Reviews

YAWWWWNNNNN. There were a lot of factors that went into me reading this much faster than ask again, yes but I do think in itself it says a lot about the depth and complexity and compelling nature of the latter! I sat with that book I reread segments I would look up from pages just to Ponder the situation and think of the characters and process all the decisions and character moments going on it was a thoughtful and thought provoking novel even though it's arguably just as 'mundane' and everyday as Normal People, centring a long-lasting romance between two key characters.

A book doesn't always have to be intellectual, complex, etc. I have no problem reading a fun entertaining book but this was also not particularly entertaining. It passed the time but I wasn't engrossed at continuously felt myself growing bored and irate. Rooney's writing is just so shallow and utilitarian it's why you can just snooze through it lol there's nothing to glean from each line other than its most basic meaning and nothing to glean from the characters. She tells you everything. The end especially feels funny to me because it strives for a sense of artistic ambiguity while this entire novel is horribly, incessantly to-the-point. There were a few paragraphs every once in a while that piqued my interest into these two characters lives, but it was never sufficient to carry the story. Ultimately both of these guys are really really boring. And Rooney's like oh but she likes freaky sex isn't that crazyyyyy. Girl who cares. That's my review actually. Girl who cares!

kjwalkerrr19's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

This was a good read, but I just wanted to shake and scream at Connell and Marianne. JUST TELL EACHOTHER HOW YOU FEEL!!!!!!!!!!! Omg it was infuriating. But, that’s also what makes it an engaging book, so I can’t complain. I want them together bad😭😭 also HATED the guy she dated on her study abroad.

materiality's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

nc0l's review against another edition

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slow-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

2.0

This was really not my kind of book or story lol. Despite what other reviews have said about Rooney’s writing, i found the characters to be lifeless, emotionless , 2 dimensional paper cut outs of what the author thinks a cool young person would be like. They travel to all sorts of beautiful places but we see no descriptions of these places. The characters get an education in politics and literature but the novel is still devoid of any meaningful discussion of any of this. Marianne and Connell get together and break up and get together again and I really couldn’t bring myself to give a shit- I had to skim read the last 40% of this book.

clairemat's review against another edition

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4.0

I think 4 stars.. really enjoyed it, although the story was quite heartbreaking. I really liked it as an audiobook and wonder what I would have thought if I read it rather than listened. The last 20 min or so kind of fell off for me. I wish it had a stronger ending.

newawinter's review against another edition

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2.0

The first time I ever dnf a book, my friend recommended this to me and let me borrow the book, but it was just not for me

hitchcock_'s review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-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? Yes

4.75

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