Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

386 reviews

ilovebooks1967's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced

• 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

A good book, however sometimes there are somewhat patronising essay-like pages that come across as perhaps pretentious to the reader. Very romantic and enjoyable nonetheless.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Biphobia, Chronic illness, Sexism, and Sexual content

mariabacterium's review

emotional reflective 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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Sexual content

Moderate: Self harm, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

djenkin96's review

challenging dark emotional funny 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

3.75

I think it was just a story of repeated behaviours from all the main characters. There were sections of self development or self awareness with the intent to improve, but did any character actually develop ? In the end I didn’t even end up liking Bobbi or Frances or even Melissa. I’m not even sure I liked nick. A lot of loose ends at the end ? It’s  Like the author got bored, undid all the self-awareness and ended the book ? 

I did like the relevant topics And The nod to endometriosis.However I Feel the author  glazed over a large amount of obvious body image issues and an eating disorder ?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Infertility, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Mental illness, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Pregnancy, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Gaslighting, Miscarriage, Eating disorder, Medical content, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content

hello_lovely13's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

4.0

There is something about Sally Rooney's writing that just clicks with my brain! I've read many different things that try to do something similar, but somehow it doesn't resonate with me the way her writing does. There's something deeply (and sadly) relatable about each of her characters, and it highlights similarities many people have, particularly ones that we are ashamed of. Frances' inability to be honest with her emotions (and refuse to express them, then somewhat believing her to be superior because of it, only to conflict with her deep-seeded self-hatred) touches every relationship and leads her to make amoral, selfish, and insensitive decisions. She desperately wants to be loved and admired, and she hates herself for it. Did I particularly like her relationship with Nick? Not really. I wasn't rooting for them, but that wasn't really the point.

I can't believe (yet simultaneously absolutely can) the book ends with them starting the cycle all over again and getting back together.

They both have an inability to express their own thoughts that it is weird (and makes sense) that their relationship lasted for as long as it did. Everything each character did was a recipe for disaster. For the first part of the book, I didn't particularly like Bobbi. I oftentimes found her selfish and mean. Her relationship with Frances was so toxic (again, that is part of the point), but at the same time so sad because they do genuinely have great moments of friendship. Sometimes Bobbi misses the point when she calls Frances out, but other times (particularly that last time she does in the book) really hits the nail on the head.

I don't particularly think they should have restarted their "non-relationship", but it's messy and suits them both, I suppose. Although, the ending scene promises even more destruction.

The dialogue is always top tier, and the conversations on the world, privilege, and politics stood out to me as it was one of the things I liked the most about Beautiful World, Where are You (though of course I loved the constant opportunities to psychoanalyze each character the best). This is definitely a sad girl, hot girl book, where a mentally ill woman makes terrible, amoral, self-destructive decisions. I liked it a lot, particularly the dialogue, commentary, and writing style, but I wasn't obsessed with it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Self harm

Moderate: Mental illness, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Chronic illness and Miscarriage

kashrae99's review against another edition

emotional sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Mental illness, Infidelity, Alcohol, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Sexual content, Alcoholism, Medical content, Blood, Chronic illness, and Classism

Minor: Infertility and Vomit

wiktoria_bojda's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, and Infidelity

littlelizzieborden's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Self harm

Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Medical content

cclopton's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• 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

3.5

This book is quintessentially “no plot, just vibes.” The relationships between the main character and the other story are the focus of the novel: how they interact, how she perceives them, and how she believes she is perceived by them. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Self harm

wildestreadsoffrancis's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Abortion, Suicidal thoughts, and Infidelity

Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Addiction, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, Biphobia, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia

ana_read's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content