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simranpahwa's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
This book put me in a reading slump for all of April and I’ll never forgive it for that. I truly hope Normal People is better cause I’ve already bought the book 🫠 I understand the hype around this book but not sure if I really enjoyed it. The smut was so random but lowkey the best part of the book LOL. I don’t think the author did a great job at describing the physical characteristics of the characters because I never really had a clear picture of what any of them looked like, except for Simon, who I pictured as a combo of Ed Speelers and Ansel Elgort (except blonde). Also Felix… literally what was the point of having him in this novel. He was giving nothingggg. Dude needs to go to a therapist, but then don’t we all 🤣
Overall was a meh book for me…
Overall was a meh book for me…
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
fluffy1st's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Drug use, and Pregnancy
risemini's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Alcohol, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Medical content, Infidelity, Drug use, Classism, Blood, Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
writingcaia's review
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
5.0
I’m not even sure how I’m going to review this book.
What can I say?
It lies heavily on the characters or solely, to be honest, as if by living their lives, dealing with their internal and external struggles, the way of the world, the way of people, their meetings, their encounters, their love for each other however crooked and moulded by their own fallibility and fears, they carry the plot. And, they carry it wonderfully, insightfully, painfully, sometimes - for me the also fallible and emotionally pained reader - annoyingly, but without a doubt very candidly and passionately.
Maybe this is not enough for some people, maybe you didn’t or can’t, unlike me see so much of yourself in the characters - me especially in both Alice and Eileen, with their sadness at the world and the people, Eileen with such consuming fear and self-destructiveness and Alice with such crippling anxiety.
The narrative is interesting alternating between third person, with the most beautiful writing that can really put you in there seeing everything as if it was a movie set or the real deal - you know? -, and the first person by way of emails Alice and Eileen exchange between them. Also, pretty good queer representation without being anything about it.
I understand why this author is as hyped as she is, and why, still, there are many who don’t understand that hype. But, as you can clearly imagine after this review, I’m going to devour the rest of her work.
One last note indeed proving how much this book meant to me and how much I related to it, I never mark books, but there was so much I didn’t want to forget, so much I may want to go back to, that I finally made use of those tiny post it thingies and marked the hell out of it.
That’s it folks.
What can I say?
It lies heavily on the characters or solely, to be honest, as if by living their lives, dealing with their internal and external struggles, the way of the world, the way of people, their meetings, their encounters, their love for each other however crooked and moulded by their own fallibility and fears, they carry the plot. And, they carry it wonderfully, insightfully, painfully, sometimes - for me the also fallible and emotionally pained reader - annoyingly, but without a doubt very candidly and passionately.
Maybe this is not enough for some people, maybe you didn’t or can’t, unlike me see so much of yourself in the characters - me especially in both Alice and Eileen, with their sadness at the world and the people, Eileen with such consuming fear and self-destructiveness and Alice with such crippling anxiety.
The narrative is interesting alternating between third person, with the most beautiful writing that can really put you in there seeing everything as if it was a movie set or the real deal - you know? -, and the first person by way of emails Alice and Eileen exchange between them. Also, pretty good queer representation without being anything about it.
I understand why this author is as hyped as she is, and why, still, there are many who don’t understand that hype. But, as you can clearly imagine after this review, I’m going to devour the rest of her work.
One last note indeed proving how much this book meant to me and how much I related to it, I never mark books, but there was so much I didn’t want to forget, so much I may want to go back to, that I finally made use of those tiny post it thingies and marked the hell out of it.
That’s it folks.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
Minor: Alcohol, Confinement, and Death of parent
pulpandprose's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness
edgaranjapoe's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Dysphoria, Death of parent, Self harm, Animal cruelty, Grief, Cursing, Drug use, Blood, and Pregnancy
sarahmae531's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wanted to give Rooney books another chance after not totally loving Conversation with Friends, and I liked this one much more!
I am definitely a plot driven reader rather than a character reader, so physically reading her books seems very monotonous, but I listened to the audiobook this time around and I think that’s what I need to do if I read more of her novels.
I enjoyed watching the characters grow and go through their changing relationships with each other. They all seemed very real, and not likable all the time, which made me like them more.
I am definitely a plot driven reader rather than a character reader, so physically reading her books seems very monotonous, but I listened to the audiobook this time around and I think that’s what I need to do if I read more of her novels.
I enjoyed watching the characters grow and go through their changing relationships with each other. They all seemed very real, and not likable all the time, which made me like them more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Sexual content, Self harm, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
lindsey_bear's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This novel read like YA, but it clearly wasn’t given its randomly sprinkled explicit moments. No quotation marks led to confusing paragraphs and rereading many sentences to figure out what just happened. I found sympathising with the characters and their struggles difficult and could not relate, even though I’m in a fairly similar life position as one of the leads. There wasn’t a character I found particularly likeable, which made reading about their breakdowns and relationship (or lack their of) problems a bit annoying. I gave 2 stars based on the easy reading factor—it wasn’t challenging and was easy to pick up and chip away at while being a mild distraction. I found many of the dialogue cringey and awkward, and continually thought to myself how the men in this book speak unlike any man I’ve ever interacted with. Overall, would not recommend.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Mental illness, Pregnancy, and Suicidal thoughts
tinkithesquirelll's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Mental illness, Sexism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Suicide, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
cylite's review against another edition
reflective
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I thought it explored a lot of different relationship dynamics and emotions around change and transition. Still, I wish it didn't center so much around the two women's relationship with the men. The book was not incredibly profound, but I see the value in it. Also, the last chapter was so random and not really connected to the original plot other than to just give unneeded closure
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, and Death of parent