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james1star's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Oh my goodness!!! Personally this book was phenomenal, I absolutely loved it! Another incredible novel by Sally Rooney.
I’ll start the review with my cons (if you can call them that because some are also pros) but my main irk I don’t think I’ll ever get over with reading Rooney is her lack of quotation marks - hun, isn’t it basic grammar?? Maybe not but I just get irritated about this - which is annoying and once again requires a lot of ‘she/he/they said/murmured/etc…’ which does get very repetitive as you’re reading and also at times you don’t exactly know which character is talking but for the most part it’s decipherable. Likewise, in beautiful world, Rooney somewhat mixes up the ‘correct’ way of presenting speech (as in using separated lines) with combining speech and narration in huge and I mean HUGE paragraphs carrying over page after page which is quite hard to get your head around.
Moving away from these to actual book content, I do feel that the sex elements are in some places overkill and this goes for other topics and definitely gets repetitive. Personally I would maybe prefer some parts to have been omitted as very similar. Additionally, this book is de-scrip-tive (say it with emphasis huns) and very very very (yep it calls for three ‘very’s) heavy/dense. I’ll get onto why I like this in a sec but I did find it hard to read in places and a bit tiresome where I felt I was forcing myself to read huge passages just to get on with the narrative but maybe not enjoying the process. Also unlike ‘normal people’ and more like ‘conversations with friends’ I don’t think I could read it all in one go (or at least enjoy doing so) because of the density. As previously mentions, some topics are discussed a bit too much especially religion with recurring conversations but it wasn’t off-putting.
Now to the good bits. These characters I did root for. That’s not to say they’re unproblematic and certainly do things that made me want to get inside the pages and shake/hit/yell at them but overall they’re ‘good’ people with a variety of struggles and strifes in their lives. A little bias but the queer additions I did like (around page 270-80 I was so near to giving up on the main relationships and going full on gay shipping… but alas, I didn’t) and these were nice to read. Following on, the characters all deal with many things and the book acknowledges a lot of topics including: religion, sex (oof a big one), mental health, suicidal thoughts, toxic relationships, employment, celebrity culture, socialist ideals and many more. Mentioning that last point I will add they way Rooney let’s the characters discuss communism/socialism/politics sorta themes is done the best in beautiful world - via letters between Alice and Eileen - and most natural I feel.
Another major theme is the idea of what is the meaning of life in essence and how we’re all searching for a beautiful world. Side note but the discussions on ‘what is beauty?’ and other similar topics is really lovely to read and very insightful and makes you think for sure. But main point again that has really stuck with me is how… it’s so hard to articulate what I’m thinking right now. But basically the characters are discussing how there’s many issues in the world and these are BIG global problems e.g. poverty, world hunger, climate change, political minefields and lots more. But then at the end of the day… or at the end of one’s life as mentioned in one of the emails, what we really cling to is our friends and family, who we love/loved/missed out on loving, those who’s lives we touched and in what ways, how they touched ours and all these ‘little’ relationships and events that seem so minimal or unimportant in the grand scheme of problems/discussions facing the world but then when we add up each individual’s lived experiences (or the human condition in a more philosophical outlook) they actually end up amounting to so much more. Think about it… if we combine every single person’s seemingly irrelevant experiences together they obviously add up to something huge. I don’t know but Yhh this ideology and discussions really stuck with me. How all of us in search of a beautiful world as a whole should maybe look more for beauty in our personal worlds which would then creates a ‘whole’ beautiful existence. I don’t know what I am trotting on about anymore but this book definitely make me think about this and the way the email exchanges go off on tangents and rambles is so so magical and ‘human’ if you like.
Another thing I did really like was the descriptive nature of this novel. Whilst it does get a bit too much in places, I do feel there is a reason for this. Rooney really makes us feel so connected to the characters and it’s hard to realise at the end of the day there’s a page between you and them because it’s written so descriptively that you can image them being real. More so then all her previous characters and previous conversations. Likewise, I sense this is a more mature book compared to her previous works due in part to some themes but also her growth as a writer. Also the characters are all in their thirties as opposed to early twenties so naturally there will be more complex characters in a way. And complex they are.
