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maria_rosa's review
dark
emotional
reflective
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
3.75
keeleysmh's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
boisdelaire's review
2.0
★★ ─── 2.75 stars.
i am so sorry (to myself) for this low-rating, i so badly wanted to be a sally rooney girlie.. this review won’t be long, there’s nothing that i can say that will be truly relevant, it’s just that we weren’t vibing together. however, sally rooney’s characters are as human and fleshed out as characters can be. they’re real, they’re the people we meet everyday, the people we are friends with, it’s us.
(i literally created a relatable things tab)
─── frances kinda reminds me of the main character in the stranger by albert camus, but in a more subtle and deep way (she actually experiences feelings) but she sometimes didn’t have societies’ « codes » and she didn't understand what people expected of her. maybe this isn't the right explanation, but the connections were making themselves up while i was reading.
nick and frances are people pleaser and it resonated through me at times, which kinda made me hate this book for being so spot on (i could never hate it though). i get how this book can be loved by so many, it’s a genre in itself and it’s so interesting to dissect every characters’ thoughts. it’s just not the way i like my stories to be told.
i am so sorry (to myself) for this low-rating, i so badly wanted to be a sally rooney girlie.. this review won’t be long, there’s nothing that i can say that will be truly relevant, it’s just that we weren’t vibing together. however, sally rooney’s characters are as human and fleshed out as characters can be. they’re real, they’re the people we meet everyday, the people we are friends with, it’s us.
(i literally created a relatable things tab)
─── frances kinda reminds me of the main character in the stranger by albert camus, but in a more subtle and deep way (she actually experiences feelings) but she sometimes didn’t have societies’ « codes » and she didn't understand what people expected of her. maybe this isn't the right explanation, but the connections were making themselves up while i was reading.
nick and frances are people pleaser and it resonated through me at times, which kinda made me hate this book for being so spot on (i could never hate it though). i get how this book can be loved by so many, it’s a genre in itself and it’s so interesting to dissect every characters’ thoughts. it’s just not the way i like my stories to be told.
eoblack's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
3.0
kailinyoh's review against another edition
4.5
“it wasn’t a bad feeling, specifically; it was slightly amusing and crazy, like when you stand up from your chair and suddenly realize how drunk you are. but it was true. i was in love with him.”
and *i* am in love with the worlds and characters sally rooney creates 🫶
and *i* am in love with the worlds and characters sally rooney creates 🫶
graafflotte's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
God I'm glad im not 21 and desperate, insecure and toxic anymore. Bobbi was just a terrible person, Frances too insecure, Nick a doormat and Melissa a tense powerhouse. Having a religious epiphany as a plot device was a bit lazy... all in all an okay read.
ccochard46's review against another edition
2.0
I'm not sure what it is, but maybe I'm not as much of a Rooney fan as I want to be???
Her writing is wonderful, don't get me wrong. I highly respect her as a writer and think she has a knack for being incredibly detailed in a way that is unique and oftentimes obscure.
However - have I ever liked a character of hers? Not really. The most I can think of would be Marianne from Normal People, but everyone else has fallen flat for me or have been incredibly flawed in a way that almost disturbs me. Not in like a cute way, or even in a relatable way, but sometimes they're just bad people who keep making bad decisions? Like maybe her idea behind her stories is to write these stories about the opposite of normal, typical characters? There's just something I'm not getting here and I'm disappointed in myself, but oh well. I gave it a shot!
Her writing is wonderful, don't get me wrong. I highly respect her as a writer and think she has a knack for being incredibly detailed in a way that is unique and oftentimes obscure.
However - have I ever liked a character of hers? Not really. The most I can think of would be Marianne from Normal People, but everyone else has fallen flat for me or have been incredibly flawed in a way that almost disturbs me. Not in like a cute way, or even in a relatable way, but sometimes they're just bad people who keep making bad decisions? Like maybe her idea behind her stories is to write these stories about the opposite of normal, typical characters? There's just something I'm not getting here and I'm disappointed in myself, but oh well. I gave it a shot!