I did not expect this book to resonate so deeply with me and I am not even sure I understand why it did. All I know is I loved it. This story is about two smart, lonely teenagers who forge an intense bond that pushes and pulls at them through their university years. It touches on many issues including gender and socioeconomic inequalities but I think where it succeeds most is its examinations of relationships and what makes them healthy or not.

I usually grow impatient with self-destructive female lead characters, but the writing here and the unpredictable twists kept me going. Object lessons.

I’m willing to try Conversations With Friends, but this one did not do it for me.

I have a hard time connecting with books that focus more on a style of writing, rather than narrating a captivating story. The book had so many stylistic quirks, that I found myself focusing on the writing itself, and not paying attention to the story that Rooney was attempting to tell.

I think that this was a situation where “It’s not you, it’s me.”

I think that this book will be loved by many different kinds of readers. I think that the writing itself demonstrated a lot of talent and creativity, and I think that the characters were very raw and relatable, quirky and endearing.

I personally just could not connect.

If you don’t mind prose that takes a lot of critical exploration and concentration, you might actually love this one. I think Rooney is talented and lovely. I hope that I like her other work more than I liked Normal People.

This moving, sexy, troubling book is written with a graceful, understated prose style that I appreciate and seems typical of Irish writers. I love the intelligent way it follows these two characters as they navigate social life. What you read on the page is smart and engaging, but there is also plenty that is said and that is presented to think about between the lines. It's a deceptively intelligent and observant novel in that sense, and it handles a tricky topic of sadomasochistic urges as they stem from trauma in a way that is insightful yet not heavy-handed.. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and grew to care a great, great deal about these characters. This really got under my skin. I think it deserves to get a lot of attention here in the US when it is published, and I hope that happens. This should raise the author's profile greatly. I suspect this will appeal more to literary readers and not so much to readers of romance.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Normal People is a novel in the ‘New Adult’ genre.
According to Wikipedia, ‘New adult fiction tends to focus on issues such as leaving home, developing sexuality, and negotiating education and career choices,’.
In the words of a friend, ‘New Adult fiction is like Young Adult fiction with more emphasis on sex.’
In my estimations, Both descriptions are true of this novel.

Normal people follows the lives and relationships of Marianne and Connell, who are both from Carricklea, a small town in County Sligo.
They begin a secret relationship while in school in Carricklea where Connell is very popular while Marianne is very much an outsider—even though Marianne’s family is well off while Connell comes from a more merger background. Both are excellent students.
With Marianne ‘s encouragement, both end up at Trinity College in Dublin where suddenly their roles are reversed with Marianne being in inner circles with popular people while Connell struggles to make friends.
The story unfolds from there. It is a story of secrets and miscommunications, mental health issues and unresolved family backgrounds. At one stage a character is referred to negatively because he is on medication to help his depression issues while bullying and dominance are ongoing themes.
That being said it was not all dark and some manner of resilience is also present in the characters.
The story is told in ‘scenes’, with chapter titles giving time between preceding episodes. Within each, there are also frequent thoughts back to other events. As such, the story can seem disjoint at times.
I did not particularly like this story. Many of the characters felt more like caricatures rather than well developed characters. However, the story does meet the criteria of the genre so I would imagine it will have its own fans.

There’s always been something inside her that men have wanted to dominate, and their desire for domination can look so much like attraction, even love.

I am the type of reader who needs all the bells and whistles while reading. When I seek out fiction I want a mass murder, our narrator to die and the world to basically implode. Who would have thought a simple book about human emotion, politics and love would grasp my cold dead heart so entirely. If I didn’t know any better, I would say I was the Grinch and this story made my heart grow 3 whole sizes. And no one is more shocked than myself…

Normal People is an unexpected gem. After reading the synopsis, I almost skipped right over the request button on NetGalley. Fortunately, I had my side kick and guide to life, Goodreads, available with numerous reviews. The reviews were outstanding and the praise was infinite. And I must admit all ratings and applause are beyond well deserved.