The layout of the book I also really loved where we follow a third person narration of what’s going on in one of the ‘couples’ lives (Alice and Felix OR Eileen and Simon) interjected by email correspondences between Alice and Eileen which is in the first person. I really and I mean really loved these emails so much. They just seemed so real and Yhh… perfection. This follows up until they all meet where we have some chapters just narrating the plot ending with two emails set in the ‘present’ during a Covid—19 lockdown. Some reviews don’t like this addition and feel it’s an unnecessary add-on but I actually loved it. Before the emails the characters are in a somewhat precarious but happy state and then this is confirmed at the end. For me it was the best ending of Rooney’s previous books - I wasn’t left annoyed for once and just genuinely happy I guess.
I could literally talk on and on and on about this book so I think I’ve covered all grounds I wanted to !?! But Yhh I would totes recommend - a clear 4.75 stars from me. Thank you Sally xx can’t wait for more
I’ll start the review with my cons (if you can call them that because some are also pros) but my main irk I don’t think I’ll ever get over with reading Rooney is her lack of quotation marks - hun, isn’t it basic grammar?? Maybe not but I just get irritated about this - which is annoying and once again requires a lot of ‘she/he/they said/murmured/etc…’ which does get very repetitive as you’re reading and also at times you don’t exactly know which character is talking but for the most part it’s decipherable. Likewise, in beautiful world, Rooney somewhat mixes up the ‘correct’ way of presenting speech (as in using separated lines) with combining speech and narration in huge and I mean HUGE paragraphs carrying over page after page which is quite hard to get your head around.
Moving away from these to actual book content, I do feel that the sex elements are in some places overkill and this goes for other topics and definitely gets repetitive. Personally I would maybe prefer some parts to have been omitted as very similar. Additionally, this book is de-scrip-tive (say it with emphasis huns) and very very very (yep it calls for three ‘very’s) heavy/dense. I’ll get onto why I like this in a sec but I did find it hard to read in places and a bit tiresome where I felt I was forcing myself to read huge passages just to get on with the narrative but maybe not enjoying the process. Also unlike ‘normal people’ and more like ‘conversations with friends’ I don’t think I could read it all in one go (or at least enjoy doing so) because of the density. As previously mentions, some topics are discussed a bit too much especially religion with recurring conversations but it wasn’t off-putting.
Now to the good bits. These characters I did root for. That’s not to say they’re unproblematic and certainly do things that made me want to get inside the pages and shake/hit/yell at them but overall they’re ‘good’ people with a variety of struggles and strifes in their lives. A little bias but the queer additions I did like (around page 270-80 I was so near to giving up on the main relationships and going full on gay shipping… but alas, I didn’t) and these were nice to read. Following on, the characters all deal with many things and the book acknowledges a lot of topics including: religion, sex (oof a big one), mental health, suicidal thoughts, toxic relationships, employment, celebrity culture, socialist ideals and many more. Mentioning that last point I will add they way Rooney let’s the characters discuss communism/socialism/politics sorta themes is done the best in beautiful world - via letters between Alice and Eileen - and most natural I feel.
Another major theme is the idea of what is the meaning of life in essence and how we’re all searching for a beautiful world. Side note but the discussions on ‘what is beauty?’ and other similar topics is really lovely to read and very insightful and makes you think for sure. But main point again that has really stuck with me is how… it’s so hard to articulate what I’m thinking right now. But basically the characters are discussing how there’s many issues in the world and these are BIG global problems e.g. poverty, world hunger, climate change, political minefields and lots more. But then at the end of the day… or at the end of one’s life as mentioned in one of the emails, what we really cling to is our friends and family, who we love/loved/missed out on loving, those who’s lives we touched and in what ways, how they touched ours and all these ‘little’ relationships and events that seem so minimal or unimportant in the grand scheme of problems/discussions facing the world but then when we add up each individual’s lived experiences (or the human condition in a more philosophical outlook) they actually end up amounting to so much more. Think about it… if we combine every single person’s seemingly irrelevant experiences together they obviously add up to something huge. I don’t know but Yhh this ideology and discussions really stuck with me. How all of us in search of a beautiful world as a whole should maybe look more for beauty in our personal worlds which would then creates a ‘whole’ beautiful existence. I don’t know what I am trotting on about anymore but this book definitely make me think about this and the way the email exchanges go off on tangents and rambles is so so magical and ‘human’ if you like.
