In Northern Sweden sit two towns which are the fiercest of rivals. While both communities have deeply competitive junior hockey teams, only one, Beartown, is in possession of a generational talent. The talent in question is the key to unlocking Beartown’s economical recovery following the collapse of its local factory, the town’s largest employer. If the young man succeeds, he brings the potential for new hockey schools, training centers and arenas; a whole new industry. But what happens if he commits a crime? Will the town look the other way in favor of the greater good? Or will there be a reckoning the likes of which have never been seen before?

BEARTOWN is my second Backman read following MY GRANDMOTHER SENDS HER REGARDS AND APOLOGIES, which I wasn’t crazy about. I was hesitant, but since this one was about hockey, I thought I’d give it a shot. It doesn’t hurt that it also seems to be universally loved either. I’m glad I did because this book damn near tore my heart out.

BEARTOWN’s strength lies in its wide cast of characters, many of whom are fully realized thanks to the novel’s generous length. Benji, Amat and Ana are personal favorites of mine and obviously the book’s central figure, Maya Anderson, is memorable due to her tragic story. Backman’s tendency for the dramatic could come off as over-the-top if not for his incredible talent. His ability to stick the landing at the end of each chapter with just the perfect heart-wrenching line kept me reading long into the night.

BEARTOWN was one of the best books I read in 2023 and although I didn’t see the need for sequels (US AGAINST THEM, THE WINNERS), I looked forward to reading them (I did read them and reviews will follow).