It has been two years since the events of ‘Us Against You’ and we jump right back into the lives of the residents of Beartown and Hed as a storm devastates both towns.

I am heartbroken...
It is rare for books to effect me so deeply, but Backman’s Beartown trilogy, and his stand-alone ‘A Man Called Ove’ just broke me. I will re-read these four books over and over again throughout my life. I will remember certain lines or passages as if they were lyrics from my favourite song. I will purchase them in hard copy, e-book and audiobook format so that I always have them to hand.

Backman and his brilliant translator Niel Smith have really created a masterpiece with this trilogy. Perfection!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a small story about big questions. It's a story about family, community, life. It starts with a storm and a death but how does it end?

I liked Beartown eventually and I thought Us Against You was ok..but hear me out...I loved The Winners! It is surely a rarity that the third book in a series is as strong if not stronger than the previous but for me this was exactly what I found. It wasn't even as if I just knew the characters more so found a greater affinity with them as my favourites in this book were new additions to the story in the form of almost invisible Matteo and hardworking married couple Johnny and Hannah. This time around my visit to Beartown was very atmospheric as the character's lives were as stormy as the weather conditions. For such a chunky book I flew through the pages like the proverbial wind especially as wisps of what was to come indicated that dark times were ahead. The Beartown trilogy is the only of Backman's books I have read so I am not sure if this is a signature touch but I have certainly never read such quotable books. Throughout the stories he includes such relatable and inspirational quotes that not only fit the scene perfectly but also make you look at the way you live your own life. I have never seen this done before these books and I personally love it. The Winners is a tour de force of a novel with a strong ensemble of characters you can't help but root for.

Fredrik Backman shows he is a master of the written word and you immediately feel as if you know his characters; they are what makes this book. This novel is ostensibly about an ice hockey team but it is so much more than that. A veritable hoard of themes are explored here including class, love, sacrifice, forgiveness, family, and racism to name only a few and all are touched upon with exquisiteness and insight. Some books prompt you to remember why reading novels is important and this is one such novel.

This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Simon & Schuster via NetGalley.

Fredrik Backman is incapable of writing a bad book! This is another totally perfect novel about Beartown. The issues he raises are worldwide in exposing our human tribal nature and making the reader think deeply about their own current issues whether this be family, neighbour or football team, we are all guilty in some degree to these deep seated human feelings. The characters are all like any one of us, slightly flawed and slightly amazing. However, the way in which this author deals with all of these emotions is worthy of praise as an author, a philosopher and a psychologist. I personally found this to be the easiest and the hardest novel to read EVER, I found myself re-reading many passages as they meant so much to me and I needed to really absorb completely the meaning and intent. I will be getting all of Mr Backman’s novels in hard copy as I want to honour and re-read all of them….often.
Thank you Netgalley, publisher and especially Mr Fredrick Backman for the honour of reading this in exchange for an honest review.

The Winners is the third novel in the Beartown series by Swedish blogger, columnist and author, Fredrik Backman. It is translated from Swedish by Neil Smith. It begins with a wild storm that lashes the rival towns of Beartown and Hed: Ana steps in for her drunken father to escort Hed midwife, Hannah to a woman in labour stranded in the forest by a fallen tree; a baby boy is born.

Peter Andersson, mulling over the emptiness of his life without hockey, waits in vain for his wife Kira to come home from work; angry and disaffected, fourteen-year-old Matteo roams the street; Fatima is urged by the caretaker to abandon her cleaning and go home; and Tails only concern is to save the twelve enormous green Bears flags with which he has adorned the ice rink. And someone dies.

In Hed, the ice rink collapses; fireman Johnny looks after his children while his wife attends an emergency birth; Kira avoids going home, spending the night in her dark office; elsewhere, Maya believes she has come to terms with what many in Beartown term “the scandal”, until she almost stabs an innocent in a poorly lit park; for two years, Benji has been living a non-hockey, nomadic life, drunk and free and far from Beartown; and a call from family summons each of them home.

In the aftermath: Amat finally breaks his self-imposed exile and starts running again; Matteo’s parents bring home the remains of his sister; two funerals are arranged and one is well-attended; decisions are made by “interested parties” about road-clearing priorities that clearly involve political machinations; a two-year-long truce ends; and a girl from Hed falls in love with a hockey coach from Beartown.

