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ariort's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t know what it is about Rooney's writing but I find myself completely mesmerised in every story she publishes. She writes about her characters in such a familiar way that I feel like they could be anyone I have ever crossed paths with. Their stories are situations that could really happen to anyone yet her writing makes them special in every way.
I really enjoyed this book. I don’t even know why because I got mad at the characters all the time but I experienced the same feeling with Normal People too. Emotions are narrated in a way so raw and honest that it makes it very easy to relate to the characters. I liked how France’s anxiety was described as it gave more authenticity to the character.
Rooney made me think about how hard relationships are and how important communication is once again after reading Normal People and I’m so keen for new stories.
I really enjoyed this book. I don’t even know why because I got mad at the characters all the time but I experienced the same feeling with Normal People too. Emotions are narrated in a way so raw and honest that it makes it very easy to relate to the characters. I liked how France’s anxiety was described as it gave more authenticity to the character.
Rooney made me think about how hard relationships are and how important communication is once again after reading Normal People and I’m so keen for new stories.
nivanivaniva's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
kalesalad28's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
msameliee's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
sallissss's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, so I actually quite enjoyed reading this which surprised me. I have rather disliked the other two Sally Rooney books so I did not expect to like this at all.
The plot is not much but there’s conflict and tension and the characters, despite once again being borderline narcissists in need of some serious therapy, did actually interest me.
The main character Frances is once again an ”intelligent”, teeny tiny skinny damaged brunette who has a lot of issues with herself. She is an entiteled, selfish, bitchy asshole and I kinda hated her. There are many relatable moments in her journey though and I enjoyed them. But i hated her, like this girl has the audacity to think she is somehow independent? Even though that’s the last thing she is lol. She has 2 pages of growth and that’s it. She’s a self-described communist whose communism is mostly phrases about destroying capitalism and not wanting to have a job, while simultaneously living off of her parents money and lurking around and being into rich people and the perks of being with them. She still hates them! But sure she would love to stay at their summer house! I’m kinda over how all Rooney’s novels seem to have at least one protagonist whose like this. Also maybe this is just me but for the love of God please can she write her political views into the text in a way that isnt this cringey?
The other ones aren’t really likable but are not as terrible as Frances. Nick ans Melissa have a shitty relationship that they for some reason keep being in, Bobbi is according to Frances some kind of demi-god and so on.
Still not a fan of Sally Rooney, but I do see where some of the praise comes. This one surprised me in a positive way and I read it quite fast and even got hooked! So I’d say this one’s worth a read!
The plot is not much but there’s conflict and tension and the characters, despite once again being borderline narcissists in need of some serious therapy, did actually interest me.
The main character Frances is once again an ”intelligent”, teeny tiny skinny damaged brunette who has a lot of issues with herself. She is an entiteled, selfish, bitchy asshole and I kinda hated her. There are many relatable moments in her journey though and I enjoyed them. But i hated her, like this girl has the audacity to think she is somehow independent? Even though that’s the last thing she is lol. She has 2 pages of growth and that’s it. She’s a self-described communist whose communism is mostly phrases about destroying capitalism and not wanting to have a job, while simultaneously living off of her parents money and lurking around and being into rich people and the perks of being with them. She still hates them! But sure she would love to stay at their summer house! I’m kinda over how all Rooney’s novels seem to have at least one protagonist whose like this. Also maybe this is just me but for the love of God please can she write her political views into the text in a way that isnt this cringey?
The other ones aren’t really likable but are not as terrible as Frances. Nick ans Melissa have a shitty relationship that they for some reason keep being in, Bobbi is according to Frances some kind of demi-god and so on.
Still not a fan of Sally Rooney, but I do see where some of the praise comes. This one surprised me in a positive way and I read it quite fast and even got hooked! So I’d say this one’s worth a read!
frida_reads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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? Yes
3.5
patdg's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book very much. As always Sally Rooney explorations of the emotions of her characters is riveting. I do wish that I had read this before indulging in Normal People but it was a captivating read all the same.
I do however dislike the ending. It is not what I expected and it has left me at somewhat of a cliffhanger wanting more - especially seeing what finally becomes of Frances and Nick.
I do however dislike the ending. It is not what I expected and it has left me at somewhat of a cliffhanger wanting more - especially seeing what finally becomes of Frances and Nick.
foemp_ie's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I was kind of disappointed by this book. I did think the writing was great! The dialogue was realistic and it was hard to put the book away even though the story wasn’t very compelling.
I liked the book at first but toward the end I got tired of the lack of personal growth for the main character. She can be very self absorbed and mean to the people she loves. She doesn’t communicate her feelings and is hurt when people don’t understand what she feels. The inner dialogue felt realistic at first but later in the book I didn’t sympathise with Frances anymore. Maybe that was the point of the book, but then I don’t understand why the people she hurt forgave her so easily.
Sometimes Frances had some good insights about herself. I wish there would have been more of that in the ending of the book. I found her really annoying and insufferable when she kept on hurting the people she supposedly loved.
Sometimes I thought the sexual aspect of the book was kind of weird or maybe there was just too much sex for my liking. The dialogue during sex made me cringe a little sometimes. The main character cries immediately after sex, which to me felt like something a 14 year old would write (maybe in a fanfiction). Once she has sex with someone while she’s crying the whole time and she is insulted when he wants to stop. When she emails her ex girlfriend Bobbi, who is also her best friend, in order to apologise because Frances hurt Bobbi, she also states that she wants to have sex with her and then they do have sex. This felt weird to me because if someone wrote that to me in an email I wouldn’t feel like I was taken seriously. I get that Frances doesn’t have a healthy relationship with sex but this isn’t something that gets resolved or even talked about.
I thought it was strange that Frances is so worried about her father but does nothing to try to help him. It isn’t her responsibility but if she claims to love him I don’t understand why she wouldn’t at least consult a friend about the situation.
I liked the book at first but toward the end I got tired of the lack of personal growth for the main character. She can be very self absorbed and mean to the people she loves. She doesn’t communicate her feelings and is hurt when people don’t understand what she feels. The inner dialogue felt realistic at first but later in the book I didn’t sympathise with Frances anymore. Maybe that was the point of the book, but then I don’t understand why the people she hurt forgave her so easily.
Sometimes Frances had some good insights about herself. I wish there would have been more of that in the ending of the book. I found her really annoying and insufferable when she kept on hurting the people she supposedly loved.
Sometimes I thought the sexual aspect of the book was kind of weird or maybe there was just too much sex for my liking. The dialogue during sex made me cringe a little sometimes. The main character cries immediately after sex, which to me felt like something a 14 year old would write (maybe in a fanfiction). Once she has sex with someone while she’s crying the whole time and she is insulted when he wants to stop. When she emails her ex girlfriend Bobbi, who is also her best friend, in order to apologise because Frances hurt Bobbi, she also states that she wants to have sex with her and then they do have sex. This felt weird to me because if someone wrote that to me in an email I wouldn’t feel like I was taken seriously. I get that Frances doesn’t have a healthy relationship with sex but this isn’t something that gets resolved or even talked about.
I thought it was strange that Frances is so worried about her father but does nothing to try to help him. It isn’t her responsibility but if she claims to love him I don’t understand why she wouldn’t at least consult a friend about the situation.
wyelow's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.75