Intriguing start. It's not the most exciting opener but it does have moments that are unexpected, and it's well written like all of Sally Rooney's books. Even though it is a slow beginning, I know Rooney has the ability to tell amazing stories so I'm very interested to see what happens next. A tantalising taster for what's sure to be one of the best novels of the year.

An extraordinary piece of story telling that just leaves you mind blown! Sally Rooney just dazzles in this small extract of her most anticipated new book.

It feels weird to give feedback on such a small excerpt of a novel I know I will love, and fully intend on reading the day it comes out! Can't wait to delve further into Rooney's world, it feels much like her other novels, but I love them so much. Thanks for the first chapter!

While I was only able to read the first chapter, it was short of nothing but intrigue and need to read more. The female lead is full of mystery and back story which clearly has affected her even now and the location hints to secrets which will be uncovered. Eager to read more!

Ooooo what a teaser! One chapter is never enough of a Sally Rooney novel.

Now you have got me wanting more. Great beginning to what I’m sure will be an epic novel.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Faber & Faber for sharing an ARC of Chapter 1 of Sally Rooney's new novel, which I was excited to read having enjoyed Normal People and Conversations With Friends.

Rooney's writing is once again immediately captivating. In the first chapter, she describes a date at a hotel bar between Alice, a writer, and Felix, who works in a warehouse. Rooney writes in the third person with a mixture of intimacy and detachment: she describes Alice and Felix and their responses to each other with tremendous attentiveness, but only from the outside. The characters are thus only revealed to us gradually, and by not allowing us to know exactly what either of them is thinking, Rooney creates an increasingly unsettling atmosphere as the evening unfolds. As with Rooney's previous novels, power dynamics and sexual politics are not far from the surface, though neither is explicitly discussed.

The blurb indicates that this is not the last that Alice and Felix will see of each other, and I am looking forward to reading the whole novel to find out what happens next.

Sally Rooney does it again - it looks like her new novel has lots of parallels with her life. As usual, her description of human interactions and relationships is great. I really wish this was more than one chapter! Will be getting the book as soon as it comes out. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.