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megshughes_13's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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
Not a chore to read and beautifully written. There’s just like 0 plot which I need for a five star.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Alcohol
kay_grace424's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Bullying and Sexual assault
cpratreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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 this book. I read it very quickly, and would have had read it much faster if I didn't have to work and could have stayed up all night to read it.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts
defunctfridge's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, and Physical abuse
bubblyfemme's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
I read this for a uni class and I can tell for the most part this is a ‘love it or hate it’ kind of book.
I think if the themes and experiences of the characters hit home for you, you will be much more invested and affected by the book. If not it seems people come away very unbothered about the story.
Personally some of Marianne’s story really hit home and I could really empathise with her, despite her overwhelming flaws, so I enjoyed the book in a sort of self-therapising way. Whereas I know people who found her annoying when they read the story.
This review is all over the place but it's hard for me to give an overview because the novel doesn't really lead anywhere or have a ‘true meaning’ if that makes sense.
I think if the themes and experiences of the characters hit home for you, you will be much more invested and affected by the book. If not it seems people come away very unbothered about the story.
Personally some of Marianne’s story really hit home and I could really empathise with her, despite her overwhelming flaws, so I enjoyed the book in a sort of self-therapising way. Whereas I know people who found her annoying when they read the story.
This review is all over the place but it's hard for me to give an overview because the novel doesn't really lead anywhere or have a ‘true meaning’ if that makes sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Classism, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
ginaedosie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
mouseyhare's review against another edition
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
3.5
I will never be able to decide if I actually enjoyed reading this or not. But it was a quick read and I did finish it without getting too frustrated by it. Both of the romantic leads were not the best people and the ending felt a little strange. Not bad, but strange. It is definitely not a romance though, I could never figure out why it gets billed that way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
sestout's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Sexual assault
Minor: Classism
kellies_7831's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
ada_elisabeth's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Oh boy, this was a lot.
When I initially picked up Normal People, I thought I was going to hate it. Why? Because of the distinct lack of quotation marks. Occasionally quotation mark-less books work for me, but it's a rare occurrence, and Normal People did not seem like the kind of book that should have no quotation marks. However, once I was able to move past the weird dialogue writing, I found this book to be... enjoyable? I am a firm believer that there are limited things on this earth more satisfying than finishing a book, so there's something a quite enjoy about quick reads, which Normal People was. I always feel a little like my nine-year-old self reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in one day when I manage to read more than thirty pages in one sitting, and Normal People really delivered in that department.
However, the more I read, the more concerned I became. Firstly, I have never read a book about two people who are so willing to let others walk all over them. What happened to strong-willed, independent people? I suppose Connell and Marianne were made for each other because of how passive they both were. Secondly, Marianne needs help. Girl is really out in the world thinking she's unlovable and deserves bad things because of her abusive family. She also knows she needs therapy, but refuses to actually get it for some reason? (Props to Connell for realizing that he needed help.) Also, I feel like Marianne had a whole eating disorder thing happening there that just... was never addressed? Like, several characters commented on how thin she'd gotten, she never eats a full meal and orders less food at restaurants, and she even states at one point that she doesn't eat anything between breakfast and nine pm. I feel like this aspect of Marianne's life (and how it was related to her other mental health issues) could have been explored in much more detail. Also, the fact that she actively sought out abusive boyfriends was incredibly concerning. Please go get help, Marianne.
Connell was also concerning, but it a much less prominent way. The way Sally Rooney wrote his depression was kind of humorous, in a dark way. Case(s) in point:
"Well, here I am on the floor, he thought." (Connell, on being to depressed to make it to his bed so he just flopped down on the floor.)
"'... someone who's going through a mild depressive episode could expect to see a score of maybe fifteen or sixteen.'
'Okay,' he says. 'Right.'
'And what we're seeing here is a score of forty-three.'" (Connell and a counselor on the results of his depression survey.)
Although these are far from the best quotes in this incredibly poetic novel, they were my favorite. In any case, I was concerned the entire time, but I enjoyed reading this book, so 4.25/5 stars, rounded down.
When I initially picked up Normal People, I thought I was going to hate it. Why? Because of the distinct lack of quotation marks. Occasionally quotation mark-less books work for me, but it's a rare occurrence, and Normal People did not seem like the kind of book that should have no quotation marks. However, once I was able to move past the weird dialogue writing, I found this book to be... enjoyable? I am a firm believer that there are limited things on this earth more satisfying than finishing a book, so there's something a quite enjoy about quick reads, which Normal People was. I always feel a little like my nine-year-old self reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in one day when I manage to read more than thirty pages in one sitting, and Normal People really delivered in that department.
However, the more I read, the more concerned I became. Firstly, I have never read a book about two people who are so willing to let others walk all over them. What happened to strong-willed, independent people? I suppose Connell and Marianne were made for each other because of how passive they both were. Secondly, Marianne needs help. Girl is really out in the world thinking she's unlovable and deserves bad things because of her abusive family. She also knows she needs therapy, but refuses to actually get it for some reason? (Props to Connell for realizing that he needed help.) Also, I feel like Marianne had a whole eating disorder thing happening there that just... was never addressed? Like, several characters commented on how thin she'd gotten, she never eats a full meal and orders less food at restaurants, and she even states at one point that she doesn't eat anything between breakfast and nine pm. I feel like this aspect of Marianne's life (and how it was related to her other mental health issues) could have been explored in much more detail. Also, the fact that she actively sought out abusive boyfriends was incredibly concerning. Please go get help, Marianne.
Connell was also concerning, but it a much less prominent way. The way Sally Rooney wrote his depression was kind of humorous, in a dark way. Case(s) in point:
"Well, here I am on the floor, he thought." (Connell, on being to depressed to make it to his bed so he just flopped down on the floor.)
"'... someone who's going through a mild depressive episode could expect to see a score of maybe fifteen or sixteen.'
'Okay,' he says. 'Right.'
'And what we're seeing here is a score of forty-three.'" (Connell and a counselor on the results of his depression survey.)
Although these are far from the best quotes in this incredibly poetic novel, they were my favorite. In any case, I was concerned the entire time, but I enjoyed reading this book, so 4.25/5 stars, rounded down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Child abuse