Sally Rooney’s Normal People explores the tumultuous relationship between Marianne and Connell, two teenagers from a small Irish town. The protagonists are polar opposites, with Connell one of the popular kids on the football team from a working-class background, whereas Marianne is a quiet loner, whose family has a higher socioeconomic status. Their relationship starts in high school and we follow them as it weaves around and shapes their lives through to the end of their university studies. 

The novel dives deep into the intricacies of their relationship, not shying away from the difficulties or viewing it through rose-tinted glasses. There’s intimacy, misunderstanding, and separation, as the protagonists navigate the changes we all go through in life, in this coming of age tale. As they come together and separate over the years, will they be able to make it work in the end?

A word of caution, though, there are some graphic sexual scenes. Just something to bear in mind if you’re looking to give this title a read, or if that’s not your cup of tea. 

Normal People is a truly beautiful exploration of young love, in all of its messy and uncertain glory. The novel perfectly captures the excitement and heartbreak of young adulthood and the difficulties that we can face as we navigate this mix of families, relationships, and problems that arise as we leave childhood behind.

This sometimes bleak, sometimes joyous, always gorgeous text, works so well because of Rooney’s deeply relatable characters, a result of her sharp, intimate prose. Her ability to convey the unspoken is masterful, as is her use of miscommunication, which creates some deliciously frustrating moments throughout the novel as the reader tries to will Marianne and Connell together.  

There is a raw emotional depth to the work, and Rooney isn’t afraid to lay her characters bare, leaving them completely exposed, allowing the reader to get under their skin and feel exactly what they are. And we loved the way she deals with the mental health issues in the text so sympathetically and openly. 

Overall, this is a sharp, beautifully poignant, resonant text, a modern love story without the frilly bits, that should be on every contemporary drama lover’s shelf. 

Who is Sally Rooney?

Sally Rooney is an acclaimed Irish author, born in County Mayo and educated at Trinity College Dublin. Garnering critical acclaim with her debut novel, Conversations With Friends, which she wrote whilst completing her master’s in American literature. Her second novel, Normal People, received universal acclaim and was adapted into an Emmy-nominated television series that became one of the must-watches during the pandemic when it hit screens. 

Rooney’s work is celebrated for its sharp dialogue, imperfectly realistic characters, emotional depth, and keen social commentaries. 

Other books by Sally Rooney

Sally Rooney has a small but extremely punchy collection of titles. Her debut novel Conversations With Friends, released in 2017, explores the boundaries of relationships. Winning Rooney the Young Writer of the Year award, the novel was also adapted into a television series. Beautiful World, Where Are You Was released in 2021 and became a New York Times bestseller, exploring themes of romance, friendship, and social class. 

The release of Rooney’s highly anticipated next novel, Intermezzo, is also on the horizon — available for pre-order now and scheduled for release in September. If you can’t wait until then and need more Rooney, there’re also a number of bonus short stories, some online and some in print, like Mr Salary and Colour and Light.

Want to read more?

Keen to read Normal People? Unsure of what else to put on your to-read list? Why not browse the books we’ve reviewed in similar genres like drama or wider fiction?

In the meantime, keep up-to-date on the latest reviews and literary advice by visiting our latest reviews page and, of course, the Victoria Freudenheim blog.