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itsbumley's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, and Suicide
emmalg07's review against another edition
emotional
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Violence, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
mhamed's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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
4.25
bethbrakefield's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
planetsusan's review against another edition
1.0
For starters, there is nothing normal about this book, or the people in it. I was expecting a light-hearted romance, but instead got a rollercoaster of messy, abusive, toxic relationships.
My biggest fault with the book:
1) It's entirely about sex between the two protagonists, and then various other relationships. All of it is extremely inappropriate, abusive, and plainly disgusting. I didn't enjoy reading that at all.
2) The character development. There's a lot to say on this one, but put simply the characters felt like the kinds of people who get everything and are "special." They should not have to work a day in their lives because all the opportunities will be handed to them. For instance, the perfect grades in highschool exams, the scholarships, the story published in the university paper (which is the first story Connell ever wrote, huh?).
3) The marketing for Millennials and Young Adults. It's done terribly too. Throughout the book there are some scenes that are there put in so the characters seem like good people, who are not privileged and care about world politics. They mention wars in developing countries, protests, effects of capitalism- but all in the most bland way possible. Like it's just embarrassing to even have included it, at this point. It doesn't add anything to the story, or to their conversations. The book makes fun of the way they discuss it in dinner parties, and even for attention, as if they don't really care. It's brought up in a sentence, and discarded.
4) The writing style. This book has no quotations, it's so irritating and not quirky. The book is hard to read, and the conversations are so confusing. Not only that but different people speak in the same paragraph. One person speaks a few sentences over several lines, as if new characters are speaking. Also, the entire structure of the novel sucks. She skips five months ahead at times, only to then go back and fill us in on the gaps. It doesn't let the scene finish, leaves things unsaid and also interrupts the current scene. Lots of people say it's a stylistic choice to represent the messiness of their lives, but the story feels like it doesn't have much of a plot.
Those are my biggest issues with this book. But I have more to say, and it won't fit in a numerical list. Basically, I'm about to rant...
As I've said, the book is basically a detailed document on the sexual relationships of Marrianne and Connell. Literally nothing else happens, except them being praised for being an inherent genius. The relationships are twisted and we can blame the men Marianne ended up with, for sure. But she plays a role. She is entirely "submissive" after being abused as a child and that's terrible, but I think there's an argument that just because you were abused a kid, doesn't mean all your future relationships are abusive. A more healthier take would be the character seeking therapy. Her submissive act really annoys me because it's not subtle, it's not healthy either.
This girl has issues and instead of learning something by the end of the book, she remains exactly the same. Once she gets in a relationship with Lukas, who photographs her in and does stuff to her, she learns how to say no and how to leave a relationship and put herself first. This the lesson I was hoping she would learn, since she doesn't enjoy being submissive, but she turned to it as a coping mechanism. It's an interesting idea, but not my cup of tea.
Then later we meet Connell again and she behaves like her old self, asking him to hit her and claim he owns her. He doesn't feel comfortable so they split up and have this strange relationship after, but then she is given one last chance to be the one calling the shots on Connell and she still does what he wants. Then the book ends.
I think it's weird how much Connell, who is supposed to be our good guy here actually likes having power over Marianne. He thinks about it frequently and would never act on it like the other guys she's dated, but that still doesn't make him a good person. So Marianne not demanding something from him, like all the times he used her feels strange. Like maybe the writer wants us to think Marianne has grown up, but for the book to end like that makes me feel like Marianne was used the entire time and will continue to be submissive.
It worries me that people romanticize these characters. They're unlikable and problematic, but compared to everyone they're surrounded by, they're the best. First, it's the glamorized loneliness in their highschool years, but still managing to find a secret relationship with a supposedly good guy. Then, it's the messing around with your friends and drinking a ton (also doing cocaine) and managing to get a perfect score on every exam. Not to mention that Marianne has an eating disorder, that is never treated and also idealized. Everyone comments on her being so thin and beautiful and frail, like a deer. The girl is clearly falling apart, but since everyone calls her crazy she can't recognize that part of herself and get help, without giving into them.
No one experiences any consequences. At most Marianne drops out of school because Connell used her for sex in highschool, but the only consequences are Connell feels sad and moves on with his life. Literally he treats her the same way throughout the book, and then never rehashes that experience. Why does no one in the school care about her dropping out, or just not showing up?
Also, Connell even drinks and drive and somehow makes it home safe. Like that part annoyed me too. Sure, it was supposed to be under a "romantic setting," but in real life that would be insanely dangerous.
Also both of these characters in my opinion are annoying. Connell super lonely and unable to chase after his dreams, or have any meaningful relationship after Marianne. He gets everything handed to him, someone begged him to let them publish his story, when does that ever happen?
It's such a toxic book. The characters never change or learn any important lessons. I only read it to mark it off on goodreads and by the time I hated it, I was a good amount through. I didn't want to have read it for nothing. There is nothing redeemable about this book, it's uncomfortable to read. Except it has a few good lines which every five star rating quoted. I don't ship the two main characters, they're both messed up. I only read it because of a YouTuber I liked, Moya Mawhinney who lived in Dublin and went to Trinity College.
My biggest fault with the book:
1) It's entirely about sex between the two protagonists, and then various other relationships. All of it is extremely inappropriate, abusive, and plainly disgusting. I didn't enjoy reading that at all.
2) The character development. There's a lot to say on this one, but put simply the characters felt like the kinds of people who get everything and are "special." They should not have to work a day in their lives because all the opportunities will be handed to them. For instance, the perfect grades in highschool exams, the scholarships, the story published in the university paper (which is the first story Connell ever wrote, huh?).
