analia's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
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
4.25
The characters can definitely come off pretentious in their email exchanges but they’re at least self aware. I enjoyed how the author wrote about contemporary issues in a way that felt relatable but challenging. The sex scenes were a bit much.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide
lizziaha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
3.75
I appreciate sally rooney’s commitment to reality in the telling of this story. and I have to acknowledge that she writes characters that I relate to so deeply it’s uncomfortable. but the reality of it, while rendering it very thought-provoking at points, makes it boring at points.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual content, Drug use, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic, Child abuse, Chronic illness, and Abortion
plumdustsuns's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- 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
2.0
Spoiler
I HATED Felix so much. Maybe I still do. I actually had to stop reading because his abusive, manipulative, putting down behaviour triggered me so much. And then he sort of did an 180 after the party and I was like… hmm… was he being cruel to avoid his own feelings then? But still does that mean we excuse him? I don’t know. I just think Alice deserves better (much like that fan she mentions by the end, haha). And it seems like he has improved but… 😡I like Simon, I believe, but Rooney’s choice with the age gap with him and Eileen made me SO UNCOMFORTABLE. Yes, they’re both older now but it was insinuated that he had these feelings since she was young even though he didn’t act on it.
I’m not sure if I feel the best towards Eileen, though. While I understand her, she also undermined Alice’s work and mental health a lot and I don’t think that was fair or nice of a friend to do. Especially as someone who’s also in the literary field, it’s a little hypocritical.
But I’ve liked reading Rooney’s work so far (just read this and Normal People though). I like how she is able to portray the everyday life and the ‘seemingly mundane’ as dramatically and importantly as it feels. The ending of this felt a lot better and less sterile than that of Normal People’s (the book, at least).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Pandemic/Epidemic, Toxic relationship, Classism, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Gaslighting, Suicide, and Toxic friendship
kaylawbh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- 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
i wasn’t ready for the end. i think i’m going to cry
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Death, and Religious bigotry
et015's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
a cute book about growing up and feeling like you have no place.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
libby_c's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Suicide, and Suicidal thoughts
tinkithesquirelll's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Mental illness, Sexism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Suicide, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic friendship
mrozelle's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
5.0
Beautiful indeed. Up there with Normal People for me, for sure.
Spoiler
The scenes where all four characters were together were so lovely to read, and just felt so realistic and well done. I will say the pandemic being included at the end felt strange and maybe unnecessary to me, since it will inevitably date what otherwise felt like a pretty timeless story. This one will stick with me for sure, especially quotes about Eileen and Alice, like this one:Then they went to each other, meeting halfway down the stairs, and they embraced, holding one another tightly, their arms clasped hard around each other’s bodies, and then Alice was saying: I’m sorry. I’m sorry, and Eileen was saying: Don’t apologise, I don’t know why we’re fighting. […] For a time they sat there on the stairs, not speaking, or speaking about things that had happened a long time ago, silly arguments they’d had, people they used to know, things they had laughed about together. Old conversations, repeated many times before.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
kyahs's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
I'd say it's best if Sally Rooney. Similar to the other book, some of the characters do seem very self absorbed but I enjoy their quirkyness and exploration of mental health and relationships.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Suicide
Sexual contentzara89's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent, Death, Blood, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, and Suicide