A review by girlgetsbook
Normal People by Sally Rooney

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • 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

Literally like what else can I even say about this book that wasn't already said before? I went in thinking I was going to hate it based solely on me not enjoying exciting times that much, they say the book was Sally Rooney-esque, however I have never been happier to be wrong, this book hit every one of my check-list boxes including the ones I didn't know existed. It is a compelling story about damaged kids trying to fit in a hostile world whilst hanging on to each other throughout the years, it's about love, affection but also raw friendship. Even myself, an aro/ace person can appreciate reading more than 200 pages about people pinning and miscommunicating if done correctly, and Sally Rooney did it. I've tried to read this book in 2020 which feels like ages ago and I'm so glad I put it down back then, otherwise I wouldn't have appreciated it as much as I appreciated now 2 years and many complex connections both failed and successful later. My one critic is probably the submissive nature of one of the characters and just the acknowledgement of the presence of that in the relationship which says more about me and my own experiences seeing how straight relationships tend to fall on that dynamic over and over again even though one or both parties are not happy with it, however I do believe it's important for some people to see this being explored in the way it is, which is the way Sally Rooney portrays it, and portrays everything honestly, in a brutally honest but also surprisingly tender. 
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