Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Us Against You by Fredrik Backman

149 reviews

mmccombs's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

It’s been a bit since I read the first book, but the 2nd installment did such a complete “previously on…” that I immediately felt right back in it. The specific voice of this series, 2nd person omnipresent POV, is so interesting and really works for the over the top drama that occurs in this story.

 Sometimes the look into the future (“and she will regret it” etc etc) felt a little cheesy, but this book is kind of inherently cheesy, so it works. I did have some issues with the future tense constantly teasing something terrible and then nothing would happen (or the thing would happen but to a character we didn’t even know existed), it often felt like cheap emotional manipulation just to provoke a response, but never going so far as to actually reap consequences for the characters/story. I was definitely kept on the edge of my seat, but after crying wolf so many times I eventually felt as if there were no meaningful stakes.

This felt like a very natural continuation from the first book, similar themes and turmoil and small town politics, so in some ways it felt kind of repetitive and unnecessary, but mostly it was nice to come back to Beartown. I will definitely finish out this series and am excited to get to some of Blackman’s other titles.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Rape, Suicide, and Grief

Moderate: Gun violence and Car accident

clairebartholomew549's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

This series is really just devastating. We pick up with most of the characters from the previous book, and we trace the next few months of their lives as they navigate the fallout of the Beartown hockey team being dissolved. It's tense and sad and moving and thought-provoking, and Backman is able to humanize every single character.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Homophobia, and Violence

Minor: Rape

msash812's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Rape

superciliary's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Violence, and Car accident

Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Rape, Sexism, Death of parent, and Outing

Minor: Child abuse

ajthequeen's review

dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Outing

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, and Rape

lesejaguar's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book is so highly relevant for all that is happening in european countries right now. I found it quite scary while on the other hand hopeful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Violence

Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol

Minor: Child death, Drug use, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Excrement, Vomit, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Abandonment

lindsay_kay's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Backman did not disappoint, I'm not surprised. I loved this one just as much as "Beartown" if not more. Impeccable writing and story telling, the characters are deep, and their connections with each are meaningful and emotional. This is the kind of book that just speaks to my soul. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Rape, Violence, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury

m_a_j's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Homophobia

Moderate: Alcoholism, Rape, and Car accident

hmcbog's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Child death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent

em_77's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Rape

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, and Violence