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sydlexi's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Genocide, Infidelity, Racism, Grief, and Mass/school shootings
i fear i relate too much to Marianneloslibrosdemale's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Minor: Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
star101's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
samanthaleereads'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
3.5
Graphic: Suicide, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual harassment
cnannery19'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
3.0
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
tsumugiaoba'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
3.5
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Sexual harassment
squibbers_stox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Suicidal thoughts
fire_wolf's review against another edition
- 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
2.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Minor: Death of parent
gdulecki's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Classism
bookishevy's review against another edition
- 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
In secondary school, Connell is the popular star of the school soccer team, while Marianna struggles to make friends because she's intense and opinionated. But they end up connecting when Connell comes to pick his mother up from her housekeeping job at Marianne’s house, and they agree to keep their relationship secret.
At Trinity College in Dublin, a year later, Marianne adjusts well to her new surroundings while Connell can't find his footing. Marianne and Connell continue to circle one another. Although they stray toward other people, they are always drawn back together like magnets.
I had to put on my social work hat to understand Marianne. She suffered a lot of trauma growing up, and it's made her numb, so she allows men to have their way with her. She's steadily gravitating towards jerks. It's self-destructive.
Connell feels out of his league in Dublin. He's around people from a higher social class who are different from Marianne, and it's affecting his confidence. He keeps going back to Marianne because she's the only one he can be himself around. Even though her aloofness frustrates him, he trusts her. They have history. She represents home. 🥺
Marianne feels safe with Connell, but she didn't grow up in a loving home like he did, so she doesn't think real love is possible. She doesn't take men seriously. So, despite their history, she doesn't believe Connell really loves her because she doesn't feel worthy of love. While Connell works on himself, Marianne is unaware of how her childhood trauma affects her relationship with him, the only man who's handled her with care.
These two intelligent people must figure out how to make it work, and I rooted for them every time they spun the block. They need each other.
And I needed this read to be longer, but I understand why Marianne remains a work in progress. We all are. I love that it ends on a promise. I wouldn't mind a ten-year follow-up with these two.
I enjoyed it, but I can see why this read is so polarizing.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide