Reviews

Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

lmcdannold's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing 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

4.5

connie_joy's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this book. It was the first Sally Rooney book that I've read, and she is now one of my favourite authors.
I picked it up while I was in a reading slump, and I can tell you that I am no longer in one. I really felt genuine love for these characters - particularly Alice and Felix. It is one of those "hot girl" intellectual reads. It made me think. A few times I had to read, and then re-read a page to understand what these very clever characters were talking about. It took me a few days to read, not because I didn't enjoy it, because I needed a bit of time to process some ideas and topics discussed. But after reading this, I can honestly say my perspective has changed. I look at the world, and I see its beauty. And if I can't see it, I find it. I appreciate how stunning crisp mornings are when everything glimmers with due, I appreciate the stars in the sky.
But back to the book, I loved the format. We had chapters that alternated from an ordinary format to emails. The characters were, relatable and loveable. I don't really know what to say. It was about life and love, and the beauty in those things.
Highly, highly recommend.

kenzielittle23's review against another edition

reflective sad 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

3.75

bosting52's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

izziepons's review against another edition

5.0

i don’t even know what to say other than i loved this book so so so so so much. it was just perfect to me in a way i don’t really know how to explain. the writing was a perfect pace i never felt bored. i loved the characters and all their unlikable qualities. i really don’t know what to say i might have to come edit this review bc even as i was reading it i knew it was going to be a new favorite of mine but i couldn’t quite put it into words why it was so amazing to me. it just is. i sorta feel like i do after leaving an antique shop.. like i loved the experience and had a lot of fun and got a lot out of it but i know there was still so much to see and if i go again ill get even more out of it.. like i loved the book and was really moved throughout the story but i think if i read it again id still find something new to love about it. i definitely have that feeling where i just finished the book but i want to flip back to page one and start all over.

ctoca's review against another edition

3.0

This is a tough one for me, as I loved Normal People and was excited for this novel. Overall, I did like the book. Rooney is a fantastic writer. What I didn't love were the characters, and although we know Rooney is an expert at writing unlikeable characters as well, I really had a hard time getting through the emails between Eileen and Alice. I would have given this four stars if it were not for the inclusion of the pandemic at the end of the book. I don't know what it is, but I am not enjoying any fictional media that includes the pandemic.

lkpack14's review against another edition

emotional 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

redwhiteandroyalreads's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-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

2.0

Definitely my least favorite Sally Rooney, I probably wouldn't have finished it if I didn't have the audiobook, also shoutout to the narrator for the quality accent. My main issue was that I felt like this didn't have much of a purpose; I think it comes around in the end, but I was struggling to see the point of it beyond all the characters talking about their worldviews and how miserable they are all the time. Coming back to the ending, I quite liked it, the positive tone and more concrete finish was a shift from her two previous books, which I appreciated. I think the ending makes the book feel less pointless too because you see that the characters kind of worked through some things by the end. There were many email chapters in this that seemed like an excuse for the author to insert her own opinions into the story, and while I felt like she had good insights on some things, I didn't like them because of that. Mainly my issue with the emails was that I felt that they didn't add anything to the story or give background to the characters very much; it was just like Alice/Eileen going "This is how I feel about celebrity culture/consumerism/religion/etc." and not giving me a reason as to why that's relevant. There are more subtle ways to weave societal commentary into contemporary fiction and this author has done that before, but in my opinion, not in this particular book. I didn't connect with the characters nearly as much as I did with her two previous books, they didn't feel like real people to me, and that's where a lot of my issues came from because it's very character-driven and you have to care about them to care about the book as a whole. Overall, a fine reading experience. I appreciated the writing and some of the things the author had to say, but it wasn't my favorite in many other ways. 

amandahoff's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing slow-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

4.75

prissyreads's review against another edition

3.0

**spoiler alert...?? kinda??**
When I first began this book, I kept putting it down. I didn't think I would like it as much as I liked Normal People, but I was wrong. Rooney tackles some of life's essential themes - love, relationships, religion, mental health, etc. The characters ask fundamental questions like: What does it mean to love and be loved? What is love actually? What does it mean to care for someone? Why are ANY OF US HERE?

In the end, I felt that the characters found the answers to these questions, and as a reader I was satisfied. It was a good read, and I recommend :)