Who Would Like This Book:
If you love nuanced, character-driven stories that get to the heart of messy relationships, "Normal People" is for you. Sally Rooney’s writing is simple yet deeply insightful, pulling you into every awkward silence, missed moment, and heartfelt connection between Marianne and Connell. It's a modern coming-of-age tale, full of honest emotion, subtle tension, and sharp dialogue. Perfect for readers who appreciate realistic romance, complex characters, or introspective fiction - especially if you like books that linger after you finish the last page.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers are frustrated by the constant miscommunication between the main characters and the on-again, off-again nature of their relationship. Others find the storyline a bit repetitive or wish for more action and less introspection. If you prefer fast-paced plots, fully fleshed-out side characters, or neat, satisfying endings, you might not gel with this one. The lack of quotation marks in the dialogue and the at-times detached narrative style also put off some readers.
About:
'Normal People' by Sally Rooney follows the complex relationship between two young individuals, Marianne and Connell, as they navigate through high school and college years, dealing with issues of miscommunication, self-worth, and emotional struggles. The story delves into the intricacies of their evolving friendship and love, portraying realistic dialogues and character interactions that highlight the challenges faced by the protagonists as they grow and change over time. Rooney's writing style captures the uncertainties and vulnerabilities of the characters, creating a narrative that explores themes of love, friendship, and personal growth.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings for Normal People include mental health issues, emotional and physical abuse, and themes of self-harm.
Has Romance?
The presence of romance in Normal People is significant, focusing on the evolving relationship between the two main characters.
From The Publisher:
***PRE-ORDER BEAUTIFUL WORLD, WHERE ARE YOU NOW***
'The best young novelist - indeed one of the best novelists - I've read in years.' Olivia Laing
'Superb . . . a tremendous read, full of insight and sweetness.' Anne Enright
'One the best novels I have read in years.' Sheila Heti
Connell and Marianne grow up in the same small town in the west of Ireland, but the similarities end there. In school, Connell is popular and well-liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation - awkward but electrifying - something life-changing begins.
Normal People is a story of mutual fascination, friendship and love. It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find they can't.
READ THE BOOK OF THE HIT TV SERIES: THE BBC ADAPTATION OF NORMAL PEOPLE IS NOW AVAILABLE ON BBC IPLAYER AND BBC 1
Ratings (481)
Incredible (69) | |
Loved It (134) | |
Liked It (125) | |
It Was OK (77) | |
Did Not Like (55) | |
Hated It (21) |
Reader Stats (929):
Read It (490) | |
Currently Reading (7) | |
Want To Read (292) | |
Did Not Finish (20) | |
Not Interested (120) |
18 comment(s)
This was incredibly frustrating and I’m still debating on whether or not I hate it or love it.
I can’t decide how I feel about this book. I found the dialogue hard to hear in my mind as actual young adults talking... maybe that’s a cultural difference? I’m not sure. I also found the lack of explanation/background for Marianne’s family dynamic frustrating and confusing. It made the actions of her brother seem almost outlandish at times. I didn’t want to put it down, but didn’t really feel satisfied by the end... I don’t think I needed full resolution or a happy ending, but I’m not really sure what I would have wanted instead, either.
I don't know how to feel
4 stars. having heard so much hype about this book i was very excited to pick it up. i was thoroughly impressed, and can easily understand the hype around this novel.
Sally Rooney’s Normal People is one of those rare books that gets under your skin and stays there. It’s an almost clinical, yet deeply compassionate, dissection of the relationship between two people, Marianne and Connell, as they weave in and out of each other's lives from high school through university. Rooney has an unparalleled gift for capturing the subtle power dynamics, the unspoken anxieties, and the profound, almost magnetic, pull that can exist between two people.
The beauty of this novel lies in its quiet intimacy. The plot is secondary to the intense, almost claustrophobic focus on the characters' internal lives. You are so deeply immersed in their thoughts and feelings that their miscommunications, their moments of missed connection, are almost physically painful. There are times you want to shake them, to scream at them to just talk to each other. But their flawed, fumbling, and deeply human journey towards understanding themselves and each other is what makes the book so devastatingly real and ultimately, unforgettable. It's a raw, tender, and brilliant exploration of love, class, and the terrifying vulnerability of true intimacy.
4/5⭐️
Wow wow wow. The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star read was because there wasn’t quotations and it was confusing sometimes lol.
But the message in this book was so beautiful. It’s literally just 2 people going about their normal life but the way that it’s written is so meaningful. I also saw a tik tok that went back to the first line and talked about how important and deep that line was and yes yes yes oh my gosh.
4.5⭐️ I’ve enjoyed reading this book, it was a quick read for me… though I would have preferred an actual ending and not a cliffhanger in this story…but I can watch the adoption of this book on Hulu now…
2.5 stars. Eh I just don't feel like Sally Rooney is the writer for me, some parts where ok but found the story to be rather bland
At the end of the day, this is a commentary on class.
loved it, a little emotionally heavy but really well written and made me think about my own attitude and how the people around you really affect your life.
slightly unsatisfied with the ending. book way better than the Hulu show (both worth investing in).
What can you read after
Normal People?
About the Author:
Sally Rooney was born in 1991 and lives in Dublin, where she graduated from an MA at Trinity College in 2013. Her work has appeared in Granta, The White Review, The Dublin Review, The Stinging Fly, Kevin Barry's Stonecutter and The Winter Pages anthology. Conversations with Friends is her first novel.Follow her @sallyrooney
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