A thoroughly enjoyable will they/ won't they romance story, touched with the devastation of losing someone close. This is the story of Rosie and Will, they meet as teenagers and their path is a rocky upward climb which we follow over the years.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I know this book will probably draw comparisons to Sally Rooney’s “Normal People” and after reading I can definitely see why.

It’s deep and a little heavy in places but still an engaging read.

If you’re a fan of Normal People, this will definitely appeal. If not, it may be still worth a read regardless if you like books with plenty of emotion involved.

I got to about 40% in and had to dnf. I should have known this book wasn’t for me as soon as I saw it was written in the third person & had zero speech marks.
The pace was too slow & I felt like nothing was happening.
This books likely to be for fans of:
- One Day
- Normal People

Probably all other Sally Rooney books!

I loved this heart-wrenching tale of a first love that our protagonists, Will and Rosie, never quite escape. The premise will remind readers of Normal People by Sally Rooney and One Day by David Nicholls, but from a fresh new voice in Claire Daverley. This is not a ‘happy’ romance like many – it deals with some heavy themes, including Will and Rosie sharing a profound loss – but this story of a deep, intense connection that simmers under the surface through the years will speak to any reader who enjoys a tale of unrequited love.

I really wanted to love this book, the premises sounded incredible but sadly I just didn't gel with it. I've seen a lot of people compare this with books like Normal People - another book I didn't like - so perhaps the writing style just isn't for me.

soooo good for those who loved one day / normal people / love rosie<3 cried greatly and i love the idea of people growing and finding themselves after a tragedy before finding their way back together! read it as part of a work book club and it was so fruitful to discuss after

Talking at Night is a heartbreaking book about loss and recovery. Will and Rosie meet when they are 17. He is a friend of her twin brother and they have very little else in common. Their friendship develops and there is an instant connection between them.Unfortunately, fate conspires to keep them apart despite their feelings and the novel follows their lives through the ups and downs.
It really is a book that draws you in due to your investment in the characters. It is sensitively written and covers many difficult topics. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed the basis of this one but found it a little slow moving and not for me. Having said that I know it’s been a huge hit and lots of people have recommended this one.

At first I wasn’t sure about the writing style, but then I grew utterly consumed by the story. I was in floods of tears by the middle. Adored the ending. Book hangovers are real!

I devoured this book in 3 sittings, once I'd got in to it I couldn't put it down. Well written. The story of Rosie and Will. I feel like I warmed more to Will than Rosie but thoughly enjoyed it. Thank you

Literary love stories are basically my favourite genre of all time, so obviously I was excited to read Talking At Night. It tells the story of Rosie and Will, who meet when they're teenagers and form a connection, only for it to be interrupted by tragedy. To start with, I thought this was a brilliant, pretty flawless debut: it prioritises Rosie and Will's relationship without sacrificing development in other characters and situations, and it had so many lovely little sentences. My enthusiasm did wane as the book continued, though: partly because their story felt a little drawn-out, partly because there were too many weird abstract metaphors to describe their connection. Anyway I still absolutely flew through it
and enjoyed it but it didn't quite live up to the expectations the first third set for me.

This book was ok. Unfortunately it didn’t blow me away and I’m not sure I’ll remember the plot or characters.

Rosie and Will's love story isn't a straightforward narrative; it's intense, raw, and flawed. Yet, there's an undeniable sense that these two individuals are meant to be together. The depth of their connection unfolds through a timeline that traces their journey from teenagers to adults, fostering a strong connection between the readers and the characters.

Despite the story delving into sad and dark topics, the author handles them with great skill. The emotional resonance is palpable, and as a reader, your heart is consistently tugged and broken throughout the entirety of the narrative.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

A romantic and cute-sy read following Rosie and Will. The book does seem inspired from Normal People - there are a lot of similarities (which did put me off initially) - but there are some unique elements too.

The prologue starts with a fall. A family member of Rosie has passed away. We then start the novel which switches from Rosie and Will’s POV. They meet as teenagers about to finish school soon. Will is the friend of Josh, Rosie’s twin. Rosie has a controlling mother (a lot like Marianne), and Will has a reputation for missing classes and sleeping around. Yet the two find themselves connecting and spending time together until a tragedy affects their lives…it’s never the perfect time for Rosie and Will yet they find themselves drifting back into each other’s lives.

This was a beautifully written although a rather slow and at times tedious novel. I found the protagonists to be rather passive and the story overall lacking a gripping voice. Once we move out of the typical teenage-era of parties and going to the “dance” parts and into adulthood, I was more hooked. But still I think my issue was that I found the characters passive at times and wish the ending had more closure, it was too open-ended for my taste. Regardless there were some nice moments and the writing was good with some stunning observations.

Another Sally Rooney inspired contemporary romance read that is quiet and character-driven. This was sweet. We follow Rosie and Will over a huge span of their lives starting from 17-years old as they move in and out of the life but never quite get a chance to be a couple despite their feelings for each other.
This was a sweet read. A bit slow for my taste though, I did personally find the characters quite young. Perhaps if you’re in your 20s you’ll relate to the story more. There is some beautiful writing though.

I work within Penguin Random House and received this book as part of Penguin Reads, meaning I am not expected to review in exchange for my free digital copy.

Wonderful novel, a beautifully observed story about love and loss, with characters so real that you feel as if you know them.

I did enjoy this novel and particularly enjoyed Will’s story. The only issue I had was that there were so many twists along the road it began to feel like a really hurtful and negative situation (which I know was kind of the point. But maybe it was tooooo much?) d recommend it but with a forewarning you have to be a bit patient with Rosie.

This is a star crossed love book, but also it's a sensitive meditation on the impact of grief.
Rosie and "bad boy" Will meet at a campfire . However early in their potential relationship there's a complication, due to Rosie's twin brother, that has far reaching consequences.

Rosie reminds me of Marianne in Normal People by Sally Rooney in having a controlling mother and issues to do with food and safety. Her father remains curiously absent (I guess the author wanted to focus on the main characters, but I did wonder about the relationship of the twins with their father)

The author has an acute psychological insight , especially as to the long term effects of grief. She lets her characters have nuances and ambiguities (yes, even the mother) Sometimes you don't always like Will and Rosie, but you always understand them.

This was such a well observed novel and definitely rivals Sally Rooney. Perceptive and beautifully written.

A really good read. It was quite a slow start but I soon got into it and was engrossed in the story. Rosie and Will met when they were teenagers but they both had problems and the time never felt right for them to be together. As the years past and they both tried to make new lives for themselves they were always drawn back together as friends but actually deep down they both wanted more.A lovely heartwarming read that was beautiful and moving at times but also the characters had much sadness and anxieties to cope with.