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xosevenusagbadan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
I was nervous to read Sally Rooney after reading and loving Normal People, but I think somehow I needed to read this books in the stage of life that im in right now. you have no time to think, this books just dives you into Frances’ life. I was completely sucked in even though on the surface I should not have been. I should have been confused and maybe even a but disturbed. It almost reminded me of The Stranger. I think if youre a woman in her 20s that loves to think and contemplate and desire, this book is for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Infidelity, Medical trauma, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Grief, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Eating disorder, and Classism
Minor: Cursing, Sexism, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, and Miscarriage
pascalll's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
4.25
Surprisingly liked this book a ton, even more than normal people. Not what I was expecting in a great way
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Alcoholism
kpiel's review against another edition
emotional
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
2.75
This book lacked much of a plot or character development, and all of the characters were so truly flawed it wasn’t easy to like any of them or want to keep reading. There were quite a few times when I thought “what is the point of all this; what is this building up to?”, just to have those questions remain unanswered at the end of the book. I wouldn’t really recommend this book to anyone, hence the low star rating, however upon reflection, I have found some value in this kind of story.
The characters are very human, with deep human flaws, and making true human mistakes. And I think that is why it was so tough to keep reading, because there are parts of the characters that I see in myself and/or others that I’m close to. And reading something that hits a little too close to home doesn’t give me the escape that I usually seek when turning to books. But I understand that this was likely the point of the book— a realistic, raw view of one perspective of the human experience.
The characters are very human, with deep human flaws, and making true human mistakes. And I think that is why it was so tough to keep reading, because there are parts of the characters that I see in myself and/or others that I’m close to. And reading something that hits a little too close to home doesn’t give me the escape that I usually seek when turning to books. But I understand that this was likely the point of the book— a realistic, raw view of one perspective of the human experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Chronic illness
ruth_power's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
All the characters are complex but unique and interesting. Sally Rooney's writing is also unique and authentic - I was completely inside the characters' heads.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Toxic friendship, Racism, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Homophobia, Alcoholism, Sexism, and Infidelity
finebook's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Chronic illness
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
saradtotheb's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Self harm, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Blood and Vomit
valsometimesreads's review against another edition
emotional
tense
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
4 of the worst people you know discover polygamy, kind of? Bad polygamy.
I think sally rooney’s characterization and dialogue are really well done. Her characters feel real in the sense that I sometimes want to strangle all of them but I simultaneously feel for them. I think in particular characters’ defense mechanisms and deflections add an interesting subtext. You know and sometimes directly hear the opinions of the central four on one another; however, since they are all complex and unreliable, you are required to read in between the lines. Sally Rooney never explicitly condemns anyone and I think that is a big strong point of this novel.
However, I still don’t really think her novels are for me. This is likely the last book I’m picking up from her. While her characters are unflinchingly realistic, it is extremely difficult to invest in them as they are at times cruel and hard to redeem. Something off-putting about the characters in this book as well as “Normal People” is that they all seem to buzz around interesting class politics, but to me it always falls flat and comes across as pretty pretentious and empty.
I think sally rooney’s characterization and dialogue are really well done. Her characters feel real in the sense that I sometimes want to strangle all of them but I simultaneously feel for them. I think in particular characters’ defense mechanisms and deflections add an interesting subtext. You know and sometimes directly hear the opinions of the central four on one another; however, since they are all complex and unreliable, you are required to read in between the lines. Sally Rooney never explicitly condemns anyone and I think that is a big strong point of this novel.
However, I still don’t really think her novels are for me. This is likely the last book I’m picking up from her. While her characters are unflinchingly realistic, it is extremely difficult to invest in them as they are at times cruel and hard to redeem. Something off-putting about the characters in this book as well as “Normal People” is that they all seem to buzz around interesting class politics, but to me it always falls flat and comes across as pretty pretentious and empty.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism
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
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 ?
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 ?
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.
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