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risemini's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical content, Infidelity, Drug use, Classism, Blood, Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
edgaranjapoe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Dysphoria, Death of parent, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Grief, Cursing, Drug use, Blood, and Pregnancy
gabbygarcia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content and Mental illness
Moderate: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Abortion, Blood, Cursing, Sexism, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, and Classism
zara89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Alcohol, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent, Death, Blood, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Suicide
katrinasherise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
Minor: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Drug use, and Pregnancy
Main character has mental illness, past hospitalization. Alcohol use and sexual content throughout. Towards end of book there is more mention of suicidal thoughts. There is a suggestion of adult/minor relationship, but it does not actually occur. Brief description of a cut on a hand. Some light drug use (marijuana).lucykateburns's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
The novel is very character focused and that is another reason I found it enjoyable. Rooney's characters are flawed and realistic, although at times they were quite pretentious. I did not really mind reading, and related to the contents of, the girls email exchanges regarding more philosophical questions (that said, some of them really did not hit for me), but the many interactions between Felix and Alice were difficult to read. I found myself rooting a lot more for Eileen and Simon.
I believe 20-somethings would enjoy this book, as it addresses a lot of the existential questions that are associated with truly coming into adulthood. It made me feel a bit better to hear some of the impotence the characters felt when considering global capitalism and when recognising their privilege. For that, and some other comments made on other topics, I did feel like I could be friends with them. I liked the overall sentiment that what matters most is human connection, and being concerned with those around us, and I am glad that this encompassed what I understand to be the three main types of relationships; family, friends and lovers.
There were some really funny and some really insightful moments, so I would recommend this as a fairly light read and it really is a nice delve into someone else's understanding of the modern world! I do not think this is the greatest literary production of our time, but I don't think it is aiming to be. It does not require much thought or analysis to appreciate in its entirety. Everything is laid out for the reader to easily consume, which is a merit to Rooney's writing and its clarity!
Trigger Warning
The novel contains a lot of sexual content, which borders on being pornographic. Although this is not in itself negative, some chapters could cause discomfort to readers trigger by sexual descriptions - especially when dealing with the problematic daddy/princess kink.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Drug use, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Infidelity, Self harm, and Toxic friendship
sofiiaclaire's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, and Sexual content
storykath's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Abortion, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Drug use
leighannebfd3b's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Minor: Blood, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
majeczka_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The main characters were boring, the very long emails (beauty? Jesus? bronze age???) were unnecessarily pseudo-deep and don't get me started on the many many many sex scenes that did not bring anything to the story!
I'm a big fan of Conversations with friends and liked normal people very much, but this story lacked the rawness and the effortless flow that I loved so much about Rooney's other novels.
Graphic: Sexual content and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Cursing, and Blood
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Cancer, and Bullying