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This book is an all-time winner!

Fredrik Backman ruined every other book for me by creating this extraordinary masterpiece that left me speechless! It's a dreamy reading journey for bookworms who love to lose themselves in a well-written story.

This book shattered me. It awakened so many different feelings in me that I didn’t know I had. But one thing is for sure: I haven't cried so hard in a long time! The characters Backman created will hold a special place in my heart forever!

Now I can hardly enjoy any other books in comparison to "We are Winners"! I don't have enough words to describe how much I love this book!

I was surprised when I found out the third book in the Beartown series was coming out! I thought all my favorite characters' stories had concluded, including Peter, Ramona, Maya, Anna, Benji, Amat, Bobo, and Kira�� I couldn't have been more wrong!

There was more to tell, especially with that ominous opening that warned us that something extremely ominous would rip our hearts apart! I just read the words and started to scream, "No!!" Those words were about the fate of one of my favorite characters in this book. Tears had already started to drip down my face, my fists clenched. This was shocking, this was sad, but I couldn't stop reading! I owed it to my favorite characters to go on!

I kept reading because this book is not only about loss and grief; it's about the power of darkness, how it takes control of ordinary people, how grudges and anger can force people to do things beyond their control. It's about how good people can be capable of great evil, and how evil people can be capable of great good.

This book is about corruption, abuse, rape, politics, power, money, hypocrisy, and pure rage! But it's also about the eternal flame of friendship, doing wrong things to do the right thing, love, parenthood, community, hockey, second chances, and, most importantly, forgiveness, paying your dues, and embracing your community, family, and loved ones!

We thought it was a chivalrous move when Peter left his position at the hockey club to work with his wife, Kira. We couldn't have been more wrong! Peter struggles. He bakes bread to feed the emptiness growing inside of him. He misses being someone, the plays, the manager. He even misses being a father after Maya left the house. Kira struggles too. She works more, has financial problems, and keeps secrets from her husband.

We thought Maya saved her soul with her music. Yes, she left the town two years ago, just like her rapist did. Leaving town and memories behind to find a new home and studying music didn't fix Maya! She still suffers, still lives with the haunted night, still feels the pain Kevin gave her over and over again.

We thought Amat was over the moon after becoming the star of the hockey team. Nope! He's suffering. There are rumors that he failed at NFL meetings, he's faking his injury, and he's not going to be a member of the team anymore. He's a useless drunk who hates himself.

And Benji�� he left town for good like Maya did. But is he having the time of his life? He escaped to Asia because Asian people weren't interested in hockey. So he aimed to be a nobody, getting skinnier, running away from attachments, drifting apart.

Bobo became the assistant coach, still hopeful for Amat's return to the rinks, trying to woo a Hed girl with his cooking skills.

As the story unfolds, we see the characters facing their own demons and struggles while also dealing with the new challenges that arise. The plot twists and turns, leaving the reader constantly guessing what will happen next.

One of the most powerful themes of the book is the idea of redemption and forgiveness. Many of the characters have made mistakes in the past, but they are given a chance to make amends and start fresh. Backman shows us that even the most broken people can find a way to heal and move forward.

Another important theme is the idea of community and the power of coming together to support one another. The characters in the book may have their differences, but when they are faced with a crisis, they all come together to help each other out. It's a powerful message about the importance of putting aside our differences and working towards a common goal.

Overall, "We Are the Winners" is a powerful and moving book that will stay with readers long after they've finished reading it. Backman's writing is masterful, and he creates characters that are so real and relatable that it's impossible not to feel for them. This is a book that will make you laugh, cry, and ultimately leave you feeling inspired.

Millions of thanks to Ariele Fredman, NetGalley and Atria Books for sharing this AMAZING digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.