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A review by elsaschuster
Us Against You by Fredrik Backman
dark
mysterious
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
Lots of trigger warnings on this one.
Us Against You is, like Carrie Soto Is Back, a book about sport that is not about sport.
Something it did well is that although it switches between a whole host of narrators, it is never difficult to keep track of whose perspective we are hearing, and because the narrative is centred more around the town than the individuals, I didn’t find myself just waiting for one or two characters stories to come back around.
This book is a real masterclass in shades of grey, no one is really portrayed in black and white (except for perhaps the rapist who leaves town early on, he doesn’t have any redeeming features).
Us Against You is, like Carrie Soto Is Back, a book about sport that is not about sport.
Something it did well is that although it switches between a whole host of narrators, it is never difficult to keep track of whose perspective we are hearing, and because the narrative is centred more around the town than the individuals, I didn’t find myself just waiting for one or two characters stories to come back around.
This book is a real masterclass in shades of grey, no one is really portrayed in black and white (except for perhaps the rapist who leaves town early on, he doesn’t have any redeeming features).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence