Reviews

بریت ماری این جا بود by Fredrik Backman

j_rowley's review against another edition

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4.0

Britt-Marie at 63 needs a job. It's the first time she's had to have one outside of the house in 30 years, but she knows she can't continue to act like her husband is not having an affair with another woman since the other woman called her. This was after he had a heart attack. She leaves her well ordered life and takes a temporary job in a town that's dying. Britt-Marie knows no gray. She knows the correct way or the way of animals. Cutlery draws have to be separated, dinner is at 6, everything has to be thoroughly cleaned with certain brands and baking soda. Her husband has called her socially inept years ago so she has left all communication to Kent. She is heartbroken and cleaning is what she does.

She makes friends along the way with people in the town especially since she agrees to coach the local soccer club. She is clueless until someone else steps in.

Good story, well-drawn characters, but ending seemed a little too big a step for this woman. Paris?!?

tucsonbet's review against another edition

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4.0

A little slow to start but endearing and fun once into it. The story of a woman with no sense of self growing and finding herself. Done with typical Backman odd but lovable characters.

iswim41's review against another edition

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4.0

What a great book. There is a cadence to the characters and once I got into it, I found myself laughing along. Another author with good character development.

eam84's review against another edition

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Another entirely riveting story by Backman!

kaitwernsing's review against another edition

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5.0

This was such a feel good story! I was hesitant to read this book after "My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She's Sorry," only because Britt-Marie's character seriously bothered me and I just wasn't too interested to hear more. BUT I am so happy that I did, because I loved this book and couldn't put it down.

marycathmc's review against another edition

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2.0

I think it just took me too long to read this book and I lost interest half way through. I loved A Man Called Ove and Beartown, was not at all fond of My Grandmother Asked..., but thought I'd like Britt-Marie with all of her quirks and issues (similar to mine!). Unfortunately, that was not to be. I also found the story far-fetched and didn't quite get to know the characters of Bank and Somebody who were obviously key. Again, I think it was because I just took too many breaks reading it - kept falling asleep quite honestly! Maybe I'll try reading it again sometime in the future.

drew3486's review against another edition

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5.0

And whatever happens.
Wherever she is.
Everyone will know. Britt-Marie was here.

Britt-Marie was here is a story about a side character from My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry.

When 61 year old Britt-Marie discovers that her husband of many years has been cheating on her, she leaves him behind and moves to the town of Borg. Britt-Marie is an odd sort of character who likes things done a certain way and likes routine an order. When she secures a job at a recreation center, she becomes acquainted with many of the colorful residents of Borg. She forms many unlikely friendships, and endears herself to the people of Borg, and they grow to love her as well.

She hilariously finds herself becoming the coach of the local football team, and must also deal with the fallout of leaving her husband behind while also dealing with the local policeman who seems to have taken an interest in her. In the end, the story is about a woman who must decide if she is going to choose herself for the first time in her life, rather than someone else.

This book is full of humor, observations about life, and unlikely friendships. It’s definitely a similar setup to A Man Called Ove, so if you enjoyed that, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this.

stephaniedh's review against another edition

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5.0

At the end of "My Grandmother Told Me to Tell You She's Sorry", you start to really feel for Britt-Marie and see a completely different story about her. So I was really looking forward to seeing where her story went next.
At the beginning of this book, she was definitely back to unlikeable, and I was wondering how long he was going to do that. But by Chapter 5 you are pretty hooked, and this book really takes you on a journey. I don't want to give anything away, but Fredrik Backman is officially on my list of favorite authors. I love his mind!

jamuckley's review against another edition

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5.0

I love Fredrik Backman's books. I have now read five of his books, A Man Called Ove, Things My Son Needs to Know About the World, My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, and Beartown. There haven't been a single one that I didn't LOVE.

Britt-Marie was Here is the latest novel of Backman's that I read. It was amazing! I recommend reading My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry first, however, as Britt-Marie was a character first introduced in that novel. The story centers around the 63-year-old Britt-Marie who married late in life and then divorced him after meeting the woman her husband was cheating with.

What I love about Backman's novels is his way of capturing human emotions and what different trying circumstances would feel like if you were in their shoes. There were so many brilliant one-liners and observations about everyday life such as the one above sprinkled throughout the story.

This is an excellent summer read or while you pass the time in self-quarantine as we wait for this outbreak to pass.

yak_nika's review against another edition

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5.0

Поки геть мало слів від емоцій і відчуттів, бо тільки цей мужчина може так влучно і проникливо для мене писати❤️😭 знову любов! І хай не закінчується! Всім, кому не вистачає тепла, світла, любові та натхнення - рекомендую!
Спробую пізніше написати менш емоційний, а більшою мірою конструктивний відгук - але поки так. Книга про Брітт-Марі, яка була тут і змінила все назавжди.