As well, a journalist turns up looking for evidence of corruption, and with the Beartown Hockey Club in his sights, manipulating an unsuspecting source with benign queries; a lawyer is surprised to be offered the newly-vacated place on the Beartown Hockey Club management committee; a factory accident has tragic consequences.

The Beartown coach and the former manager check out a potential new player; a guitar-playing teen falls for a hockey player; and a beloved dog is killed. Despite lots of underhandedness, heightened rivalry and manipulation, there is also new love and friendship and mentoring, sibling affection and kindness.

But from the very start, Backman continually reminds the reader that things will not end well for a certain character. And with every small thing that happens, the need for vengeance in that angry young teen grows, until he’s finally angry enough to steal a gun. And use it.

The story of the storm, the aftermath and the events of the two years preceding are told in straight narrative and flashbacks, from numerous perspectives, including that of a Hed family. He offers a detailed description of “the way everything and everyone is tied to everything and everyone else by invisible hooks and threads of relationships and loyalties and debts.” Sometimes Backman just uses a tiny vignette to great emotional effect: tissues will be needed.

The best of the gems of wisdom and insight with which Backman endows his characters could easily fill a close-typed page, so only a few are shared here: “fear turns some people into heroes but most of us only reveal our worst sides when we’re caught in its shadow” and “children open floodgates inside us, upward as well as down. You’ve never felt so happy, and never felt so scared” and “If no one knows who you are, you can be whoever you want.” Another moving, thought-provoking and uplifting read from Fredrik Backman.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK.

PLEASE NO ONE SHOUT AT ME 😅

I enjoyed this book just enough, and I'm more furious about that than anyone else can be. I think the problem is that this story has been stretched over a trilogy and this book could have been literally half the length. The entirety if the first two books is in this one. You could just skip to read this one. For the reader that has heard all this before many, many times its a frustrating reading experience.

I did switch to audio half way through and that was better - though, I listened to it going about my day then kept crying so, swings and roundabouts.

That is what is brilliant about this book though, the thing that kept me reading - god does it pull at my heart. I needed to know what happened to the handsome boy with a wild heart and he did not let me down. The book really shows the way in which these fantastically realised characters love each other, support each other, grieve each other. We know all the ways in which they are connected and will carry each other in their hearts for the rest of their lives like touch points for their sanity and emotions.

I just wish this had been published as a duology. Much as I appreciate that Backman achieves so much, particularly in making the reader truly reflect on all the ways people are connected and change each others lives, much as I ADORE these characters beyond belief, it's just far, far too long for what it offers the reader of the full trilogy.

Benji Ovich, the bravest bastard around ❤️

an excellent read and conclusion to the Beartown trilogy. It’s actually not that easy going and a lot of dark subject matter is covered but it’s worth getting through it for the payoff.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this book in exchange for my review.

I love books by this author but did not realise this was part of a trilogy so though I liked it I reserve some judgement until I have read the other in the series

"We have nothing but stories here."
"The stories will eventually become so intertwined that if you tug at one tiny thread at one end, you tear open the stitches holding all our wounds together at the other end."

The Winners is the final installment in the Beartown trilogy and through his storytelling, Fredrik Backman has weaved his magic once again. The residents of rival towns Beartown and Hed are once again revisited and we see how their lives carry on, two years later.

Backman really knows how to tell a story, so much so that this book was just under 700 pages long and took me a fair while to read. There were times when I honestly did find it tedious, but it was all worth it in the end. The climax was heartbreaking and left me a complete emotional mess.

Backman writes with sheer brilliance. He knows how to grab the reader and fully immerse them into his writing. He brings the characters to life effortlessly and leaves the reader with a profound impact.

Well, the maestro has struck again. What a fitting finale to one of the most brilliant piece of literature that has even been created!

Honestly, how can our poor hearts cope with Backman's writing? I found it impossible to handle this kind of heart-rendering storytelling💔.

