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bookedbymadeline's review
Sometimes the writing is nice and I get pulled in and other times it drags-the pacing is just all over the place. I finally decided to DNF because there hasn’t been any character development and the whole Frances/Nick relationship is just repeating the same things every single time. Nothing new has been happening and no one is just saying how they really feel?! Every character is so passive and unlikeable-I’m just not a Rooney girly 🤷🏻♀️
Graphic: Alcoholism, Self harm, Mental illness, Chronic illness, Sexual content, and Infidelity
Moderate: Medical content, Vomit, Emotional abuse, and Blood
_throne_of_roses_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Alcoholism, Blood, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Chronic illness
devlev7's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Frances is so relatable in many ways, but so frustrating, and a highly unreliable narrator - not intentionally, but due to her own warped perception and misunderstanding of herself and those around her. Rooney’s characters are so detailed, so recognizable, and so dedicated to their own unhappiness. You want to shake them and say snap out of it. But of course, you understand. Because who among us hasn’t done something or continued to do something that you know will end badly.
Themes of body and self image, sickness as metaphor and literal, image vs. reality run throughout the story and characters, who each let their assumptions of what others think of them interfere with their relationships in their own ways. Rooney portrays these mistakes, fears, hurtful actions without judgment. Her characters are so human. There is no villain and no hero, only people and normal life.
When I first read the ending, I thought it was so sad. Maybe it only made me feel sad because it didn’t conclude. But isn’t that how life is. When is any story really over. It is sad, but, especially after reading her comments at the end of my edition of the novel, I feel that maybe it’s also hopeful. Finally, I can see how the characters do strive for happiness. It’s a hope so fragile and precious, and one that forces us to ask if maybe happiness is worth striving for, even when it causes so much pain.
But I could be wrong about my new interpretation. Ask me again tomorrow.
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Self harm and Emotional abuse
reneeandreea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Self harm, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Abortion, Abandonment, Alcohol, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse, Death, Toxic relationship, Infertility, Drug use, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Body shaming, Classism, and Toxic friendship
thebookesquire's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Listen. When I first finished this book, I thought yeah this a 4/5. I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did and somehow I ended up loving it? Then a few weeks passed and I found myself thinking about it all the time. Going back to it constantly. I realized I was irrationally obsessed. I say irrationally because is it the best writing/plot/characters? No. But Rooney found a way to carve herself right into my little heart.
original:
Sally Rooney is incredibly skilled. Her writing is extremely intimate, almost to the point of discomfort. Her observations on the mundane daily life of her characters, their gestures, and the environment surrounding them is profound. She always leaves me craving more and I finish each of her novels disturbed yet seeing the world around me in a vastly different perspective.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Chronic illness, Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, Rape, Infertility, and Toxic friendship
charity_ix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The stillness of this book was so enjoyable I loved it so much. The writing style was also amazing and it added so much character and warmth to the story. Overall, this definitely feels like a book I would reread in the future. I just had so much fun and can't wait to watch the Hulu series now!
Graphic: Gaslighting, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
kottengoesbork's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Self harm, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Infidelity
coffeecass's review
5.0
Graphic: Self harm, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
vixenreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Chronic illness, Medical content, Sexual content, Cursing, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Classism, Outing, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Blood, Emotional abuse, Lesbophobia, and Biphobia
Minor: Miscarriage, Bullying, and Sexism
There are explicit details about endometriosis and I found Bobbi to be an awful friend who exploits Frances, but does not take accountability for her own shitty actions.mansinnikam's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Mental illness and Infidelity
Moderate: Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug abuse