The Winners by Fredrik Backman

September 5, 2022

The Winners by Fredrik Backman

The wheel of fortune has turned again, putting Beartown on top and rival town Hed on the bottom. A devastating storm leaves the two towns more dependent on each other than ever before. The death of a long-time Beartown resident brings characters back to Beartown, but more than one beloved resident will die.

Benji comes back from his wanderings, still lost. Maya travels home from music college, still dealing with the rape of two years earlier. Star player Amat returns home after a disastrous trip to the NHL draft and falls into the bottom of a bottle. Matteo, a lonely neglected teen who isn't involved in hockey, wanders the towns, primed to do something terrible. Mumble, Beartown's star goalie, is carrying a heavy load of guilt. Tess, the daughter of a Hed firefighter, falls in love with Bobo, Beartown's assistant coach. Head coach Elisabeth Zackell recruits a new player and has plans to resurrect Amat and also his career. Maya's parents may or may not be getting a divorce.

Add in the men in back from Beartown, the trash bandits from Hed, and a group of crooked politicians and businessmen. Mix in a scandal that is brewing over the Beartown club finances that the editor of the local newspaper is trying to expose. Combine all ingredients and stir briskly but carefully - it's going to be messy.

Fredrik Backman has written a wonderful conclusion to his Beartown trilogy. I cried more that once. You forget that many of the characters are so very young, but have suffered so much already. Backman understands about regrets, the need for redemption, and the hopes, dreams and fears that we all share as humans. Wonderful writing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC.