Reviews

Normal People by Sally Rooney

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chicagobelle's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Note that this review is for the audiobook edition. I have not read other works by this author.

I am a sucker for stories about childhood sweethearts who become sweethearts in adulthood. "Sweetheart" is not the best description of their relationship, though. This is more of a character study than a romance. Two flawed, broken people enter into a complicated FWB, or "situationship," as teens and keep coming back to each other when they are looking for some kind of comfort or familiarity, which almost inevitably leads to sex. I went back and forth between liking and disliking the main characters, but perhaps liking them isn't the point so much as exploring the minds and hearts of two depressed people navigating adult relationships. The ending was just okay. It made sense, but I am not sure how much character growth there was at the end. The book kept my attention, though. Lorraine (Connell's mom) was my favorite character.

gillianw's review against another edition

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2.0

Not for me.

Stellar start to a new year of reading. Sigh.

hotaling007's review against another edition

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3.25

this was an interesting book
I don't think I've read a book about a characters full life and how they had multiple different relationships than the true love interesting. also it might have just been my copy but there was was equation marks so it was hard to determine if they were talking or if something was happening. I don't know. it was interesting

usharb's review against another edition

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2.0

this book didn’t really have a plot it was more of a character study and personally that just didn’t interest me. It also felt very redundant and wasn’t enjoyable to read.

bagejew's review against another edition

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1.0

One of the most depressing books I have ever read.

lisakerd's review against another edition

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2.0

First of all, why no quotation marks? Just...why?? I abhor that “creative choice.” So I listened to the audiobook instead, after surrendering the physical book only one chapter in. The audiobook was better, but I still didn’t see the appeal of a long, drawn out friends with benefits story...