naimo 's review for:

Normal People by Sally Rooney

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I do not see how people might find this book romantisizing mental illness or abuse, or how the characters are "flat". To me, this book is a brutally honest display of codependency, where neither of the people involved is directly to blame but rather the structures they were placed into in this world. It made me once again feel so strongly about how much good child and youth care matters, how the school, university and counseling system failed not just the two main characters. It made me reflect on the relationship dynamics I find myself in. It was heartbreaking to read, had me identifying with the caracters so much that I felt phyiscally bad in some scenes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual violence, Blood