What starts as a nuanced portrait of the role of sport in modern life turns into a bombastic melodrama when a young girl is raped. Written prior to the Me Too Movement, Backman tells the all too often tragic story of a victim that speaks out, and he illustrates well how one act can reverberate far beyond the perpetrator and victim. The first half of the book, which is the story of the underdog hockey team, really shines and it’s a pleasure getting to know the variety of characters. After the rape, Backman initially handles the fallout from the event with an angry bluntness that is realistic and makes a strong point, but the narration becomes grandiose, bent on vengeance, and goes on a good bit longer than it should (especially considering this became a trilogy). What initially had the makings of one of the all-time great sports novels falters, possibly because the hockey was never Backman’s point. It is still a compelling drama and fans of Backman will appreciate his gift with creating complex, lovable characters. I allow the rape spoiler because ultimately that is what this book is about.