Instead of synopsis, I prefer to describe the multiple threads we follow here - the main one of course is hockey and the towns of Beartown and Hed, the other threads being the two clubs' survival, the role of the council and its investigation by journalists and finally the character portrayals of Kira, Peter, Maya, Amat, Benji, Ana, Tails and the new addition of Johnny and Hannah's family from Hed.

For Beartown and Hed, the obsession with hockey and the animosity it generates between then is unparalleled. Hockey is their heartbeat, the basic way of life. It is this deep-seated hatred, after a two year cooling period combined with the question of their very existence, town politics and a disturbed teenage boy, that give rise to most of what happens in this story.

There are also a few background sub-stories that add to this intricate and multi-layered plot. The descriptions of Benji and Ana’s homecoming, the circumstances surrounding them, Kira and Peter’s struggle, the test of loyalties, the violence, the moral dilemmas, the hope, loss, grief and ultimately the triumph of unity in diversity will all squeeze our hearts and never let go.

There is a certain complexity to Backman's writing, yet at the same time a beautiful simplicity. The way he lays before us the crux of life involving love, family, friendships and relationships is just otherworldly.

In my opinion, we can only appreciate the depth of his understanding of human behaviour and psychology, as well as his keen observation, if we’ve read his other books. So much of what he says are highly relevant to all our everyday lives and I found myself just nodding to the simple yet profound wisdom.

In other words, no book lover must miss this series.

Thanks NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for the ARC!

Backman has managed to give a very beautifully written finale to the Beartown trilogy. This story will make you feel bot fulfilled and empty.

I’d say that this is a must pick if you’ve enjoyed Backman’s previous books, but can also be read as a stand alone for the first time. The beginning of the book gives a great overview in terms of what happened in Beartown and its characters, whilst also introducing some new ones.

I believe that it’s important to mention that this is not an easy read and I would strongly recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving into it.

The return to Beartown and the concluding book of this series. I have been waiting, for what feels like a long time to return. A quick google tells me it is five years since Us Against You was published and six since Beartown was published. The Winners opens in the immediately, familiar location. There is a lot of recounting the stories of before and reintroducing of characters. I welcomed this has it been five years since I had read of the residents of this fictional Swedish town however if you have read the preceding
two books more recently, this may be a little tedious.

The Winners comes in at under just 700 pages. However, while it's easy to read, it is perhaps a smidgen too long. After becoming reacquainted with the characters from the previous books and the introduction of some new ones, the book pinballs from one character to the next, weaving their stories, sharing their dramas, peppered with Backman's wisdom and highlighting the beauty of ordinary life. The book opens with a storm ravaging Beartown and the book circles and swirls towards a tragedy at the end (this is not a spoiler as its mentioned throughout).

I enjoyed The Winners. I liked meeting the characters of Beartown again and seeing their lives progressing and all the mentions of their future lives. There is excellent storytelling within centering on family, community, rivalry, ice hockey, loss, hope and love, all written with heart. It is obvious the author deeply cares about these characters and much like I am prone to doing myself when talking about my children, there is perhaps too much detail at times that doesn't necessarily further the story. Two thirds in the book faltered a little for me but fought its way back to a deeply satisfying and fitting conclusion to which, overall is very much a trilogy worth reading.
Perhaps my expectations were too high, but The Winners is not as good a book as Beartown and Us Against You, it veered a little too far into over sentimentality and lacked some of the darker elements which worked so well to balance the beauty in the other books. The ending soared back to make this a 4 star read for me.

It's a official! Backman can't write a bad book. This was a befitting continuation and even though it's been a while since I read the last one, I got pulled back into the world immediately. What an experience!

Another marvel of a book from this author, and a truly fitting end to an immensely emotional, impactful and outstanding series!

This Beartown series has been a truly emotional rollercoaster of a read! The author has an amazing gift of making you part of the community that you're reading about so you feel every punch to the gut of all that the inhabitants go through - and in Beartown they go through a lot!!

