I appreciate sally rooney’s commitment to reality in the telling of this story. and I have to acknowledge that she writes characters that I relate to so deeply it’s uncomfortable. but the reality of it, while rendering it very thought-provoking at points, makes it boring at points. 

it definitely would appear that i give 5 stars out left right and centre, maybe because i honestly get emotionally attached to almost every book i read - but this one was truly a million out of ten. i’m concerned that sally rooney may actually be able to see into my brain, because particularly eileen was one of the most relatable characters i’ve ever experienced. i loved seeing the relationships of the two couples develop - i really rooted for them and the realistic way the progression of their relationships was detailed. felix and simon were also two ends of a spectrum of men that any young woman can relate to - i saw them in my own friends and partners visually and mentally. i also think alice and eileen’s friendship is one of the first time i’ve truly seen a long distance friendship accurately portrayed in a new adult book. it made me think of my own best friend, and sparked a two hour phone call when we hadn’t spoken in weeks. the email chapters were some of my favourites, and their discussion of society, history and religion really furthered the plot while providing an interesting and attention-holding intermission. it made me think on a lot of subjects more deeply, such as what it is to be a young woman in the current times and the priorities i have in my life. it showed me that prioritising loving and spending time with others is not a bad thing, but is rather something to aspire to. this book means a lot to me, and to think of a world without sally rooneys writing is something i’m not prepared to do. as always adore adore adore.

I love this author’s writing she writes character’s personalities so well. There is a sharp exact way to her writing even when she is writing about emotional topics she stays exact and succinct. I loved the characters and their flaws and personalities. I enjoyed the book but felt the ending was so sudden. 

Why did the characters like actually learn lessons SO late into the book. What. I should’ve done my research because tbh I don’t follow a religion and the religious content of this book was too unrelatable and needed more for me 

Sally Rooney writes in a very effortless way, and it’s easy to get swept away into the lives of the 4 main characters. I found myself cheering for them all at certain times or getting frustrated with them during other parts. A story about human connection - the good, the bad, and the beautiful. 

A good read for someone in their 20s who wants to validate their depressive, sometimes chaotic, nonsensical and emotional thoughts they wouldn’t want to talk about out loud. The characters are very flawed and you might end up hating the way they live and communicate - but I think that’s what Sally was trying to do with this book. Make it flawed, annoying, sometimes hilarious and sometimes awkward - so you find yourself wanting to tell the characters “ok this is what you have to do, it’s as simple as that, that is how you solve this” perfectly imitating just how life is. You expect it to be rational, though it barely is but you put up with it. That is the feeling the book leaves you with it. I’d argue that is cool.