Normal People by Sally Rooney

“No one can be independent of other people completely, so why not give up the attempt, she thought, go running in the other direction, depend on people for everything, allow them to depend on you, why not.”

Synopsis

At school Connell and Marianne pretend not to know each other. He’s popular and well-adjusted, star of the school soccer team while she is lonely, proud, and intensely private. But when Connell comes to pick his mother up from her housekeeping 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 in college, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. Then, 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.

Review

This was one of my highly anticipated novels to have on my TBR and yet it wasn’t until last month I actually read the novel. This is my first Rooney novel to read and it was pretty good! I felt that these two protagonist, Connell and Marianne, got some issues they are trying to figure out. Their relationship is unique and also comes with some baggage. It’s a very complex one that even I wanted to see how it would go for them. They are regular people with ordinary lives dealing with issues that everyone faces. Dealing with mental illness and socioeconomic status this became a great read for me.

This here is a five star rating. It was a fast pace book since Connell and Marianne’s relationship dynamics made captured my attention and seeing how it ends for them. No spoilers but it was a simple ending. I would still highly recommend this book and I hope you will enjoy it.