What readers think of Normal People, plus links to write your own review.

What does it really mean to be in a relationship? What does it mean to be in young and in love? With sparse but beautiful language, author Sally Rooney has written a (literary) love story for the ages.

Marianne and Connell grew up in the same small Irish town. She is wealthy, privileged, unloved by her family, and a social pariah. She is bullied. He is the son of a poor single mother, totally loved, athletic and popular. He is a really nice guy. They begin a relationship in their last year of school, but Connell insists Marianne tell no one; it would be too embarrassing for him. The book is the story of their multi-year, on-again, off-again love affair—one that is intense but anguished, passionate but tormented, and totally meant to be. (Or is it?)

This is a stunning, intelligent and accomplished work of literature with vividly-imagined characters and an engaging and evocative storyline, albeit thin on plot. It is tender, but also shocking. It is true to life. It is an emotional deep dive into the human psyche. After all, what does it mean to be "normal people," and don't we all struggle to some extent to be just that?

This book grabbed my heart and soul.

A beautiful story about growing up and learning how to love and be loved.

I could not bring myself to finish this book. The writing was 90 prose, almost no dialog. Descriptive. Chapter after chapter the two main characters demonstrated no insight into themselves, their relationship, their lives. Not being a writer, I do not say I could do better. I would have expected better from one who has a publishing company behind her.