3) The marketing for Millennials and Young Adults. It's done terribly too. Throughout the book there are some scenes that are there put in so the characters seem like good people, who are not privileged and care about world politics. They mention wars in developing countries, protests, effects of capitalism- but all in the most bland way possible. Like it's just embarrassing to even have included it, at this point. It doesn't add anything to the story, or to their conversations. The book makes fun of the way they discuss it in dinner parties, and even for attention, as if they don't really care. It's brought up in a sentence, and discarded.
4) The writing style. This book has no quotations, it's so irritating and not quirky. The book is hard to read, and the conversations are so confusing. Not only that but different people speak in the same paragraph. One person speaks a few sentences over several lines, as if new characters are speaking. Also, the entire structure of the novel sucks. She skips five months ahead at times, only to then go back and fill us in on the gaps. It doesn't let the scene finish, leaves things unsaid and also interrupts the current scene. Lots of people say it's a stylistic choice to represent the messiness of their lives, but the story feels like it doesn't have much of a plot.
Those are my biggest issues with this book. But I have more to say, and it won't fit in a numerical list. Basically, I'm about to rant...
As I've said, the book is basically a detailed document on the sexual relationships of Marrianne and Connell. Literally nothing else happens, except them being praised for being an inherent genius. The relationships are twisted and we can blame the men Marianne ended up with, for sure. But she plays a role. She is entirely "submissive" after being abused as a child and that's terrible, but I think there's an argument that just because you were abused a kid, doesn't mean all your future relationships are abusive. A more healthier take would be the character seeking therapy. Her submissive act really annoys me because it's not subtle, it's not healthy either.
This girl has issues and instead of learning something by the end of the book, she remains exactly the same. Once she gets in a relationship with Lukas, who photographs her in and does stuff to her, she learns how to say no and how to leave a relationship and put herself first. This the lesson I was hoping she would learn, since she doesn't enjoy being submissive, but she turned to it as a coping mechanism. It's an interesting idea, but not my cup of tea.
Then later we meet Connell again and she behaves like her old self, asking him to hit her and claim he owns her. He doesn't feel comfortable so they split up and have this strange relationship after, but then she is given one last chance to be the one calling the shots on Connell and she still does what he wants. Then the book ends.
I think it's weird how much Connell, who is supposed to be our good guy here actually likes having power over Marianne. He thinks about it frequently and would never act on it like the other guys she's dated, but that still doesn't make him a good person. So Marianne not demanding something from him, like all the times he used her feels strange. Like maybe the writer wants us to think Marianne has grown up, but for the book to end like that makes me feel like Marianne was used the entire time and will continue to be submissive.
It worries me that people romanticize these characters. They're unlikable and problematic, but compared to everyone they're surrounded by, they're the best. First, it's the glamorized loneliness in their highschool years, but still managing to find a secret relationship with a supposedly good guy. Then, it's the messing around with your friends and drinking a ton (also doing cocaine) and managing to get a perfect score on every exam. Not to mention that Marianne has an eating disorder, that is never treated and also idealized. Everyone comments on her being so thin and beautiful and frail, like a deer. The girl is clearly falling apart, but since everyone calls her crazy she can't recognize that part of herself and get help, without giving into them.
No one experiences any consequences. At most Marianne drops out of school because Connell used her for sex in highschool, but the only consequences are Connell feels sad and moves on with his life. Literally he treats her the same way throughout the book, and then never rehashes that experience. Why does no one in the school care about her dropping out, or just not showing up?
Also, Connell even drinks and drive and somehow makes it home safe. Like that part annoyed me too. Sure, it was supposed to be under a "romantic setting," but in real life that would be insanely dangerous.
Also both of these characters in my opinion are annoying. Connell super lonely and unable to chase after his dreams, or have any meaningful relationship after Marianne. He gets everything handed to him, someone begged him to let them publish his story, when does that ever happen?
It's such a toxic book. The characters never change or learn any important lessons. I only read it to mark it off on goodreads and by the time I hated it, I was a good amount through. I didn't want to have read it for nothing. There is nothing redeemable about this book, it's uncomfortable to read. Except it has a few good lines which every five star rating quoted. I don't ship the two main characters, they're both messed up. I only read it because of a YouTuber I liked, Moya Mawhinney who lived in Dublin and went to Trinity College.
sukant's review against another edition
3.0
uhhhh I really loved Conversations with Friends so I was looking forward to reading Rooney's most known work, but it was just kinda.....mid? While I think I quite like Rooney's writing style, the plot is wishy-washy, the characters don't feel nearly as compelling, and while the signature Rooney introspection exists (and gives this novel an interesting flavour - "He finds himself rushing to the end of the conversation so they can hang up, and then he can restrospectively savour how much he likes seeing her, without the moment-to-moment pressure of having to produce the right expressions and say the right things."), it feels like seasoning trying to do the heavy lifting with an undercooked dish.
Just heavy will they-won't they-when will they-why don't they vibes. I'll just go reread Conversations with Friends.
Just heavy will they-won't they-when will they-why don't they vibes. I'll just go reread Conversations with Friends.
ardenshobbycorner's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
rahmaa_reads's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting and quite easy to read book. However, it was a very ordinary story and it was difficult to identify to the protagonists, whose personalities were not enough developed in my opinion.
The end of the book kept me skeptical, I was waiting for something more moving or concrete.
That’s why i gave 3/5 stars : I liked the book but definitely not a remarkable read.
The end of the book kept me skeptical, I was waiting for something more moving or concrete.
That’s why i gave 3/5 stars : I liked the book but definitely not a remarkable read.
beaub's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-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