The Write Review

Summary:

At school Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other. He’s popular and well-adjusted, star of the school football team, while she is lonely, proud, and intensely private. But when Connell comes to pick his mother up from her job at Marianne’s house, a strange and indelible connection grows between the two teenagers—one they are determined to conceal.

A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years at university, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. And as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save the other.

Sally Rooney brings her brilliant psychological acuity and perfectly spare prose to a story that explores the subtleties of class, the electricity of first love, and the complex entanglements of family and friendship.

Review:

Sometimes we read books and they just aren’t for us. While understanding and sometimes enjoying the relationship between Marianne and Connell throughout the years, this book was a struggle for me. I really enjoyed their High School years the most, after that it all got a bit bland for me.

I really wanted to love this novel, so I went in to it with the belief that I was absolutely going to devour it. When I began reading it, I had a really hard time with the writing; or rather, the editing. I have learned that I prefer proper punctuation when reading a book. I don’t only prefer it; I really desire it. It made reading the entire story very abrupt, and choppy. It was disruptive to the flow of the story.

I am sure there are many readers that will enjoy this particular style of writing and storyline, it just was not for me. Definitely a personal preference. I felt no connection to this book. Maybe I am missing something, and I feel awful for this because I know a lot was poured into these pages.

2.5 Stars.

 

I would like to thank the publishers for sending me an ARC of this Novel via NetGalley.