"You're the kind of person, people either love or hate you."
If I had to describe this book in two works, it will be wonderful and real. This coming-of-age story involves Connell and Marianne and they bring a realistic point of view to what certain friendships are exposed to, such as judgment from others and the idea to fit into that particular group of friends.
This book was different in its writing, for me I felt like it was written very objectively and very straight forward giving it a 3rd person's POV. I appreciated how opposite the characters were but how much they connected through all the years yet never really parted when it came to their feelings.
As the title states "Normal People", there isn't much normal between Connell and Marianne as they meet in high school and carry the bonding through the years with other on-and-off relationships that they each try but somehow always end up needing the comfort of each other. Connell in school was known to be one of the popular guys with a crowd by his side, but Marianne was the opposite, though she never cared about any of the social norms like popularity or status.
In College, the labels switch as Marianne becomes more popular and Connell more of a solitary guy. They go through so much in their friendship and with each downfall, it gets even stronger. Marianne has always been seen as odd by the way she carries herself and the unsuccessful relationship she often lands in, and all is traced back to how her family is different in the way they treat Marianne and how normalized abuse is among them. Although Marianne isn't abusive herself, she often has this fetish or preference to become submissive during sex. I hated so much Marianne's family, it just made me want to drag both her mom and brother through lava.
I believe others wouldn't enjoy this if they are looking for a perfect friendship turned into a relationship because this isn't it. Both Connell and Marianne are so toxic but have no guidance from anyone as they rather keep their business private because no one else would understand what they truly have.
The ending was very basic and not what I was expecting given the way everything was lining up for them. I am not going to binge-watch the Hulu series because I need to relive this book in a graphical way.
Rating: 4.5
Format: Paperback
Author: Sally Rooney
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