Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Normal People by Sally Rooney

1247 reviews

theasoleil's review against another edition

dark emotional 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse

Minor: Eating disorder and Emotional abuse

gaby_readsss's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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

3.0

Normal People is not a book you read for enjoyment. Its story will break your heart and frustrate you to no end.

I had wanted to read this book after hearing so many polarizing opinions on it. To be honest, I don’t even know how I feel about this book yet. Part of me wants to love it but I mostly hate it. Like, I get it, but why does it have to be so complicated? If you guys love each other and are miserable without each other why do you keep letting each other go? 😭 I know that this is more than just their relationship but man, I don’t even know if these characters had any personal growth. 
Also, that ending was so frustrating. I get the point but I don’t get it at the same time. 😩

I’ll go watch the show now to try and make sense of what I just read. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Bullying, and Suicidal thoughts

mackenziewrites's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

 I was so excited to read this book after coming across it in an Instagram video, I began seeing it everywhere but I had no idea what it was about. It sat on my shelf for a few months, the bright green and blue cover calling my name every day. This was my first time not reading reviews, synopses, or spoilers and I think I want to continue to do that moving forward. It worked out so well for me with this one! 

 

The first thing I noticed was the author’s choice to not use quotation marks for the dialogue. It threw me for a loop for the first few pages, but I got used to it. 

One review from The Washington Post says “A novel that demands to be read compulsively in one sitting” and while I didn’t do that, I found myself constantly wanting to read more about Marianne and Connell and what happens next in their story. 

 

Sally Rooney draws you into a seemingly mundane story set across years about characters who you become completely invested in. Sometimes you just want to shake them and tell them to open their eyes. The book illuminates the power in the small moments between two people, the said and the unsaid, the line between love and friendship. If you’re looking for a quick or easy read that will engross you and pull at your heartstrings while also bringing up core memories from your own life, pick this one up. 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Physical abuse

eilisrowan's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Violence, Sexual violence, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Eating disorder, and Panic attacks/disorders

pau0704'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Really liked this book. It's very easy to read and very easy to follow the story. Characters are complex and really well developed. I really don't have much to say about this book except that I liked it a lot and the ending was not what I was expecting so I really liked that, always love when a book surprises me in a good way. 
Loved the writing style of the author. Now I get why this book is this famous. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, Mental illness, Bullying, and Gaslighting

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, and Injury/Injury detail

kitkathw871's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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

2.75

I found it a bit of a slog to get through because the relationship issues cycled repetitively, building tension where you think they're going to get it together this time

only for the book to end in an unsatisfying fizzle

. I do see the merit of this book as a reflection of the messiness of life, but it's not what I am personally looking for. There's a familiarity with which the author writes about sex and relationships that struck a discomfort within me and I couldn't shake that feeling, taking me out of the story by triggering memories on my own experiences. There's some great lines within the book and I think it does hold a mirror up to your perspective on your life,  but this book wasn't really for me. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Physical abuse

Moderate: Suicide

melissa_cosgrove's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

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

2.0

If “I can change him” was a book… and a really really boring one at that. Sentence by sentence, she’s a good writer, which is why it’s such a shame that she chose to write… this. I’m embarrassed to have read this?? I don’t get why this was such a hit.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse

harper11'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

1.0

One star because the only thing that pushed me through the trenches of this book was Rooney’s writing style. This book was completely and absolutely not for me, which is a shame considering the hype. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Physical abuse, Bullying, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Child abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, and Blood

Moderate: Suicide and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Racism

elisecavanaugh's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Suicide and Physical abuse

torilehman28's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-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

4.25

A great book to reflect on yourself and how you love others.

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse