Convincing you to read Beartown

Rania Rafiq

If you’ve ever wanted to read a book that you carry with you for the rest of your life, then the search is over! Beartown is one of those books that just sits with you. It lingers. Fredrik Backman has this way of writing that’s almost impossible to describe without feeling like you’re not doing it justice. It’s sharp and heavy. The whole book feels like a long, hard look into what people are capable of- both the best and the worst of it.

At first, it seems like it’s going to be just another small-town sports story. You’ve got the cold town in the middle of nowhere, the junior hockey team, the big championship. It feels like something we’ve all seen before. But that’s kind of the trick. Backman builds this familiar story and then peels it back layer by layer, showing you that Beartown isn’t typical at all. It’s about the weight of loyalty, the power people have over each other, and what happens when everything a small town stands for is challenged.

The Michigan Daily

Fredrik Backman from New York Times

The characters are what make this book so impactful. They aren’t just good or bad- they’re messy, complicated, and real. My favorites were Benji and Kira. Benji especially is one of the most complex characters I’ve ever read. He’s strong but vulnerable, loyal but distant, and so much more than what people see on the surface. And Kira, she’s strong in a way that doesn’t need to be loud to be felt. Every character has a purpose, even if it takes a while to see what that purpose is. That’s what I love- Backman doesn’t rush anything. He trusts the reader to sit with discomfort and find the meaning in the in-between moments.

And the writing is honestly something else. Backman’s style is so philosophical without ever sounding forced. He writes in these short, reflective lines that cling onto your mind and heart. There were so many times I’d have to stop and reread a sentence because it just hit. Not even because it was dramatic, but because it was so deeply true. He captures emotions most people can barely explain and puts them into words that feel like they’ve been sitting in your chest for a long time without you even realizing.

What makes Beartown so powerful isn’t just the plot- it’s the way it examines people. The choices they make, the pressure they carry, how they hurt and protect each other. It made me feel good while reading, in that way where you’re rooting for people and connecting to them, but there were also parts where my heart felt so heavy I literally had to put the book down. Not because it was bad or too much- but because it felt real.

Additionally, the book's ending was so well written that I feel satisfied just having finished the first one in the series. I am waiting for winter this year to continue the series (to fully feel the effect of the book), and I cannot wait! Until then, however, my hangover from Beartown itself is enough to hold me out.

If you’re looking for a book that sticks with you, that makes you think and feel and question the people around you and maybe even yourself- this is it. Backman doesn’t give easy answers or perfect endings. He gives honesty. And that’s what makes Beartown unforgettable.

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