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defiantturtle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity and Death of parent
mel_j's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Child death and Grief
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Ableism, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Racism
starrysteph's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Britt-Marie is an eccentric 63 year old who has suddenly found herself alone for the first time in, well, all of her adult life. She's left her cheating husband and stumbled her way into the position of a caretaker in Borg's recreation center (soon-to-be defunct).
Underneath Britt-Marie's socially awkward comments, obsession with cleaning products, and slightly brittle exterior is a deep desire to be known by others, to leave a mark on her community. She's been controlled and afraid most of her life - this is her journey of stepping into herself and finding her voice.
In Backman style, we've got a peculiar set of characters that become deeply loveable and easy-to-root for as you get to know them (the children in particular were a real strength). It's a relatively quick, simple story but it packs so much depth and charm.
There were so many splendid, poignant moments of community and connection.
“One morning you wake up with more life behind you than in front of you, not being able to understand how it’s happened.”
CW: grief, death, alcoholism, gun violence, infidelity, child death, toxic relationship, death of a parent, violence, emotional abuse, ableism, fatphobia, mental illness
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
radfordmanor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity and Toxic relationship
mel_s_bookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Abandonment
apeck's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Toxic relationship
bexi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Ableism, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Blood, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Misogyny, Violence, and Medical content
_danika's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
So: Good but I was kinda sad.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Physical abuse