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tina_482's review
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Suicidal thoughts
sunbathingturtle's review against another edition
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
This is the second Sally Rooney book I’ve read and both novels have captured the dense knot of human miscommunication so accurately that it’s painful to read. But also a relief.
I found the characters and relationships compelling. Through them, the story got at truths that simple statements can’t capture as brightly.
I see here that many people disliked the email exchanges, but I enjoyed them. It was interesting to hear the characters’ big ideas and then to see the minutiae of their days and personal entanglements.
And best of all, I really enjoyed the way this story closed.
Also I highly recommend the audiobook, the narrator was SUPERB and captured each character so perfectly.
I found the characters and relationships compelling. Through them, the story got at truths that simple statements can’t capture as brightly.
I see here that many people disliked the email exchanges, but I enjoyed them. It was interesting to hear the characters’ big ideas and then to see the minutiae of their days and personal entanglements.
And best of all, I really enjoyed the way this story closed.
Also I highly recommend the audiobook, the narrator was SUPERB and captured each character so perfectly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Abortion
lizziaha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
3.75
I appreciate sally rooney’s commitment to reality in the telling of this story. and I have to acknowledge that she writes characters that I relate to so deeply it’s uncomfortable. but the reality of it, while rendering it very thought-provoking at points, makes it boring at points.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content, Drug use, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Child abuse, Chronic illness, and Abortion
lucyeanderson's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
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
5.0
it definitely would appear that i give 5 stars out left right and centre, maybe because i honestly get emotionally attached to almost every book i read - but this one was truly a million out of ten. i’m concerned that sally rooney may actually be able to see into my brain, because particularly eileen was one of the most relatable characters i’ve ever experienced. i loved seeing the relationships of the two couples develop - i really rooted for them and the realistic way the progression of their relationships was detailed. felix and simon were also two ends of a spectrum of men that any young woman can relate to - i saw them in my own friends and partners visually and mentally. i also think alice and eileen’s friendship is one of the first time i’ve truly seen a long distance friendship accurately portrayed in a new adult book. it made me think of my own best friend, and sparked a two hour phone call when we hadn’t spoken in weeks. the email chapters were some of my favourites, and their discussion of society, history and religion really furthered the plot while providing an interesting and attention-holding intermission. it made me think on a lot of subjects more deeply, such as what it is to be a young woman in the current times and the priorities i have in my life. it showed me that prioritising loving and spending time with others is not a bad thing, but is rather something to aspire to. this book means a lot to me, and to think of a world without sally rooneys writing is something i’m not prepared to do. as always adore adore adore.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent and Drug use
alyssaherrington's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Sally Rooney’s ability to put emotion in word will always be a reason why i love her work. She so beautifully captured what it feels like to experience the contrast of every day life - feeling the magnitude of the world and how small it may make you feel, or the crux of thinking your own problems may be trivial in comparison to the greater multitude & how insincere it sometimes feels to care about who you’re hooking up with or who you love and your common relationships that make up your life. i thought this was a beautiful read that captured the nuances of various relationships you may have in your life and how they make you who you are.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Abortion, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Panic attacks/disorders
charlottasimojoki's review
funny
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Death of parent
simranpahwa's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book put me in a reading slump for all of April and I’ll never forgive it for that. I truly hope Normal People is better cause I’ve already bought the book 🫠 I understand the hype around this book but not sure if I really enjoyed it. The smut was so random but lowkey the best part of the book LOL. I don’t think the author did a great job at describing the physical characteristics of the characters because I never really had a clear picture of what any of them looked like, except for Simon, who I pictured as a combo of Ed Speelers and Ansel Elgort (except blonde). Also Felix… literally what was the point of having him in this novel. He was giving nothingggg. Dude needs to go to a therapist, but then don’t we all 🤣
Overall was a meh book for me…
Overall was a meh book for me…
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
fluffy1st's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, and Pregnancy
risemini's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical content, Infidelity, Drug use, Classism, Blood, Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
writingcaia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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’m not even sure how I’m going to review this book.
What can I say?
It lies heavily on the characters or solely, to be honest, as if by living their lives, dealing with their internal and external struggles, the way of the world, the way of people, their meetings, their encounters, their love for each other however crooked and moulded by their own fallibility and fears, they carry the plot. And, they carry it wonderfully, insightfully, painfully, sometimes - for me the also fallible and emotionally pained reader - annoyingly, but without a doubt very candidly and passionately.
Maybe this is not enough for some people, maybe you didn’t or can’t, unlike me see so much of yourself in the characters - me especially in both Alice and Eileen, with their sadness at the world and the people, Eileen with such consuming fear and self-destructiveness and Alice with such crippling anxiety.
The narrative is interesting alternating between third person, with the most beautiful writing that can really put you in there seeing everything as if it was a movie set or the real deal - you know? -, and the first person by way of emails Alice and Eileen exchange between them. Also, pretty good queer representation without being anything about it.
I understand why this author is as hyped as she is, and why, still, there are many who don’t understand that hype. But, as you can clearly imagine after this review, I’m going to devour the rest of her work.
One last note indeed proving how much this book meant to me and how much I related to it, I never mark books, but there was so much I didn’t want to forget, so much I may want to go back to, that I finally made use of those tiny post it thingies and marked the hell out of it.
That’s it folks.
What can I say?
It lies heavily on the characters or solely, to be honest, as if by living their lives, dealing with their internal and external struggles, the way of the world, the way of people, their meetings, their encounters, their love for each other however crooked and moulded by their own fallibility and fears, they carry the plot. And, they carry it wonderfully, insightfully, painfully, sometimes - for me the also fallible and emotionally pained reader - annoyingly, but without a doubt very candidly and passionately.
Maybe this is not enough for some people, maybe you didn’t or can’t, unlike me see so much of yourself in the characters - me especially in both Alice and Eileen, with their sadness at the world and the people, Eileen with such consuming fear and self-destructiveness and Alice with such crippling anxiety.
The narrative is interesting alternating between third person, with the most beautiful writing that can really put you in there seeing everything as if it was a movie set or the real deal - you know? -, and the first person by way of emails Alice and Eileen exchange between them. Also, pretty good queer representation without being anything about it.
I understand why this author is as hyped as she is, and why, still, there are many who don’t understand that hype. But, as you can clearly imagine after this review, I’m going to devour the rest of her work.
One last note indeed proving how much this book meant to me and how much I related to it, I never mark books, but there was so much I didn’t want to forget, so much I may want to go back to, that I finally made use of those tiny post it thingies and marked the hell out of it.
That’s it folks.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Minor: Alcohol, Confinement, and Death of parent