The Winners
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- Create Date：2022-10-14 06:53:17
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Fredrik Backman
- ISBN：1398516341
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Summary
‘It’s often said that winners write history， but there are no winners here’
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？
Two years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about。 Everyone has tried to move on， but there’s something about this place that prevents it。 The residents continue to grapple with life’s big questions: What is a family？ What is a community？ And what， if anything， are we willing to sacrifice in order to protect them？
As the locals of Beartown struggle to overcome the past， great change is on the horizon。 Someone is coming home after a long time away。 Someone will be laid to rest。 Someone will fall in love， someone will try to fix their marriage， and someone will do anything to save their children。 Someone will submit to hate， someone will fight， and someone will grab a gun and walk towards the ice rink。
So what are the residents of Beartown willing to sacrifice for their home？
Everything。
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？
Two years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about。 Everyone has tried to move on， but there’s something about this place that prevents it。 The residents continue to grapple with life’s big questions: What is a family？ What is a community？ And what， if anything， are we willing to sacrifice in order to protect them？
As the locals of Beartown struggle to overcome the past， great change is on the horizon。 Someone is coming home after a long time away。 Someone will be laid to rest。 Someone will fall in love， someone will try to fix their marriage， and someone will do anything to save their children。 Someone will submit to hate， someone will fight， and someone will grab a gun and walk towards the ice rink。
So what are the residents of Beartown willing to sacrifice for their home？
Everything。
Reviews
Jenn
，
This was an amazing journey。 I have such love for all the characters in Beartown。 The issues this book deals with， is what Hockey Canada is going through right now。 This book was perfection。
Katherine Mahoney
，
A little long but sooooo good。 It wrapped up the series very well。 There are sad parts that I was really hoping wouldn't happen but overall I loved it！ A little long but sooooo good。 It wrapped up the series very well。 There are sad parts that I was really hoping wouldn't happen but overall I loved it！ 。。。more
Kelley Kimble
，
I have loved all 3 books of the Beartown series。 After meeting the author at a talk in Dallas， I fell more in love with the characters and the story。 The author is an amazing storyteller in person and with written words。 In person he’s funny， self-deprecating and surprisingly open and intimate。 In writing， he makes you feel his characters and I now understand that they are extensions of his own character and those he loves。 This was one of those books that I couldn’t stop listening to and yet， d I have loved all 3 books of the Beartown series。 After meeting the author at a talk in Dallas， I fell more in love with the characters and the story。 The author is an amazing storyteller in person and with written words。 In person he’s funny， self-deprecating and surprisingly open and intimate。 In writing， he makes you feel his characters and I now understand that they are extensions of his own character and those he loves。 This was one of those books that I couldn’t stop listening to and yet， didn’t want it to end。 Thank you， Fredrick Backman for giving all of you to Beartown and to us， your readers and fans。 。。。more
Jennifer
，
Wow！！！ I hardly have words to describe what these three books and their characters have meant to me or all the ways they have touched my heart。 I never could have imagined when I picked up Beartown all those years ago what an impact the beginning to the end would have。I have found these books to be such a beautiful picture of the best of humanity and such an accurate picture of the worst of humanity。 There are so many themes woven in these pages - community and isolation， sorrow and joy， guilt a Wow！！！ I hardly have words to describe what these three books and their characters have meant to me or all the ways they have touched my heart。 I never could have imagined when I picked up Beartown all those years ago what an impact the beginning to the end would have。I have found these books to be such a beautiful picture of the best of humanity and such an accurate picture of the worst of humanity。 There are so many themes woven in these pages - community and isolation， sorrow and joy， guilt and redemption， life and loss， vengeance and forgiveness， struggle and ease， corruption and honesty， evil and good， hatred and most of all love。I loved seeing the good in the evil and the evil in the so called good。 I loved the honesty and rawness of the characters and their feelings， their depth， their complexities。I will never forget Hed and Beartown and the Hollow。 I will never forget the characters。 These three books will always be on my shelf and in my heart。 。。。more
Stanley McShane
，
