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e28rika'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
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Sexual assault
phantomeyer'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
3.0
Perhaps easiest to first discuss is the writing style. While you could argue that the lack of punctuated dialogue contributed to the impression that each scene wasn’t so much a distinct event as a one of many moments in time, it seemed a lazy method to achieve this goal. Punctuate the sentences properly, and it would have been more obvious just how mundane some of the descriptions were. Not that mundane is necessarily bad, but it doesn’t sit well with me that this stylistic choice could be sufficient to turn mediocre writing into “good” writing. I will admit, however, Rooney does make good word choices, which at times lead to rather evocative passages.
Next, the characters. I’ve seen complaints that the secondary characters aren’t fleshed out, but honestly I couldn’t care less. This book is about two people, and it makes sense to me that others seem unimportant in comparison. But let’s talk about these two characters. I don’t think they are unrealistic, but their arc felt rushed or disjointed at various points. Marianne all of a sudden fits in at college despite an incredibly isolating youth? Connell is intensely discomforted at the idea of dominating through violence, but gives away his former misgivings about psychological dominance without any reflection shared with the reader? It felt like Rooney was missing opportunities to explore interesting themes that would have added more depth to the book. Furthermore, skips such as these meant I was unable to maintain empathy consistently throughout the novel, and Marianne and Connell are not easy people to read about to begin with. You can’t afford to lose a reader’s empathy when your main characters’ struggles (to communicate, to make good decisions for themselves) become irritating without it.
This leads me to my thoughts about the plot. As a general rule, I enjoy character-driven plot, but I was tired of the constant back and forth by the end. A correction: I was tired of it a quarter of the way in. Their relationship felt largely repetitive, and the change in dynamic in the final act was not explored enough. If I had cared more about the characters, the ending might have been poignant, but as it was, I was just happy to be free of joyless characters and a book that had not quite reached its potential.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Suicide, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, and Misogyny
Minor: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Self harm
sinningsammy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
skateybarb'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
4.75
Graphic: Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Suicide
czty27'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
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexual assault and Death of parent
mirandalikesbooks'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
5.0
But
Honestly I did struggle with the dialogue not being in quotation marks...but I did adjust!!!
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexism, Grief, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Bullying, Eating disorder, and Classism
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
packedjam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Eating disorder
Minor: Mass/school shootings, Suicide, Fatphobia, Vomit, Classism, Abortion, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Drug use, Blood, and Racism
megshughes_13'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
3.75
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
kay_grace424's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Bullying and Sexual assault
cpratreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved the narrative style, the two narrators, and my favourite moments were often when we revisted the same moment from both perspectives.
It certainly led to a lot of discussion with my partner, who recommended the book to me.
5/5 will read again. I really loved it. Sally Rooney is now an auto-read for me.
Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts