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mintymintyminty'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
1.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Vomit, and Grief
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Racism and War
sadiaa'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
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: War and Classism
abioneil'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
3.25
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Sexual violence, Violence, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
chaoticweevil'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Drug use, Racism, and War
madelinelindy'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
4.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Physical abuse, Mass/school shootings, and War
librarymouse's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
The casual way sex is discussed between character is distinctly foreign to American readers, and the freedom afforded by it that isn't really a part of American purity culture made the novel an interesting read as it shifted from familiar to foreign and back again.
Normal People is going to be a book I cherish in the future, but in the way a classic is cherished. The writing was magnificent and I was enthralled by the plot.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Classism
Minor: War
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
ugghhh. i went into this really wanting to like it, but it was just not for me. that's partly my fault. i had decided to take a hiatus from reading The Song of Achilles because i knew it had a tragic ending and i'm not in the best mental state rn and wanted something uplifting, when i discovered both the ebook and audiobook of Normal People immediately available to borrow on Libby. don't know what i was thinking to not check the moods and content warnings if i wanted something lighthearted—that's literally what storygraph is for, totally on me.
in a word, this book was upsetting. i've heard someone (specifically, booktuber emmie) describe reading The Goldfinch (haven't read it myself) as having a kind of second-hand depression effect, and i understand it now because Normal People had this very effect on me. three particularly disturbing scenes come to mind:
with that main point out of the way, it was objectively well-written with lovely prose. i really liked its pacing, jumping forward in time but catching readers up with flashbacks. its general concept reminded me of The Namesake, following a character or characters across years of their life and focusing mainly on romantic relationships, and i prefer Normal People's execution over The Namesake's. 2⅜ stars
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Abortion, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Vomit, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, and War
kayabennett'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
4.5
marianne and connell’s relationship was heart wrenching to read and at times i felt frustrated by how little they communicated and how things would have gone smoother if they did but then again, that is the point of the story.
throughout my time reading this book, i have recommended it to a number of people.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, and War