Read his full review on Rosepoint Publishing。Beartown and Hed have had a rivalry for as long as anyone could remember; the competition is manic。 There have been players good enough to advance to the NHL， but even a losing season is overlooked as long as the losers beat the neighboring town’s hockey team。Remoteness in a seemingly endless forest captures the young people in a never-ending rivalry as well。 The town fathers are hyper in their protection of the team and the efforts to recruit the be Read his full review on Rosepoint Publishing。Beartown and Hed have had a rivalry for as long as anyone could remember; the competition is manic。 There have been players good enough to advance to the NHL， but even a losing season is overlooked as long as the losers beat the neighboring town’s hockey team。Remoteness in a seemingly endless forest captures the young people in a never-ending rivalry as well。 The town fathers are hyper in their protection of the team and the efforts to recruit the best players from each town。The seclusion fosters paranoia between the towns as well。 Closely guarded practices and team meetings engender the best in spy craft。 Knowing the other teams’ strengths and game plans insures that the other team will be on top at the end of the season。 The schism that exists creates permeates the fabric of the community and the end result is competition that can at times turn deadly。 I found the narrative disturbing in so many ways and felt a deep sadness for the inhabitants of both of the cities。 It was so difficult to read the hate engendered between the young people of the two towns， I failed to complete the entire novel。 Crushing theme of isolation failure， humanity。 3 stars – CE WilliamsMany thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book。 。。。more
Emilee
，
do you want to laugh and then sob and then stare at a wall blankly just trying to process what you’ve just read？ then read this book！no seriously， read this book。 drop everything you’re doing and start this series right now。 also this book has led me to the conclusion that benji ovich is my official favorite fictional character。 icon forever and always。
Susan
，
Actually 3。5 *s Like many others writing reviews here， I am a huge Backman fan， I have read all his books。 I was really excited when I heard， months ago， that he had written a third book in the Beartown series。 I， too， was surprised to see The Winners was almost 700 pages long， and that the entire story was going to take place in less than two weeks！ It started out with a shock on the very first page， and then it took 600 pages to explain that shocking information。 I wanted to LOVE this book， bu Actually 3。5 *s Like many others writing reviews here， I am a huge Backman fan， I have read all his books。 I was really excited when I heard， months ago， that he had written a third book in the Beartown series。 I， too， was surprised to see The Winners was almost 700 pages long， and that the entire story was going to take place in less than two weeks！ It started out with a shock on the very first page， and then it took 600 pages to explain that shocking information。 I wanted to LOVE this book， but it was redundant at times and the plot progressed so slowly。 I felt that Backman had so many loose threads - the storm， the hatred between the two towns， the hockey clubs， the politicians and the "hooligans"， the parallel families （Hannah/Johnny and Peter/Kira）; and， of course， Ruth and Matteo。 And that isn't even all of them！！ So many threads， but they aren't even all woven together with the climatic event near the end。 I felt this story was just over done。 BUT that being said， I was glad that Backman wrapped up all of the main characters in the end， even if it did seem a bit abrupt/contrived （almost read like a list instead of being embedded in the story）。 I look forward to his next book， he writes beautifully， but this one wasn't his best。 。。。more
Lisa
，
Nobody can twll a story quite like Fredrik Backman。 I was so thrilled to get reimmursed into life in Beartown！ I loved it！ I’m sad it’s over。
Natasha
，
The first two Beartown books were 5 stars。 As I read this third one， I thought I was going to give it 4 stars。 Until the ending。 So many feels。 I have to go with another 5 stars。 Frederik Backman is such a gifted author。 ❤️❤️❤️
Andreea Andries
，
This would have been an ordinary story had it not been so extraordinary written。 Both heartwarming and heartbreaking。 Backman。
Tracey Evert
，
I'm really not a series kind of book person。 However this series， is probably the best 3 books I've ever read。 Yes it's underlying theme is about hockey but it's about so much more。 I've been waiting for the last book to be translated and it did not disappoint。 Usually in serial books at least one of them won't be great， not in this case， all 3 are excellent。 I highly recommend you read this series。 My youngest loves it as well he's just starting the 3rd book。 He couldn't wait to read the second I'm really not a series kind of book person。 However this series， is probably the best 3 books I've ever read。 Yes it's underlying theme is about hockey but it's about so much more。 I've been waiting for the last book to be translated and it did not disappoint。 Usually in serial books at least one of them won't be great， not in this case， all 3 are excellent。 I highly recommend you read this series。 My youngest loves it as well he's just starting the 3rd book。 He couldn't wait to read the second after he was forced to read the first for a high school book report。 As he said to me if you had told me that my favourite character would be a gay hockey player I'd never had believed you。 Please read this series。 。。。more
