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lzimmeade'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
3.5
Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
zenizage'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
3.75
We jump around a bit in time and in POV in this one. We learn about what happens through what Connell or Marianne respectively experience or how they remember an event, an interesting way to convey how misunderstandings can and will happen between two people. The essence is in what wasn't said, the very real problem of (not) communicating while also still trying to figure things out as a teen or young adult. It lacks in depth sometimes, but the characters are still very young, so it is almost fitting.
Since the story is told from the perspectives of two different people and is specifically about their relationship the reader doesn't really get to dive that deep into the world and deeper thoughts of a character–but it makes for a fast read.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, and Abandonment
anton13'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Vomit, Antisemitism, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
sunshineshazam'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? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Body shaming and Eating disorder
swagkermit'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
2.25
I've heard rave reviews about Sally Rooney's books both online and in-person, and I thought one of her strengths was crafting realistic characters. Unfortunately for me, I did not realise that 'realistic and flawed' is synonymous with 'unlikeable'. I simply did not like either of these people at all and did not care for them, they fell rather flat.
Most of my criticisms of these characters were brought up in the book (namely Helen calling Marianne self-absorbed) and Rooney attempts to refute this by saying that Marianne genuinely cares about world politics and it's not attention-seeking (as Helen believes). I do not believe that it is attention seeking, but it does seem that Marianne gets a kick out of feeling superior to other people (especially when her History teacher gets his comeuppance for daring to try and teach her history, as if she could learn anything from him). This trait lessens a bit as the book goes on
I found the writing was fine and there were some particularly quotable passages, but I didn't have any kind of emotional response to anything that happened (apart from maybe the first 'break-up' situation).
I thought that there were some good social observations in this book, my favourite being the scholarships and the discussion between Connell and Marianne about the significance to each of them.
Overall I felt like I was living in a bubble of only them, and they were both living in that bubble as well. People drifted in and out of their lives - friends, relationships - but they didn't seem to actually like any of these people and were just passing time until they collided again. Apparently no one understands them like each other, yet it seems they must be desperate for a relationship with anyone because they go running into one with whoever their friend recommends as their next partner with no regard to their own feelings. Is this how people are actually living these days?
I felt like I was missing something key about this relationship and did not find their story memorable at all. That said, I think I will try to watch the series to see if observing real people acting out these events makes them seem 'raw' and 'realistic'.
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
holliesatchell'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
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
selenaskitels's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Violence
selimhannah'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: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Cursing, Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
ryanbada'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: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Abandonment, and Classism
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Hate crime, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
madyoda'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
Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Classism
Moderate: Body shaming, Physical abuse, and Violence