The Winners
Emotional
Tragic
Repetitive

The Winners A Novel

Over the course of two weeks, everything in Beartown will change. Maya Andersson and Benji Ovich, two young people who left in search of a life far from the forest town, come home and joyfully reunite with their closest childhood friends. There is a new sense of optimism and purpose in the town, embodied in the impressive new ice rink that has been built down by the lake. Two years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about. Everyone has tried to move on, but there’s something about this place that prevents it. The destruction caused by a ferocious late-summer storm reignites the old rivalry between Beartown and the neighboring town of Hed, a rivalry which has always been fought through their ice hockey teams. Maya’s parents, Peter and Kira, are caught up in an investigation of the hockey club’s murky finances, and Amat—once the star of the Beartown team—has lost his way after an injury and a failed attempt to get drafted into the NHL. Simmering tensions between the two towns turn into acts of intimidation and then violence. All the while, a fourteen-year-old boy grows increasingly alienated from this hockey-obsessed community and is determined to take revenge on the people he holds responsible for his beloved sister’s death. He has a pistol and a plan that will leave Beartown with a loss that is almost more that it can stand. As it beautifully captures all the complexities of daily life and explores questions of friendship, loyalty, loss, and identity, this emotion-packed novel asks us to reconsider what it means to win, what it means to lose, and what it means to forgive.
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Reviews

Photo of Fireless
Fireless@adragonwithoutfire
5 stars
Aug 17, 2024
Unique
Complex
Surreal
Powerful
Dizzying
Deceptive
Emotional
Enigmatic
Hilarious
Delightful
Compelling
Convincing
Comforting
Page turning
Contemplative
Photo of p.
p.@softrosemint
4 stars
Feb 11, 2024
Photo of Billie Fogarty
Billie Fogarty@billie
5 stars
Feb 2, 2024
Photo of 🌞Laur🌞
🌞Laur🌞@laurb410
4.5 stars
Dec 19, 2023
This review contains a spoiler
Photo of Ireland Compton
Ireland Compton@icompto
4 stars
Dec 18, 2023
Photo of Rita Santos
Rita Santos@ritasantos_99
5 stars
May 6, 2023
Photo of Larissa Kirchberger
Larissa Kirchberger@larissasbookclub
2 stars
Apr 29, 2023
This review contains a spoiler
Tragic
Emotional
Repetitive
Long winded
Heartbreaking
Photo of emily
emily@jamesfarrow
4 stars
Apr 20, 2023
Photo of Chuck Mallott
Chuck Mallott@chuck
5 stars
Feb 1, 2023
Photo of Liz B
Liz B@lizbayer
5 stars
Dec 29, 2022
Photo of Amber Gibbons
Amber Gibbons@booksncats
5 stars
Oct 18, 2022
Magnetic
Touching
Beautiful
Meaningful
Thought provoking
Photo of Howard Greller
Howard Greller@heshiegreshie
4.5 stars
Aug 1, 2024
Photo of Claudia
Claudia@cloudtrot
4.5 stars
Jun 30, 2024
Photo of karo
karo@luxrkaro
5 stars
Apr 17, 2024
Tragic
Complex
Heartbreaking
Photo of Gavin Williams
Gavin Williams@gavinvvilliams
5 stars
Mar 25, 2024
Photo of ellie🤍
ellie🤍@elliesreadingworld
3.5 stars
Jan 1, 2024
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
5 stars
Aug 30, 2023
Original
Emotional
Meaningful
Extraordinary
Unforgettable
Photo of Moira
Moira@littleliterary
4 stars
Jun 2, 2023
Layered
Touching
Emotional
Compelling
Repetitive
Unforgettable
Photo of Deborah Kerr
Deborah Kerr@debbie
4 stars
May 15, 2023
Photo of Addison Miller
Addison Miller@addisonmiller
5 stars
Apr 21, 2023
Photo of Alithea
Alithea@alithea
4.5 stars
Jan 31, 2023
Photo of ri.
ri.@ritadee
2.5 stars
Jan 19, 2023
Photo of Lindsay
Lindsay@schnurln
4.5 stars
Dec 5, 2022
Sweet
Meaningful
Repetitive
Heartwarming
Photo of dana
dana@danas
5 stars
Nov 26, 2022

Highlights

Photo of Moira
Moira@littleliterary
Photo of Moira
Moira@littleliterary
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Moira
Moira@littleliterary
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Moira
Moira@littleliterary
Photo of Moira
Moira@littleliterary
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Moira
Moira@littleliterary
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Moira
Moira@littleliterary
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Moira
Moira@littleliterary
Photo of Moira
Moira@littleliterary
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05
Photo of Emma Hak-Kovacs
Emma Hak-Kovacs@18emkova05