I believe Normal People has been released in other parts of the world. However, it has yet to make its debut in the states. If my research proves correct, it will be available sometime in April. And rest assured, this is a book you need to read. Here is why….

First of all, the story is completely addicting. I started this story in the AM before my work shift the week of Thanksgiving. I snuck in reading time whenever I possibly could during the work day. It was nearly impossible to put down, job or not. I needed to find out about Marianne and Connell’s relationship. It was more necessary to know how it all panned out more than it was necessary to stay employed. The first day, I casually had my ereader laid down in front of me with my scarf blocking the reader in case someone walked by my office door. On day two, I placed the ereader in front of my monitor since I didn’t have the scarf and put on quite the show about being focused with what was on my monitor. But truth be told I was more invested in the relationship between our protagonists than anything I should have been focused on like…I don’t know work I am payed to do….

One of the most surprising things about my love for this book is the fact that it is about love. I read probably two romance novels a year. And that might even be a generous guess, I don’t seek out books about love and relationships. But the thing is Rooney did such an excellent job of making this completely relatable that I couldn’t help but fall in love myself. This love story is entirely realistic in so many ways. The issues they face were issues I’ve faced in my own relationship. We get insight into moments where a simple lack of communication ended a happy situation. We see these two grow and change places in the hierarchy of social standing. There are just so many situations in this novel that have played out in the reader’s real lives that is nearly impossible not to relate to this novel. Even from a same sex reader’s point of view, these are real issues in relationships that we all have gone through or will go through. And this fact is why I find this story so very magical and worthwhile.

Let me continue my praise. The character growth and development is unlike any other story I have read. I really connected with these protagonist on another level. Marianne is a rich girl with a poor home life that follows her into adult life. We see how home neglect and abuse can shape a child into an unexpected person. How a poor home life can damage self-confidence so severely that a person can no longer see or know their true self. Here was a quote from Marianne that broke my heart because it was so incredibly relatable and a thought that crosses my mind to this day:

Well I don’t feel lovable. I think I have an unlovable sort of….I have a coldness about me, I’m difficult to like.

Connell is much like Marianne but in such a different way. Connell came from a poor but loving background. His family and friends from his hometown simply adored him. But the issue was he was never really himself there. While Connell may be the prom king type, he is so concerned with what others think that he makes incredibly poor and heartbreaking decisions. He lets the thoughts of others dictate his life to such an extreme degree that he loses important people and relationships. Here is a quote from his point of view regarding Marianne:

She would have lain on the ground and let him walk over her body if he wanted, he knew that.

Both of these characters go through the human experience and we are lucky enough to watch. What I find most interesting is the views they have of one another. Connell finds Marianne completely self-confident. She doesn’t need the approval of others. She is entirely okay being herself. When in all reality, she is incredibly insecure and unsure of herself. It is just a tough persona. While Marianne views Connell as this high and mighty godlike guy. He is the epitome of perfection in her eyes. But the reality is they both are two young and confused beings just bopping around in life trying to make ends meet at any cost. It is a very heartbreaking to watch two insecure people revere in the idea of the other person that technically doesn’t exist.

There was one scene in particular that pulled at my heart strings and very nearly destroyed my life. It was after Marianne’s brother slammed the door into her face. Connell came and picked her up. He took her back to his house and they had one of the most emotional and intense moments of the story. Marianne finally comes clean about her brother, Alan, abusing her physically. And admits her Mom basically turns a blind eye finding nothing wrong with his behavior. Connell in this moment begins to cry because Marianne confesses she could never admit this to him. She feared him seeing her as damaged, “I thought you wouldn’t want me anymore.” And this moment pretty much broke my heart into a thousand little shards of glass. Because I’ve been Marianne and I’ve felt the same way. It isn’t a feeling you would wish on anyone. But knowing there are other women and men out there who feel unlovable and broken is incredibly powerful. And Rooney couldn’t have touched my soul any more than she did with this scene.

I can’t express enough how great this book really is. It has been quite a while since I’ve read a book that carved out a special place in my heart. I fell completely and irrevocably in love with Marianne and Connell, in fact, here is a taste of what I wrote while reading this story:

"I’m halfway through the story and sitting at my desk banging both of my fists on the desk asking them just to be together for the love of all that is holy! I need them to be together. Much like I need water or air. I am going to have a fit and or die if they do not end up together forever."

I am not dramatic at all…

This is going to be a major hit. It is going to be an award winning story. And it is going to deserve every ounce of praise it receives. This is story that will unexpectedly take you. You might not see it coming, but after reading it, I know it is coming to all you unexpected readers. This is a story you need to read. Plain and simple, this book is a major hit.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Crown Publishing for approving my request. This book was a treat unlike any other.

These two main characters and their complicated web were intriguing and relateable all at once. Thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them and the great detail the author provided as we moved from one phase of their lives to the next.
Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me a copy of this book in exchange for my opinions.

While the writing is beautiful, the characters are hard to like or relate to. An okay read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author. All opinions are my own.

What I loved: the writing. Good God, Sally writes so beautifully it hurts. I can't even wrap my head around this, having never heard of her as an author, I've got "Conversations with Friends" on order after finishing this book.

What I liked: the explicit sex scenes. FINALLY, thank you GOD for someone writing a sex scene that's authentic and not dripping with expectations that will never be met! Hallelujah!

What I struggled with: liking the characters. Their relationship. UGH. I almost wished it would have been anyone else but these two, and I don't know why I disliked them both so very, very much. Is that the intended purpose, to dislike them? Either way, I almost stopped reading but I just couldn't because... well. Sally. /swoon

**Review will be published to blog in month-in-review blog post on 01 Dec 2018 at 10:00AM EST**

At my own transition in life (though from college to post-grad rather than from high school to college like the protagonists), I've been especially interested in coming-of-age stories, and with the rise of rom coms, I've been wanting a little more YA romance in my life. I was looking forward to a "sentimental romance," as one Goodreads reviewer put it, but the novel didn't turn out to be what I expected. This novel was about troubled lovers who could have saved themselves the heartache with better communication, but who doesn't need to improve their communication skills? However, I never ended up symapathising with them. I found the style of writing a bit dry, whereas others found it packed with intense emotion. I feel like I'm in the minority though, so I'd say to give this novel a shot if the blurb intrigues you!

Well, unpopular opinion, but I just didn’t like this novel at all. I see enough bad white boy behavior in the news and really couldn’t stomach reading anymore “normal people” behavior. I did not finish this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hogarth/Crown publishing for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so happy to get approved for this one! What an amazing cover as well. In this book, Rooney did a good job at dissecting humans minds and the complex emotions that drive their actions. The topics, what I feel the author is trying to say, I really enjoy on paper. But some of the writing felt a little off for me. Mostly in the first chapters. Not bad, just not my style. I still enjoyed this book overall though. It is a deeply intriguing look into the natural growing pains of life and the always inevitable messy romances that accompany our lives.

I did feel immersed into these character's trying to find themselves and their place in this world. I enjoyed them being seemingly normal people, but deeply flawed and sloppy almost as well. I love honest characters, and I appreciate the risk authors take in placing such pressure on their characters carrying a plot forward in a book and keeping readers simply interested in their lives. I don't this this book will be for everybody, but I hope they try to push through and take the story for what it is. I am glad I pushed through and continued reading this book and am very glad to have been approved!
Thank you again to Netgalley and the publisher!

Normal People was an amazing read. I had just read Conversations with Friends this month and fell in love with how Rooney is able to dissect human lives and bring ugly things out in the open. The ugly things can be marveled at, identified and they resonate with a part of myself I vividly remember when I was younger. I loved accompanying Connell and Marianne throughout their unconventional friendship. They had found a kindred spirit and clung to this toxic relationship through years of life happening around them. The way they talked about human interactions and questioning the reason behind certain actions really made me think about social aspects and roles and scripts. Connell and Marianne are constantly “acting” outside of this unwritten script that the players around them are dictating and when they don’t “act” the way they are “supposed” to people react aggressively towards them. I loved Connell so much for his awareness of his power towards Marianne and his unwillingness to abuse it. I loved both of them for their introspection and for reminding me of what it is like to try on different personas until we find one that fits. I still find myself donning masks that may make me uncomfortable and feeling like an anthropologist studying the human race to figure out why we do or act certain ways. This felt very much like an anthropological study and it is an amazing piece of literary fiction.

There was a major disconnect between me and this universally adored book.

On paper it’s everything I would want in a novel: a complicated love story about a young couple that explores the power dynamics in relationships and class structures. There’s even BDSM!

The problem is that the writing did absolutely nothing for me, leaving me completely underwhelmed. To me, it read like a shallow YA novel—all plot progression and dialogue at the expense of any real depth. Repetitive and predictable, with so much squandered potential.

Maybe I’m missing something, because not only does everyone I know love this book, it was also longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.

I just don’t get it.

I loved this book. While it is a story of 'coming of age', the individuals involved are complex people with complicated lives. Both are extremely bright which may be the reason they initially connect but it also is the reason they have a hard time trusting their instincts. I'm only sorry it won't be published until next April as I have many many friends who will love this book.

This book surprised me.
I am still shocked at how much I enjoyed it.
I am generally drawn to more fantastical books, this book, is not that. It is an extremely honest and emotionally riveting book.

I received an advanced electronic copy of this book and I found myself constantly taking pictures of the pages so that I could remember certain lines, remember certain interactions.

Sally Rooney is a talented and beautiful writer.
It was a raw and honest look into the lives of two seemingly normal people. This book had a very voyeuristic feel to it, watching these people grow up, seeing their private moments, being a part of their lives as they fold into each other in such a beautiful and poetic way.

"Maybe they were just curious to observe the chemistry between to people who, over the course of several years, apparently could not leave one another alone"

Its hard for me to put into words the premise of this story, or the way it made me feel. Every time I try to write it, it's not enough, it doesn't do the story or the writing justice. This book is not just words on paper, it's so much more than that.

I loved this book,
I loved the characters,
I loved the writing.

Easily the best book I read all year.

Until reading this novel, I hadn't known there was such a thing as "coming-of-age" fiction. Now that I know, this will not be the last of the genre that I read. After having read Sally Rooney's debut novel, Conversations with Friends, I just HAD to gain access to her next book. Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to access the novel in advance. Oh, how I love Miss Rooney.
Normal People centers around the story of Marianne and Connell, two seemingly different people inhabiting the same space. Connell's mother, Lorraine (who by the way is my favorite character - you'll love her humor!) is the cleaning woman for Marianne's mother. The novel altogether reminds me of David Nicholl's One Day. It follows the characters throughout their youth and young adulthood, as they figure themselves out and figure out their relationship. 

The novel is full of a messy romance, that is classic Sally Rooney. Something I absolutely adore about her is that she makes these characters sloppy. There are times that they make decisions and you think as the reader, "What the hell? Why did they do that?!" And then you realize, you likely would've done the same thing. There's also this play on perception; both of her characters are inhabiting the same narrative, and yet have entirely different interpretations of what is going on around them and the words they share with one another.

All in all, I think Rooney did a brilliant job, and I was extremely impressed by her ability to create an imperfect love story.

Well written compelling prose that moves the plot forward seamlessly while exploring a relationship over time with depth and insight.
I was totally motivated to go back and read the authors debut novel which I picked up and put down a couple times before.. I also did some
side bar research into the historical time and setting ......great break from the mystery thriller, ya filler that seems an all pervasive
substitute for good books state side.

After reading a few pages, I contemplated abandoning this one, but I'm glad I didn't. The chapters move forward in chunks of time, and I found myself wanting all the in-betweens. The story line was unique, also quite sad. It revolves around the relationship of the two main characters, Marianne and Connell. The characters were really what drew me in. They're learning about themselves and their place in the world.

It was quite affecting to read in such stark language the deeply personal doubts, fears, and insecurities of the two main characters, Connell and Marianne. The detached narrative voice that Rooney employs serves to maintain a balance between the two characters' narrations, as well as to avoid sentimentality.