Anna
，
Fredrik Backman is a brilliant writer。 He established that with A Man Called Ove， confirmed it with Anxious People， and cemented it with the first two books of the Beartown trilogy （Beartown and Us Against You）。 The final book of the trilogy， The Winners， is the masterful ending this story deserved。 （Though this book is better as the conclusion of the trilogy， it could easily be read as a stand alone novel。） On the surface， The Winners， is the story of a small forest town obsessed with hockey。 I Fredrik Backman is a brilliant writer。 He established that with A Man Called Ove， confirmed it with Anxious People， and cemented it with the first two books of the Beartown trilogy （Beartown and Us Against You）。 The final book of the trilogy， The Winners， is the masterful ending this story deserved。 （Though this book is better as the conclusion of the trilogy， it could easily be read as a stand alone novel。） On the surface， The Winners， is the story of a small forest town obsessed with hockey。 It is， however， SO MUCH MORE。 Fredrik Backman has created a microcosm of every small town - and big city - by highlighting the interconnectedness of the people and relationships within communities。 Actions have consequences， some hearts break and some are mended， sacrifices are made and agreements negotiated， there are happy endings and tragic ones - that is the rhythm of life。 Backman is a master of developing characters and making the reader truly care about them， and rewards that emotional investment by wrapping up the trilogy with a glimpse into the future。 This is a long book at 688 pages， so I opted for the audio version。 I spent 20+ hours with the people of Beartown and Hed， and it didn’t feel nearly long enough。 It felt like a leisurely lunch with an old friend catching up on events and mutual acquaintances。 I listened to the last part of the book while driving and needed to pull over to deal with my emotions。 This book will make you think and feel and， in the end， will make you hope。 。。。more
Darrean Morrison
，
I’m not okay。This book deserve more then 5 stars。Thank you Fredrik for opening my heart up in more ways then I thought possible。 Damn you。
Cathy Meyers
，
5*
Lori Belford
，
Unpopular review。 I could not get through this 600 page book so I stopped reading at page 300。 It was so boring。 A Swedish community， fueled by hockey and the competition between two clubs， has all kinds of unrelated tentacles to keep track of。 It just wasn’t for me。
Jennifer Landry
，
4。5 starsWhew。 This conclusion to the Beartown trilogy just hit me right in the heart。 These books have to be read in order。 I wasn't sure I would be excited about a book trilogy with ice hockey as its central focus， but this trilogy is so much more。 This book was long， but the audio narration （by Marin Ireland whom I love） was fantastic - as she has been for all 3 books。 There is a plotline in here about politics/corruption that was a little distracting but yet it still supported the underlying 4。5 starsWhew。 This conclusion to the Beartown trilogy just hit me right in the heart。 These books have to be read in order。 I wasn't sure I would be excited about a book trilogy with ice hockey as its central focus， but this trilogy is so much more。 This book was long， but the audio narration （by Marin Ireland whom I love） was fantastic - as she has been for all 3 books。 There is a plotline in here about politics/corruption that was a little distracting but yet it still supported the underlying theme of community and small town family strength。 Audiobooks don't often make me cry， but boy did this one。 。。。more
Sue
，
And so the final chapters in the life and days of Beartown have ended。 My emotions have reached such highs and sad lows over the course of this reading。 These characters， who now feel like people I know， have run through such a gamut of experiences that are brought to a form of conclusion here in The Winners。 to be continued…I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review。
Molly Krager
，
This didn’t quite live up to my high expectations， but in the end I still love Fredrik Backman’s writing and the world he built in this series。 I was attached enough to the characters to stick with it even though the 600+ page length felt excessive。 Because of all the flash forwards and foreshadowing， I knew how it would end long before it actually did…but I still stayed up way too late to finish it and cried through the last 30 pages。
Samantha
，
An excellent third and final book in the series。 Definitely had me in tears a few times too。 Just a perfect trilogy。
Kat
，
Who needs a heart that hasn't been completely shattered anyways？ Who needs a heart that hasn't been completely shattered anyways？ 。。。more
Melissa
，
