Britt-Marie was here A novel

One Monday in January, 63-year-old Britt-Marie enters an unemployment office, having last worked as a waitress in 1978. After decades of fastidious living-perfect cutlery drawers, coasters under every drink, dinner at six, beds disinfected with baking soda-Britt-Marie needs a job. She's left her husband after his recent heart attack-news she received through his mistress. With limited choices, Britt-Marie is now the caretaker of a neglected recreation center in an equally run-down small town. Although not in her job description, she becomes the de facto soccer coach for a motley crew of local kids. Socially awkward though she is, Britt-Marie proves to be just the no-nonsense nurturer the children need; the adults-especially the town's only policeman-realize soon enough that beneath all that compulsive cleaning is a genuine, caring woman who deserves much more than a life merely serving others. Narrator Joan Walker takes on the eclectic cast with inspired energy, enhancing Backman's already delightful narrative with even greater charm. -VERDICT Following the international success of Backman's debut, A Man Called Ove, any library growing its collection of feel-good fiction will want to acquire Britt-Marie with alacrity. ["Backman hits a nice note between overly sweet and hard-boiled fiction; excellent for book clubs": LJ Xpress Reviews 5/20/16 starred review of the Atria hc.; the May 2016 top LibraryReads pick.]-Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon, -Washington, DC © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.