Reviews

Normal People by Sally Rooney

omarortiz1519's review against another edition

hopeful reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship

kileymarrie's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 god that took me forever. I had 20 pages but I didn’t realize that for two weeks it just sat on my desk. ugh. god I did not like that ending. I feel like i’m the future they will never actually get together. they’ll be old and still be in love with each other but married to other people with children and grandchildren. SALLY ROONEY NEEDS FUCKING QUOTATION MARKS. OMFG

megatron's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

professorwytch's review against another edition

5.0

Sally Rooney's writing style leaves many readers in a love-hate relationship with her books. Normal People being the first work of hers I have read has definitely set me off on the 'love' side. Following Marianne and Connell through their complex relationship with one another is extremely real. There is nothing outstanding about the plot of this book, other than the layers of emotions both characters have for one another over the years documented.

There is a steady pace throughout and you must go into reading with the knowledge that this book is heavily revolved around characters, instead of plot. This structure was a new experience for me and I enjoyed it greatly. Normal People is the epitome of 'if you have loved someone, you always will'. Marianne and Connell's connections seems to endlessly rekindle, helping each other through the hardest parts of their lives, shaping each other and the people they turned out to be.

Rooney leaves off with the separation of the characters once again, this time leaving each other willingly, knowing they must continue to further themselves. One can hope that in the future they will find each other again, and be happy together.

And my favourite quote:

"It's not like this with other people."

hughjames's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

lilybirdy's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

leahavak's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.0

hinzed1127's review against another edition

5.0

Wonderful prose. Without saying much, she manages to capture what seems like the essence of this unique relationship.

josiepowers's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

snoapdawg's review against another edition

3.0

Had great potential but mostly irritated the hell out of me by the end.