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danae's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Rape, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, and Pedophilia
nickoliver's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book was ... not what I expected. I mean, I didn't really go into it with any kind of expectations anyways; it was just some library book that I had lying around at home that I picked up spontaneously a few days ago because I was in the mood for an adult book that might possibly be on the more serious side. But it still made me feel things I really, really didn't anticipate?
I mostly really loved this book. I can't even explain why, but I just admired so many things about it? Like, the writing just somehow hit me in the feels, even if I don't think it was the most beautiful or most poetic writing I've ever read. And while the characters were frustrating and made me want to repeatedly run headfirst into the wall, I still really loved them? Both Marianne and Connell said certain things that I felt so deeply that it made me want to cry. There were also some really heavy topics that were discussed and dissected in a way that I was left feeling fragile and vulnerable, but in a good way?
I did find their relationship really frustrating, though. They were horrendous at communicating with each other, which just caused so much unnecessary hurt on both of their parts. I also didn't like the ending; it was very open, and while I don't always hate open endings, it was just frustrating here. Just when I thought that there might be a happy ending, Rooney was like, 'Lol you thought,' and delivered that. It caught me a bit off-guard, and I closed the book a lot more frustrated than I had hoped.
But still, overall, this book was excellent. It has left me feeling many things I hadn't felt in a while, and also made me want to read more of Rooney's work.
I mostly really loved this book. I can't even explain why, but I just admired so many things about it? Like, the writing just somehow hit me in the feels, even if I don't think it was the most beautiful or most poetic writing I've ever read. And while the characters were frustrating and made me want to repeatedly run headfirst into the wall, I still really loved them? Both Marianne and Connell said certain things that I felt so deeply that it made me want to cry. There were also some really heavy topics that were discussed and dissected in a way that I was left feeling fragile and vulnerable, but in a good way?
I did find their relationship really frustrating, though. They were horrendous at communicating with each other, which just caused so much unnecessary hurt on both of their parts. I also didn't like the ending; it was very open, and while I don't always hate open endings, it was just frustrating here. Just when I thought that there might be a happy ending, Rooney was like, 'Lol you thought,' and delivered that. It caught me a bit off-guard, and I closed the book a lot more frustrated than I had hoped.
But still, overall, this book was excellent. It has left me feeling many things I hadn't felt in a while, and also made me want to read more of Rooney's work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Death of parent, Pedophilia, and Racism
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