Beartown by Fredrik Backman

[Atria] Now an HBO Original Series “You’ll love this engrossing novel.” —People Named a Best Book of the Year by LibraryReads, BookBrowse, and Goodreads From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Anxious People, a dazzling and profound novel about a small town with a big dream—and the price required to make it come true. Beartown is a powerful, character‑driven novel set in a struggling small Swedish town where the local junior ice hockey team carries everyone’s hopes for a brighter future. As the team reaches a crucial semifinal, a violent event involving one of its star players shatters the town’s fragile unity and forces residents to confront loyalty, justice, and what truly matters beyond the rink. The story explores how a community reacts when dreams collide with difficult truths, and how individuals find courage and resilience in the face of pressure, prejudice, and change.