jkschoen's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
geesmu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, and Classism
lilias's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
We mainly see things from Connell’s point of view. His mom, Lorraine, is a wonderful person and raised him on her own. He has a passion for reading, literature, especially. He is a poor kid who is constantly surrounded by rich kids, and the reminder of his background never goes away. It’s exasperated by Marianne, through no fault of her own, because she’s a girl who comes from an exceptionally rich family. His conventional views keep him from allowing Marianne to live at her full potential around him. He won’t reveal certain weaknesses around her, making their relationship full of potential but always unbalanced. Marianne feels that potential but blames herself for them never reaching it. Her leap to self-blame is probably familiar to a lot of women readers, and it’s furthered by her family, which is abusive.
For some reason, Marianne, as a character, is not as fully formed as Connell. At times, it was as though Marianne was losing both as a character within the story and a character on the page. Towards the end of the book, I started to dread reading more. I usually read dark books, but the constant cruelty Marianne kept having to endure just wore me out. I wish Rooney had left it out because distracted from the central character studies.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Mental illness, Grief, and Domestic abuse
In the beginning I kept thinking: When Harry Met Sally but make it shoe-gazing. Overall, I found this book to be both captivating and frustrating. I really loved certain aspects of Sally Rooney’s writing. Her moments that were here and now regarding Connell and Marianne were fantastic, and I reread some passages in awe of how well she showed the subtleties of human interaction. But I never really knew how we got here and there, especially when it came to Marianne. We mainly see things from Connell’s point of view. His mom, Lorraine, is a wonderful person and raised him on her own. He has a passion for reading, literature, especially. He is a poor kid who is constantly surrounded by rich kids, and the reminder of his background never goes away. It’s exasperated by Marianne, through no fault of her own, because she’s a girl who comes from an exceptionally rich family. His conventional views keep him from allowing Marianne to live at her full potential around him. He won’t reveal certain weaknesses around her, making their relationship full of potential but always unbalanced. Marianne feels that potential but blames herself for them never reaching it. Her leap to self-blame is probably familiar to a lot of women readers, and it’s furthered by her family, which is abusive. For some reason, Marianne, as a character, is not as fully formed as Connell. At times, it was as though Marianne was losing both as a character within the story and a character on the page. Towards the end of the book, I started to dread reading more. I usually read dark books, but the constant cruelty Marianne kept having to endure just wore me out. I wish Rooney had left it out because distracted from the central character studies.itsmemiana's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I kept going back and forth between 4 and 5 stars but I decided to settle for 5 stars because maybe there were one or two lines that I didn't like as much but that doesn't justify taking a whole star for me because I truly loved this book.
it's so beautifully written, with absolutely stunning lines. this was my first Sally Rooney book and I definitely intend on reading more of them.
but I can definitely see this book not being for everyone because the title is very literal, this is a book about normal people with normal lives, but to me it wasn't boring at all... Sally writes so beautifully that I couldn't find it boring for even a second.
I can't wait to read more from her.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
mj_86's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
camillarossi's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Classism, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Eating disorder, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
chaz_bo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual violence
stephyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Alcohol, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death
Minor: Blood, Classism, Death of parent, and Drug use
haleybspiegel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Suicidal thoughts, and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent
margaxrete's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts