Scan barcode
siakou's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t know how to even begin rating this book.
On one hand I finished reading it, along with watching the series, in less than a day but at the same time it was insanely hard to go through.
I’ve read books 3 times it’s size that read like novellas, this was 273 pages and brutal but mesmerising at the same time in the same way that a burning building captures your attention and you can’t look away.
What I’m absolutely certain of tho is that the series is hands down better. Connell’s inner thoughts alone in the first chapters were enough to dislike the whole book but luckily the series has none of that and brings a more human side to all of the characters.
Plot wise, this is the epitome of the miscommunication trope (which I’m not a fan of) where everyone is either downright problematic or is just being plainly stupid. Some aspects were relatable I can’t deny that but overall I think it was overly dramatic just for the sake of being dramatic especially compared to my boring ass life. And I can’t say I liked the ending, it felt too much like going through all of this was for nothing.
Some of the other issues I had were with:
• Rooney’s weird refusal to use quotation marks in the dialogue (but I knew about that before going into the book so yeah it was annoying but I wasn’t surprised)
• Everyone’s inability to be content with them selves, Connell is literally like "nobody likes me, I can’t stay alone, I’m depressed now I guess"
• staying with or even looking for shitty partners and friends because of their inability to just be content with themselves.
• there’s not a single confrontational moment for anything. All the issues are either instantly forgiven or ignored and that’s just not realistic at all
• Marianne in the early chapters is described as someone who’s opinionated because she always knows what she wants. That instantly went away when she got to college and started behaving like a pet.
• my final issue is a more personal one because I tend to see things more black or white. I’m a firm believer of either staying and fixing things or cutting all ties and moving forward. This entire book is the exact reason why I’m a firm believer of that logic, people who won’t try hard enough but still won’t let go are masochists who will only bring more people in their shit for no reason and they scare the shit out of me even more so now.
So did I love this? Absolutely not.
But I’m glad I gave it a try, I completely got sucked into those people’s messy lives despite my conflicting thoughts on them.
On one hand I finished reading it, along with watching the series, in less than a day but at the same time it was insanely hard to go through.
I’ve read books 3 times it’s size that read like novellas, this was 273 pages and brutal but mesmerising at the same time in the same way that a burning building captures your attention and you can’t look away.
What I’m absolutely certain of tho is that the series is hands down better. Connell’s inner thoughts alone in the first chapters were enough to dislike the whole book but luckily the series has none of that and brings a more human side to all of the characters.
Plot wise, this is the epitome of the miscommunication trope (which I’m not a fan of) where everyone is either downright problematic or is just being plainly stupid. Some aspects were relatable I can’t deny that but overall I think it was overly dramatic just for the sake of being dramatic especially compared to my boring ass life. And I can’t say I liked the ending, it felt too much like going through all of this was for nothing.
Some of the other issues I had were with:
• Rooney’s weird refusal to use quotation marks in the dialogue (but I knew about that before going into the book so yeah it was annoying but I wasn’t surprised)
• Everyone’s inability to be content with them selves, Connell is literally like "nobody likes me, I can’t stay alone, I’m depressed now I guess"
• staying with or even looking for shitty partners and friends because of their inability to just be content with themselves.
• there’s not a single confrontational moment for anything. All the issues are either instantly forgiven or ignored and that’s just not realistic at all
• Marianne in the early chapters is described as someone who’s opinionated because she always knows what she wants. That instantly went away when she got to college and started behaving like a pet.
• my final issue is a more personal one because I tend to see things more black or white. I’m a firm believer of either staying and fixing things or cutting all ties and moving forward. This entire book is the exact reason why I’m a firm believer of that logic, people who won’t try hard enough but still won’t let go are masochists who will only bring more people in their shit for no reason and they scare the shit out of me even more so now.
So did I love this? Absolutely not.
But I’m glad I gave it a try, I completely got sucked into those people’s messy lives despite my conflicting thoughts on them.
nakaawang's review against another edition
5.0
it's so funny to me how this book grew from three stars to a five in the course of a year, there is no other book in the world that stuck to me for a long long time, despite my initial rejection of it. anyw, i really love this book :( i adore marianne, i see myself in connell, and i really couldn't care less whether they ended up together or not. just that they did wonderful things for each other in spite of what the world has done to the both of them. sally rooney ily ily ily
orihimesmom's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
2.0
sofislibrary444's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
they_planet's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book just vaguely sickened me the entire time I was reading it, but I still couldn't put it down.
I hated every character except Lorraine, and every situation they got into felt worse for them, and for me as a reader.
I will never touch this book again, but I don't really regret reading it, if only to feel better about my own life.
I hated every character except Lorraine, and every situation they got into felt worse for them, and for me as a reader.
I will never touch this book again, but I don't really regret reading it, if only to feel better about my own life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Mental illness
Moderate: Domestic abuse
willowisp_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
andrea_edwards's review against another edition
dark
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
4.25
stepharina's review against another edition
3.0
There wasn’t anything wrong with this book I just could not get into it. I can’t even really say why I couldn’t I just didn’t connect or care about the characters and their story didn’t make me want to keep reading. I ultimately finished this book really quickly because it was short and I did a lot of walking this week. This is a book that’s popular because of the show and I read the book first so I’m interested to see how it is in its show format and if I change my mind on the story.
milmilmil's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
This book just feels... important. Everything feels so meaningful, even though the text doesn't outright state a lot of its deeper parts. Good book and I'm excited to read the other Sally Rooney books!