Scan barcode
dlsmk'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
3.25
Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Body shaming, Bullying, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Violence
valen_chialvo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Misogyny, Body shaming, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Eating disorder
dfram'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
5.0
I read this book in 24 hours, I was absolutely incapable of putting it down. I loved every single element on it. Relatable characters with immesurable personal growth; and yet, the essence of their personalities remained intact. Mental health discussions (with responsible details + relevant and important information for YA). The accuracy of the description of feelings of inadequacy among same-aged peers. The truth about young love, and how inevitable heart break is. The social criticism and the discussion about class and wealth (and how it impacts our relationships). How life changing it is to find someone who not only understands and accepts you for who you are, but loves you because of it and not in spite of what makes you you.
What I love about this book so much is that Marianna and Connell are normal people. They're as real as the next person is. I felt myself identified with the plot to their story. The truth is, nearly everyone I know has experienced what it's like to struggle between letting go and holding on tighter. The gist of the story is best summarized via the following popular saying: "if you love somebody, let them go. For if they return, they were always yours. If they don't, they never were".
My only complaint? The lack of quotations to identify the dialogue took me an embarrassingly long amount of chapters to adapt to.
I wish there was more to this story.
10/10 would recommend.
April 2024
I agree with my past self! I felt able to fully immerse myself in the story and that is a feeling I seek when reading other books. I felt the characters were super relatable, and those that I didn’t love I could understand except Marianne’s fam, fuck them I loved that Marianne and Connell were flawed and awkward.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Alcohol, Blood, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Bullying
Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Racism
Minor: Abortion
divingforroses's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Death, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
janaptrsn'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
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent, Classism, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Body shaming, and Suicide
Minor: Abortion and Infidelity
tessagush'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
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, and Alcohol
thedambookshelf'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
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Racism, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Body shaming, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts
cepbreed'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
“Marianne answers the door when Connell rings the bell.”
I read this entire book while my chest was constricted. Each line makes me feel like I can’t breathe, like there’s concrete blocking my throat. Oh god this is so tragic. Each misunderstanding makes me want to throw myself into a wall. I had this conversation with my roommate about why Sally Rooney doesn’t use quotations before I began reading. She told me it’s because it makes the book much more intimate, the characters are more lifelike when they aren’t confined to the grammatical conventions of a novel. She’s so right. I didn’t realize I had a little implicit bias when reading, when I see a quotation mark it sends off something in my brain. Without it my brain must take that extra step to realize something is a quote. I have to think first for once, how insane. I still don’t like how it looks but thank you for this Sally Rooney.
Once again I turned to my roommate and had a conversation after I finished and she asked me what I thought about Connell and Marianne, well that's the basics of her question anyways. I answered honestly and told her I prefer Connell. Something about him is just so much more compelling to me. Sure I like Marianne, I sympathize with her, but I feel more pity for her while I relate more to Connell. We talked to through and I came to a conclusion that I guess says more about me than about the characters. Marianne is a character who is full of anxieties, insecurities and vulnerability. As a woman these are all things I hate about myself. Because Connell is a man I don't see his faults in the same light I see her's in. With Marianne a lot of my issue with her comes from the response I would have about myself if it were me in her shoes. Damn.
Songs:
- Casual - Chappell Roan
- Good Sex - Susannah Joffe
- Sidelines - Phoebe Bridgers
- About You - the 1975
- the 1 - Taylor Swift
- Perfect Storm - Inhaler
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Blood
Minor: Death
laylaxm17'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“I’m not a religious person but I do sometimes think God made you for me” CONNELL SHUT UP I’LL CRY
Graphic: Grief, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Bullying, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Death, Eating disorder, and Body shaming
abibliophobic_nerd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.25
This book made a 9 hour flight with crazy turbulences even longer and stressful.
I do want to give it another chance… I think.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Abandonment, and Rape
Minor: Alcohol and Blood