Picking up 2 years after the last book, this throws you straight back in to witness yet more trauma for the locals, having to deal with a major storm, the death of a much loved member of the community and the aftershocks still of the events from Book 1. And still at the heart of the book are the goings on of the ice hockey teams that unite and divide so many people. It festers amongst those who were at the centre of it all, and the ripples effect everyone and it's just so devastating and dramatic to read the goings on via the viewpoints of a number of characters. How they try to move on but the scars are never too far away and how it has changed them all. All of their lives have changed for ever and this book captures in stunning detail just how so.

Sport still plays a huge part of their lives and adding corruption to the mix is never going to end well for anybody. It also shows how it can unite at times, and there's also that sense of characters doing what they can to survive - either by shouting loudly or staying quiet for their own sanity sake. So many characters in this book have such strong storylines that you're left gasping for breath sometimes by the constant turmoil that so many have to face and combat.

I have adored this series despite it making me sob uncontrollably and feel anger at the injustices that many have faced, but then pride at their bravery and spirit. A masterclass in writing and I will continue to rave about this series forever!! Thankyou Fredrik Backman!!

I love this series and the world of Beartown, and this is a beautiful finale to the series. Backman has so many fantastic one-liners sprinkled throughout the book – although some did seem to feel a little repetitive in this title. One of my favourite things Backman does is to really zoom into the lives of ordinary people – someone may be on the sidelines in one scene and then later you know their entire lives. And his way of depicting the ordinary & extraordinary love of partners, friends, family – it's beautiful.

I've never cared much about ice hockey but this book could easily change my mind!!

The Winners is the perfect final book in a searingly brilliant trilogy. Fredrik Backman is again flawless as he describes ordinary people’s foibles, passions and behaviour. He made me cry, high-five and laugh out loud. Rarely have I enjoyed a book (and the previous two in the Beartown trilogy) at such a gut level. I fiercely loved so many of the characters (oh, Benji!) and they will all live with me forever.
Although ostensibly a book about ice hockey, in a town obsessed with the sport, it’s about so, so much more. If you’re totally uninterested in the sport, please don’t make the mistake of letting that put you off. Hockey is merely an analogy for life and business and community, so this is not a story about the sport, but about the very essence of being human.
The Winners continues the story of a small Swedish community, surrounded by forest, and the lengths they will go to to protect their town, lifestyle and families. It’s partly an indictment of society and partly a celebration of family and community.
The writing is poetic, poignant, insightful, sometimes funny and always authentic. Backman tackles serious themes, but ever so gently. His writing is understated, but powerful and profound. He uses so many brilliant devices, such as having the Beartown community comment on events, or working the epilogue into the story to introduce a feeling of dread, or let us know how things are going to turn out way into the future.
Brilliantly translated by Neil Smith, this is a highly recommended five star read.

This is not a perfect book but this is a book that talks to your emotions and involves you in a rollercoaster of happiness and sadness.
If you loved Beartown you will surely love The Winners and will be sad to say goodbye.
Backman delivers a compelling novel that talks about something that is common to people everywhere even if the book is set in Sweden.
Take your time and read this series and you will fell in love with the storytelling, the people, and the places.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Fantastic! I’m sure many readers, particular fans of the series, will love this too, even if it did have me in tears, and whilst this is a long read, the pages simply flew by. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Why do I do this to myself. Every single book by this author has tugged my heartstrings and I've ended up sobbing. This is no different so have tissues handy.
We are back in the forest. Things between Beartown and Hed are still strained.
In a faraway place, Benji receives news of a death and packs his bags. Maya receives the same news in the big city and also packs her bags. All roads lead home.
An investigation by the local newspaper into the funding of the Beartown rink causes headaches for Tails, but could implicate other innocent parties.
We meet Johnny, Hannah and their family. Amat has been to the NFL draft, but is back and hasn't been training.
Sune is helping 7 year old Alice with her hockey. Mumbles the goalie feels like he is fitting in.
Matteo stays in the shadows like a wraith, plotting his vengeance.
All the stories run parallel and converge in a terrible conclusion.
The Winners is a winner for me.

As usual, excellent storytelling and great character development. Any good Backman novel is like watching a ball rolling in circles, faster and faster until it reaches its goal with a satisfying finale. However, this one was so freaking long and repetitive (especially after two books in the same series). I honestly felt so relieved when nearing the end that I wonder if we ever really needed a Beartown trilogy...