Another thing I did really like was the descriptive nature of this novel. Whilst it does get a bit too much in places, I do feel there is a reason for this. Rooney really makes us feel so connected to the characters and it’s hard to realise at the end of the day there’s a page between you and them because it’s written so descriptively that you can image them being real. More so then all her previous characters and previous conversations. Likewise, I sense this is a more mature book compared to her previous works due in part to some themes but also her growth as a writer. Also the characters are all in their thirties as opposed to early twenties so naturally there will be more complex characters in a way. And complex they are.
The layout of the book I also really loved where we follow a third person narration of what’s going on in one of the ‘couples’ lives (Alice and Felix OR Eileen and Simon) interjected by email correspondences between Alice and Eileen which is in the first person. I really and I mean really loved these emails so much. They just seemed so real and Yhh… perfection. This follows up until they all meet where we have some chapters just narrating the plot ending with two emails set in the ‘present’ during a Covid—19 lockdown. Some reviews don’t like this addition and feel it’s an unnecessary add-on but I actually loved it. Before the emails the characters are in a somewhat precarious but happy state and then this is confirmed at the end. For me it was the best ending of Rooney’s previous books - I wasn’t left annoyed for once and just genuinely happy I guess.
I could literally talk on and on and on about this book so I think I’ve covered all grounds I wanted to !?! But Yhh I would totes recommend - a clear 4.75 stars from me. Thank you Sally xx can’t wait for more
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Sexual content
Moderate: Classism, Drug use, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, and Infidelity
baguettegay's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
I enjoyed this one! I think it did a really good job of showcasing a long time friendship and how it’s natural that you go through ebbs and flows, sometimes one person is leaning on the other more and vice versa.
Even though the two romantic relationships had begun under very different circumstances, they both were similar in the way they each wanted to be reminded that they mattered amongst all the other chaos in their lives. I also think that the point (and I may be off on this) is that we’re not supposed to love these characters, they are each flawed and messy, sometimes just downright awful. I feel corny for saying this but humans are humans, and you don’t like everyone you meet so this felt like real life in that way.
Even though the two romantic relationships had begun under very different circumstances, they both were similar in the way they each wanted to be reminded that they mattered amongst all the other chaos in their lives. I also think that the point (and I may be off on this) is that we’re not supposed to love these characters, they are each flawed and messy, sometimes just downright awful. I feel corny for saying this but humans are humans, and you don’t like everyone you meet so this felt like real life in that way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship
sanna_030's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Bullying
sambashua's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Drug use, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Toxic friendship
hannahlouise_'s review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- 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
3.75
i really liked this book, more than i thought i would. as always in sally rooney novels i found myself both relating to and hating the characters at points, but i read it quickly and wanted things to work out for them
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Alcohol, Classism, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Pregnancy, and Abortion
itsocchiolism's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
least favorite book I’ve ever read. the writing is so pretentious, and not it a fun way!! every single character is boring and unlikeable. I wanted to put it down and stop reading it about sixty pages in, but i figured since this is the first Sally Rooney book I’d picked up, that i should give her a fair shot and finish it, but wow the entire time i just wanted it to be over. There’s no real plot or character development, so what was the point? one and a half star bc there were like three quotes i didn’t hate
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, and Mental illness
ninahuynh's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.25
I finally read the book. A Sally Rooney book. And I can see why people hype her works up and this book. I found the lack of quotation marks an interesting stylistic choice, but there are some parts where you can easily trip up on what is dialogue and who is speaking.
Similarly, Rooney uses commas extremely sparingly, especially when they are needed. It's not to say she DOESN'T use commas- because she does- but there needs to be more. I sometimes find myself having to reread some parts or retrace to the beginning of the sentence to make out where the pauses (commas!) are supposed to be.
Love the philosophical commentary! I can relate to those parts.
Similarly, Rooney uses commas extremely sparingly, especially when they are needed. It's not to say she DOESN'T use commas- because she does- but there needs to be more. I sometimes find myself having to reread some parts or retrace to the beginning of the sentence to make out where the pauses (commas!) are supposed to be.
Love the philosophical commentary! I can relate to those parts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal cruelty and Pregnancy
leslielychee's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
pevans97's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
miriam00's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Classism, Bullying, Cursing, Self harm, and Toxic friendship