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tylinnea's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars! Honestly this book just felt problematic. At times I felt sympathy for the characters, but mostly it just made me feel bad. It just felt like problem after problem with no real resolution, which just isn’t for me personally. However the book is prettily written!
gremlindoll's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
angelaa's review against another edition
3.75
must admit that this book had gorgeous prose, despite their lack of communication - the way rooney writes is so artistic. the lack of speech marks put me off at first but i get it’s to emphasise the miscommunication and it’s such a unique approach to storytelling. i enjoyed reading about the characters in depth trying to understand their motivations for their silly decisions because they are flawed and broken characters which i’m sure rooney was trying to portray as a realistic, imperfect and gut wrenching relationship. but my god was this depressing they were barely ever happy and when they were, someone just had to go ruin it and that’s just not for me. honestly the whole vibe of the book was dreary and somewhat soul sucking they were just unhappy for most of it and it’s not my cup of tea and that’s okay. i can defo see why this would appeal to others though!!
goldbug's review against another edition
1.0
i just scrolled through reviews in search of one and two stars so i’m feeling vindicated. but i did not like this. all the characters felt sort of empty and while marianne and connell get so much focus and detail i still found them both pretty unrelatable. the whole book felt kind of lacking in substance but with no lightness to make up for that. it didn’t make me feel deep emotions but i did continuously feel icky
distracc1ons_'s review against another edition
5.0
why break my heart further leaving blank pages at the end
bigtiddygothgf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
3.75 stars rounded up
the amount of miscommunication in this book made me wanna lobotomize myself
the amount of miscommunication in this book made me wanna lobotomize myself
kenziemorsillo's review against another edition
5.0
Changed my rating. I think about this book a lot
waytoomanybooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
3.0
Rooney is such a good writer, and I love her style! I just wish the ending wasn’t so ambiguous and abrupt, and I wish I had gotten to see Marianne blossom at least as much as Connell since the book was supposed to be about the both of them growing up, growing apart, finding each other again, etc. But it was pretty much all about Connell and then sometimes Rooney remembered that Marianne has thoughts and feelings, too.
Marianne and Connell’s relationship is so fascinating though. It is so incredibly toxic, yet they clearly belong together at the same time. I think that their relationship is realistically portrayed, and I could sympathize with one or the other of them at different stages in their lives and their relationship. I think that is a testament to Rooney’s writing: feeling like I want/need to evaluate the characters, to pick a side, and to sympathize and empathize with them and why.
However, I hated the ending. Ambiguous endings infuriate me, especially when the ambiguity suggests what it suggests here. We’re really ending withMarianne staking her worth on her on-again, off-again boyfriend and putting him above her and “letting him go” so he can, what? Some bullshit about how she’s a springboard from which his life can “truly begin” ?
Before I read the last ⅓ of the book, I was expecting to give it a 4 out of 5, but seeing Marianne’s storyline and the ending get fumbled leads me to give it a 3 out of 5.
Marianne and Connell’s relationship is so fascinating though. It is so incredibly toxic, yet they clearly belong together at the same time. I think that their relationship is realistically portrayed, and I could sympathize with one or the other of them at different stages in their lives and their relationship. I think that is a testament to Rooney’s writing: feeling like I want/need to evaluate the characters, to pick a side, and to sympathize and empathize with them and why.
However, I hated the ending. Ambiguous endings infuriate me, especially when the ambiguity suggests what it suggests here. We’re really ending with
Before I read the last ⅓ of the book, I was expecting to give it a 4 out of 5, but seeing Marianne’s storyline and the ending get fumbled leads me to give it a 3 out of 5.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Alcohol, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Abandonment, Blood, Classism, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Toxic friendship
jn_xl's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5