I stand by what I have said previously: if Fredrik Backman wrote the phonebook I would read it。 A devastatingly beautiful end to the Beartown triology。。。although I am not sure I am ready to say good-bye or farewell to these characters。 More later。。。when I am not so emotional over this end。
Barbara
，
This one is a 4。5 for me。 As some other reviewers have noted， I never expected to find myself immersed and emotionally invested about ice hockey and the rivalry between two small Swedish towns surrounded by a forest。 Nor did I expect that I'd be reading three books about the villagers and their trials and triumphs and actually caring。 This one is a 4。5 for me。 As some other reviewers have noted， I never expected to find myself immersed and emotionally invested about ice hockey and the rivalry between two small Swedish towns surrounded by a forest。 Nor did I expect that I'd be reading three books about the villagers and their trials and triumphs and actually caring。 。。。more
Erin Wright
，
This trilogy utterly destroyed me。 Its simple beauty is a thing to behold。 Do yourselves a favor， start with Beartown， then read the other two。 The Winners will stay with me for a long time to come。
Annelies
，
Boek 1 en 2 waren meesterlijk goed。 Boek 3 is voor mij 400 pagina's te lang， met bijzonder veel herhaling van wat we al weten en ook in het verhaal veel herhaling， alsof het ook voor de auteur te lang was om zich te herinneren dat hij het al eens geschreven had。 Desalniettemin paar hele rake passages en toch een traantje gelaten bij twee gebeurtenissen die met kleine details （zoals drinken uit het theelichtglaasje） heel raak geschreven waren。 Boek 1 en 2 waren meesterlijk goed。 Boek 3 is voor mij 400 pagina's te lang， met bijzonder veel herhaling van wat we al weten en ook in het verhaal veel herhaling， alsof het ook voor de auteur te lang was om zich te herinneren dat hij het al eens geschreven had。 Desalniettemin paar hele rake passages en toch een traantje gelaten bij twee gebeurtenissen die met kleine details （zoals drinken uit het theelichtglaasje） heel raak geschreven waren。 。。。more
Liz Butler
，
Good Gawd！ How does Backman do it？！？ How does he manage to write yet another book that draws me in unlike many others？ His characters， although vast in number， feel like my neighbors， my friends， my family。 I am 100% vested in every single one of their lives。 And don't even get me started on his writing style。 He drops nuggets of information along the way foreshadowing what's coming， and yet BAM！ Something happens that leaves me shattered。 And I sit there wondering how？ How am I this heartbroken Good Gawd！ How does Backman do it？！？ How does he manage to write yet another book that draws me in unlike many others？ His characters， although vast in number， feel like my neighbors， my friends， my family。 I am 100% vested in every single one of their lives。 And don't even get me started on his writing style。 He drops nuggets of information along the way foreshadowing what's coming， and yet BAM！ Something happens that leaves me shattered。 And I sit there wondering how？ How am I this heartbroken when I already knew it was coming？ The conclusion to the Beartown Trilogy is everything and more than I had ever anticipated。 I am a Backman believer and will continue to devour absolutely everything he writes。 LOVED IT！！！ 。。。more
Taradicken
，
One of the best books I have ever read。 Every book that I read from this author is amazing。 He is quickly becoming my favorite。
Marta Block
，
There needs to be a support group for Uber-fans who finish the Beartown series。 This book chewed me up and spit me out and it'll take a while for the pieces to be put back together。 I mean this in the most flattering way！ Backman made me cry （full on tears streaming down my cheeks） for about the last 50 pages。 Holy moly。 Then in the author's note he thanked his readers & hoped we got as much out of it as we could because he put everything into it。 We see you， Herr Backman， and we thank you。 You There needs to be a support group for Uber-fans who finish the Beartown series。 This book chewed me up and spit me out and it'll take a while for the pieces to be put back together。 I mean this in the most flattering way！ Backman made me cry （full on tears streaming down my cheeks） for about the last 50 pages。 Holy moly。 Then in the author's note he thanked his readers & hoped we got as much out of it as we could because he put everything into it。 We see you， Herr Backman， and we thank you。 You can tell he put his whole soul into writing this book because it has the ability to reach so deeply into the reader's soul。Where to begin - we revisit Benji （OMG， everyone loves Benji）， his amazing Ovich sisters， the Andersson family。。。somehow I almost forgot about Ana （how the hell could I forget about Ana？！？ She is such a badass and one of my favorite characters of all time）。 The smaller characters are there， there are a few new characters， and somehow there are multiple storylines that are all expertly woven together in a culmination that will pull on your heartstrings and make you want to travel to northern Sweden and clearly （see above） will make you cry。 I love the inclusion of trauma resolution/flipping the script about the biggest trauma in the series; it shows growth and strength beyond measure。Sigh。。。I am so sad to see the Beartown trilogy finish but I'm excited to reread these books。 In general， I'm not one who rereads but these characters are so beautifully rendered it will be like visiting an old friend and having coffee together， just like they so often do in Beartown and Hed。 I also like to believe there's room for a spinoff/follow-up because I've never been so invested in fictional characters before。 Brilliantly written， all-consuming， masterful fiction here。 。。。more
