Saturday, April 9, 2016

Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

When Britt-Marie finds out her husband had a girlfriend on the side, she goes down to the unemployment agency and pesters the girl working there until she finds her a job.  It's a temporary job and it doesn't pay much but it's in another town and away from her husband, Kent.  She's moving on!

Atria Books and Net Galley allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published May 3rd.

Britt-Marie has been an orderly housewife for forty years.  She doesn't even know how to make coffee because her husband always did it.  She makes lists for each day and takes care of the items on the list.  If she's upset, she cleans.  She's not prepared for life on her own, but she's not going to live with a man who has another woman on the side.

She gets to the town she will be working in and has an unfortunate meeting with soccer ball.  It's damaged her car door and managed to knock her out.  Despite this welcome to town, she settles in.  The first thing she does is clean her entire work area, which is a recreation center. It appears everyone in town is obsessed by soccer and she doesn't even know how to play it.

Imagine her surprise when she finds out the kids want her to be their new soccer coach.  They can't compete in the cup without a coach.  She doesn't have much else to do, so she agrees.  She also finds some housing with an irascible woman who is losing her sight. 

One thing about it:  Britt-Marie may leave but they won't forget her.

This whole story is a bit odd but it's also enjoyable.  Britt-Marie is finding the policeman interesting and thinking about dating him.  She gets help coaching and they do make the cup.  Kent, her husband comes and begs her to come back.  She doesn't know what to do.  She can move forward or step back into her old life.  The author lets you determine the ending.  I decided she was going to do more traveling.  What would you have her do? 

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