at least somewhat coherent. This one is heavy, which I knew going in - I've read everything Backman's published in the US, he has a gift for heavy. But, he also has a gift for humor and humanity. This one didn't have as much humor, but lots of humanity. I had to stop and walk away several times because I was crying so hard. It is a beautiful story, as all the Beartown books are. I definitely don't regretting reading it, but I could see how someone could be content stopping at Us Against You. However, if you're a glutton for punishment, you'll be glad to be back in Beartown surrounded by characters that feel like family. Just make sure you bring plenty of tissues.
A small complaint - this one is looong and I'm not sure it needed to be. Some of the political machinations and rehashing of events from the first two books felt overwrought and unnecessary. I think it could have been edited down some, but I'll read anything Backman writes so I pushed passed that to the really good stuff.
Standouts: Sune and Alyssa, Benji, Bobo, the Anderssons, Ana and a new character, Hannah.

I would like to thank the publisher Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC of The Winners by Fredrik Backman. I have to begin this review by admitting that Fredrik Backman is one of my favourite authors and, true to form, it was truly a joy to read this novel, the conclusion to the Beartown trilogy.

What amazes me about Backman is his ability to deal with difficult subjects like sexual abuse, gender identity, gun violence, and discrimination while having at the heart redemption and essential goodness. In an interview Backman did for Us Against Them, he talked about how fundamental it was for him as a writer to be true to the essence of each character, and this really comes through in his writing.

The Winners picks up the story after Us Against You, and it brings in all the characters who were introduced in the first two novels of the trilogy. The trauma introduced in Us Against Them remains, and families struggle to make sense of their new reality. People have left Beartown, as an attempt to escape what has happened there. People left behind attempt to move on with their lives through hockey and competition with Hed, the neighbouring town. And yet, right at the beginning they are hit again with a major storm, a birth and a death.

These events bring the people back to Beartown where they will grow in understanding of each other and the community that draws them. As Backman asks in the book:
Do you want to understand people? Really understand them? Then you need to know all the best that we are capable of.

The Winners is truly the story of ‘the best we are capable of’, not in a sugar coated way but rather in the depths of the messiness of life. And that ‘best we are capable of’ brings out love and redemption, even in the darkest hour—and yes, there are dark hours in this story as well! But in the midst of darkness, the characters are required to put away regrets and focus on hope, that desire to work for the best of a person and love. It is a story that I cried over, but ultimately it is a statement that one can find joy and togetherness that can overcome the many ‘idiots’ and trials put in our lives. Tears and sadness do not have the final word. We are Winners and in that there is joy.

“Life doesn’t go on, it starts again, everything is possible once more. Anything can happen, all the best and all the most beautiful and all the biggest adventures in the world.” I think this could be the credo of Fredrik Backman, and this story is another example of how he brings this to life.
Read The Winners. It can restore your hope, even in the midst of an imperfect world!

I am a huge fan of Backman and was excited to read this book. In hindsight, I only wished that I had re-read Beartown first.

Backman reflects on old characters and introduces a slew of new ones. His writing has a lot of heart and his expert juggling of characters amazes me. A marvel at storytelling. I fell in love with Beartown’s characters and can’t wait to see what Backman comes up with next.

QUICK TAKE: You really have to be a BIG fan of Beartown and Backman to prioritize this 600-page slog. The first 200 pages is just Backman meandering around town during a windstorm and introducing the reader to a bunch of new characters. That's right, no Benji for a veeeery long time. But I adore Beartown, and at this point Backman is an auto-buy author, so even though this beast took me a month to read, I absolutely loved it. I laughed, I cried, I cheered my favorite characters on, and I am sad this is the final book of the trilogy. I will recommend this series to friends and family for years to come. Bravo.

It’s been two years since we readers left Beartown and things have changed. Town people will be back as will some new ones. This is a exceptional ending to this series.
Fredrik Backman will ones again grab at pull at every human emotion possible. The storytelling is once again exquisite and perfect. An Exceptionally rewarding finale.
This is a story to be read and enjoyed. I loved it


Thank you NetGalley and Atria for the electronic copy of this book in exchange for my honesty review.

Beartown is my favorite book of all time, and I loved Us Against You. This final book in the Beartown series broke my heart, and I’m so sad that I will no longer be in Beartown with Benji, Amat, Kira, Maya, Bobo, and Alicia.. The story started off slow for me. It introduced new characters and I wasn’t sure why they were needed. But everything comes together in the 2nd half of the story. Backman wrapped everything up in a way that fit with the Beartown and Us Against You, I am going to miss these characters so much and I can only hope that one of them will get their own book in the future and maybe other characters will pop up.