Laurie • The Baking Bookworm
，
The Beartown series is going down as one of my favourite book series evah！ Its story and especially its characters will stay with me for a long time， and I look forward to rereading this series again （and again） in the future。 Yeah， it's that good。This trilogy is centred around the world of minor hockey in a remote Swedish town。 Since I'm part of a rare non-hockey Canadian family， a book set around hockey isn't what I'd normally read。 But you don't need to like hockey to love this book。 I read t The Beartown series is going down as one of my favourite book series evah！ Its story and especially its characters will stay with me for a long time， and I look forward to rereading this series again （and again） in the future。 Yeah， it's that good。This trilogy is centred around the world of minor hockey in a remote Swedish town。 Since I'm part of a rare non-hockey Canadian family， a book set around hockey isn't what I'd normally read。 But you don't need to like hockey to love this book。 I read this entire series two weeks before I was going to meet Backman at an event and remembered why I loved his style of writing。 He weaves the lives， loves and tribulations of his characters （who burrow into your heart and your head） within a story that will keep readers riveted and give them much to think about。This book picks up two years after the first two books: Beartown and Us Against You and although it's a beast of a book at 670 pages， the story flows easily as readers are pulled back into the lives of the townspeople who have become so dear to us。I love Backman's writing style that uses an omniscient narrator and a healthy dose of foreshadowing。 As he explained at the event， he uses this technique to give his readers the feeling that he's telling them a story （like the fairy tales of old） and it completely captivated me， leading me to read well past my bedtime （on several occasions） after he'd drop hints about what was yet to come。 When I had the pleasure to meet Fredrik Backman last week it became one of my all-time favourite author events I've ever been to - and I've been to a lot of them！I loved learning about his writing process and his inspiration for this fantastic series。 He has a delightful dry， self-deprecating sense of humour （we Canadians love that） and was humble and vulnerable with his audience about his struggle with mental health during the writing of this series。This trilogy is so much more than hockey。 This is a story about people， corruption， family， marriage， community， grief， and forgiveness and as Backman explained at the event， his stories （like sports） give people an escape from their daily lives。I have been a fan of Fredrik Backman's since he wrote A Man Called Ove but I'm a mega fan now。 I cannot wait to see what stories he shares with us next。Disclaimer: Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with a digital copy of The Winners in exchange for my honest review。 I loved it so much I bought a print copy for my shelves。 😊 。。。more
Lisa Case
，
Some long books， you keep waiting for them to end。 This one？ I wish it had gone on and on and on。 A gorgeous finale to one of the most beautiful series of books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading。 I love Backman’s writing。 Just adore it。 He can hit your heart every other sentence。 Truly remarkable。Frankly， it would’ve been easier for me to just highlight the entire book rather than choose which of the many passages I did decide to highlight。 His books are engaging， beautifully written and a f Some long books， you keep waiting for them to end。 This one？ I wish it had gone on and on and on。 A gorgeous finale to one of the most beautiful series of books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading。 I love Backman’s writing。 Just adore it。 He can hit your heart every other sentence。 Truly remarkable。Frankly， it would’ve been easier for me to just highlight the entire book rather than choose which of the many passages I did decide to highlight。 His books are engaging， beautifully written and a form of therapy。 He takes you inside the story， or maybe it’s the story that gets inside you， reflecting your life back to you while reading。 。。。more
Linda Fallows
，
I read the end of this book， and the trilogy， with tears streaming down my face。 This author knows the human soul like no other author I have read。 He takes you up to the highest heights， then plunges you into the abyss， where emotions are concerned。 Keep the Millennium Trilogy！ The Beartown trilogy is so much better and will live with you forever。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Winners
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Winners&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Winners&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0