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hannahlouise_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Classism, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Pregnancy, and Abortion
ninahuynh'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Similarly, Rooney uses commas extremely sparingly, especially when they are needed. It's not to say she DOESN'T use commas- because she does- but there needs to be more. I sometimes find myself having to reread some parts or retrace to the beginning of the sentence to make out where the pauses (commas!) are supposed to be.
Love the philosophical commentary! I can relate to those parts.
Graphic: Cursing, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal cruelty and Pregnancy
miriam00'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Minor: Drug use, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Classism, Bullying, Cursing, Self harm, and Toxic friendship
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
raelong12'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
4.5
Moderate: Self harm, Cursing, and Suicidal thoughts
genevievecollum's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death of parent, and Cursing
ogingero's review against another edition
Graphic: Antisemitism, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Xenophobia, Hate crime, and War
Moderate: Antisemitism, Violence, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Racism, Mental illness, Hate crime, Genocide, Gaslighting, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, and Bullying
gracer'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
4.0
I keep hoping that she'll top <i>Conversations with Friends</i>, still my favorite Rooney novel, but I won't hold my breath. At this point I think she's moved in a different direction, and her life experiences will never translate into a novel the same way again. But that's okay. Even though we're reading about a novelist, it works.
Rooney has given us another cast of completely dysfunctional characters. Alice is Alice, she's a mess, and she seems to have some level of... maybe not imposter syndrome, exactly, but whatever a combination of imposter syndrome and survival guilt would be.
And then there's Eileen, who you feel pathetically sorry for, and also a little bit consistently angry at. So frustrating to read as she makes one mistake and then the next.
And then there's the climax, where everyone is wrong, and everything is painfully realistic, and of course Alice is largely responsible... but I couldn't help thinking that Eileen deserved a bit more of the blame. Eileen is constantly projecting her problems onto other people. It drove me a little crazy.
All that to say, another realisitc look at human interaction. Every bit as painful as Rooney's other novels... except for the endings, which are nowhere near as depressing as the first two.
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, and Alcohol
elemonte'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
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcohol and Cursing
Minor: Drug use, Medical content, and Pregnancy