“This hurts too much to touch with words.” - Bodil Malmsten

This has been a hard handful of days, and I’m not surprised that Fredrik Backman helped me discover a quote that not only sums up my feelings on the Roe v Wade decision being overturned, but also aptly describes how I’m feeling after reading The Winners.

I fell in love with Beartown and it’s many residents (especially Benji, Amat, Bobo, Maya, and Anna) while reading the first two books in this series, and though Beartown and Us Against You both brought me to tears, The Winners had me ugly crying not only as I read it, but even hours later, as I tried to explain it to my husband.

Backman’s characters have always felt so vivid and real to me, and having to say farewell to them after all these years made this book even more touching. A very character-driven read that touches on many heavy and timely topics (suicide, addiction, gun violence, sexual assault, etc.), The Winners both shattered and filled my heart with some of the most heartbreakingly beautiful quotes and thoughts, and though I intended to savor this final Beartown chapter for as long as I could, once I hit the 60-percent point, it was a veritable sprint to the end of this 650+ page book .

No one pulls at my heartstrings quite like Fredrik Backman, and The Winners is absolutely no exception. I read this one with a pit in my stomach and tears streaming down my face, but it was absolutely worth it.

Thank you ever so much to @backmansk @atriabooks @arielestewart and @netgalley for my gifted advance reader galley of this penultimate book. I have loved this series since the very beginning, and though I’m sad to say goodbye to it, I can’t wait to read what Backman writes next. The Winners hits shelves Sept. 27!

I think this is the only series I’ve read that got better and better with each book.

Beartown was good, Us Against You was great and The Winners was incredible. I don’t remember the last time a book emotionally destroyed me. There were endearing moments that had me laughing, but such tender and heartbreaking moments that had me sobbing. I didn’t even realize how massive this book was because I read it on my kindle, but I wanted to take my time with it…I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the good people of Beartown. So many characters have left a lasting impact on me- Bobo, Benji, Kira, Maya, Hannah, Ana, Amat, Peter…need I go on? This was truly the perfect ending to what is now a favorite series of mine. I can only hope HBO gives us an extended series of Beartown.

Thank you Atria Books for this advance reading copy- I can’t wait to buy a physical copy in October 2022.

4.5 stars

The Winners is the third and final book in the Beartown series. At 600+ pages it's a long read and perhaps could have been trimmed a bit in length. But as someone who has loved the series, I also didn't want it to end. Fredrik Backman just gets human nature and that's why his writing resonates with me. As with his other books, be prepared to run the gamut of emotions. It's truly extraordinary how he brought this small Swedish community of diehard hockey fans to life.

Normally, I'd give some sort of synopsis in my review but it feels pointless to do so here. If you liked the first two books, by all means, read The Winners. It has the familiar cast of characters along with some new faces. Comparing the books in the series, I'd say this one is more similar to Us Against You rather than Beartown. All three are good reads but Beartown is the absolute gold standard in my opinion. It was a herculean task to top that book, but the author really did do an admirable job with the sequels.

The Winners is worth reading and this book just went to further cement the writer's status as one of my favorite authors.

I have been anxiously waiting for this final book in The Beartown trilogy - I was truly shocked and absolutely honoured when this early copy arrived in my inbox. Thank you Atria Books!

First I want to say - I’m hope the size of this book won’t deter some people when it’s out in print. This book is a beast - coming in at almost 700 pages - it’s truly giant, but please don’t let that scare you. It took me almost all month to read, but there isn’t a single page that I would do without.

If you’re a fan of Backman’s work - then you know his writing is like no other. His writing style is truly unique, thought provoking and beautiful. Every single sentence has meaning. That shines through this entire book.

Reading this was like coming home to your hometown that you haven’t visited for awhile. You know the people, the places, but it’s all changed a little bit since you’ve been there. The author does a great job of reminding you along the way what happened in the last few books, and how things got to the way they are now.

It was such a pleasure to be back in the presence of all of these characters again: Maya, Kira, Peter, Amat, Bobo, Ramona, Anna, BENJI (I know you’re smiling reading all of their names!!). There are also some new characters that you get to know just as well as the ones you’ve known for what feels like their entire life.


In true Backman fashion, he reveals little foreshadowing gems along the way…you suspect you might know what will happen. I read the entire book with a worried feeling in the pit of my stomach because of it. There’s a lot going on, but it doesn’t feel like it’s too much. I’m being vague but I don’t want to spoil a SINGLE thing for anyone.

This book shattered me. Ripped my heart out and stomped on it. It was truly difficult to say good bye to this cast of characters. I definitely see a reread of the entire series in my future. A perfect end to a perfect series. 🏒