Reviews tagging 'Adult/minor relationship'

Normal People by Sally Rooney

94 reviews

jja_b's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Ok, while I don’t deny that Rooney is a very talented writer, I think this might have been a mismatch between me and her. I didn’t really know what to expect when going into it, but I probably should have guessed by the title that this would be a “normal” story. I don’t mean that in a critical way, and I’m not implying that it’s uninspired. “Normal” was obviously what Rooney was going for. I could look at a group of people I know and find a similar tale, This just wasn’t for me.

Don’t get me wrong. I did enjoy the book at times. I found Connell quite a compelling character and I think the book can be described as a page-turner, but most of the characters were unlikeable and the miscommunication between Connell and Marianne just became too frustrating.

The ending infuriated me. I get the point, but it was still infuriating.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Sexual assault, Mental illness, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cursing, Grief, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Eating disorder, Child abuse, Classism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Racism, Blood, and Bullying

juliamakena's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Bullying

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Pregnancy and Blood

queanh's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Body shaming, Bullying, Gaslighting, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Sexism and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

abioneil's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.25

This book is quite complex. The relationship that Connel and Marianne have is painful to read about. Don’t go into this thinking it will end with sunshine and rainbows. It is obvious that both characters needed serious help. Other than that, I would say that the narrating style was a bit odd, the narrator was third person and at times seemed to be limited and other times omniscient. I didn’t quite enjoy the book, the idea that relationships between people can change their overal character and personality is explored wonderfully, however, it does feel like some of the scenes central ideas are repeated (even though this may have advanced the plot, it was hard to read). I think that the character growth felt sudden instead of gradual buildup.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Alcohol, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Death, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Violence

Minor: Abortion, Blood, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, War, Adult/minor relationship, and Grief

peachyprarthna's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad fast-paced

• 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 was ready to be disappointed because i had such high hopes for sally rooney. however, it did the opposite. this book is so intimate, it forces the reader to feel their emotions and reflect on the things the characters do -- and what we, as "normal people" have done ourselves.

marianne and connell are widely different, yet incredibly similar. it's a story that follows two people who are so deeply interwoven into each other's lives that when the other is absent, they indulge in the most self destructive behaviours to fill that void. slowly, you also realise the intense hold they have on each other, something that can never truly be erased. they have become a intricate part of the other's essence, never really leaving for good.

 conclusion, this was one of the best books i've read in 2022. i would recommend it until i drop dead. sally rooney's writing intimidated me at first, but it flows very easily and beautifully once you start reading.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Classism

Moderate: Eating disorder, Adult/minor relationship, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Suicidal thoughts

brookeharbula's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Suicide, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicidal thoughts

raisinflakies's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing sad tense fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Classism, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Death of parent, Drug use, Suicide, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, and Infidelity

aftersuns_'s review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.5

I rarely say I dislike a book, but this was one of the worst I have ever read. I only gave it 0.5 stars on the basis that there was a few good lines throughout the book that resonated with me, but on a whole, it was triggering, bordering on the glorification of several touchy subjects.

Rooney might have been attempting to connect the intricacies of human interactions between Connell and Marianne, but they come off a grotesque and idealized. The depiction of Marianne eating and the descriptions of how she is practically starving herself on purpose are deeply upsetting and probably should not be read by anyone who suffers from an eating disorder. Like wise, those who suffer from any form of sexual abuse, harassments, or trauma will most like not find this book enjoyable due to the way Rooney weaves the issue into the fabric of her characters. There is a distinct difference between kinky sex and glorifying abuse as a form of kink, and Rooney fails to find the difference between the two.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Gaslighting, Grief, Physical abuse, Self harm, Blood, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Adult/minor relationship

adibasultana's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Grief, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Classism, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Death, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicide

Minor: Blood

karlisimp's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• 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

2.0

I couldn’t put the book down. I think it is a good read for sure but I did not like the stereotype that Marianne was portrayed under. I’m glad that Connell got mental health help, but Marianne never did and she was clearly battling depression and probably an eating disorder. She probably is also autistic or has ptsd. Overall the content of the book is dark. I don’t know why this was suggested to me as like a happy romantic coming of age story. The book was good and the writing was good but the content was not it for me especially with constant disparity.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, and Violence

Minor: Racism