A review by withlivjones
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney

reflective slow-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

4.5

My first time reading a Sally Rooney book didn’t disappoint! This is a powerful debut that perfectly reflects what it means to be in your early twenties: making a lot of bad decisions. I would probably find Frances (the protagonist) insufferable if I didn’t relate to her so damn much, from her tendency to close off and snap at people when given the opportunity to be vulnerable, to her having a panic attack about the inevitable heat death of the universe. Books like this can be difficult to read because the main characters show us the worst parts of ourselves, the parts that we don’t necessarily want to address. Every single character is complex and flawed and very interesting. Sally Rooney’s writing is incredible, she has a very “show don’t tell” approach with a focus on the small details that make up the big picture. I do feel like the book could’ve been a little shorter as it lost steam a bit in the final chapters, but I really enjoyed my first venture into her novels and I look forward to reading more! 
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