Normal People: A Novel

NOW AN EMMY-NOMINATED HULU ORIGINAL SERIES - NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE - "A stunning novel about the transformative power of relationships" (People) from the author of Conversations with Friends, "a master of the literary page-turner" (J. Courtney Sullivan).

"[A] novel that demands to be read compulsively, in one sitting."--The Washington Post

ONE OF ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY'S TEN BEST NOVELS OF THE DECADE

TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: People, Slate, The New York Public Library, Harvard Crimson

Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town, but the similarities end there. At school, Connell is popular and well liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation--awkward but electrifying--something life changing begins.

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 at university, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. And 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.

Normal People is the story of mutual fascination, friendship, and love. It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find that they can't.

WINNER: The British Book Award, The Costa Book Award, The An Post Irish Novel of the Year, Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award

BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, The New York Times Book Review, Oprah Daily, Time, NPR, The Washington Post, Vogue, Esquire, Glamour, Elle, Marie Claire, Vox, The Paris Review, Good Housekeeping, Town & Country

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304 pages

Average rating: 6.72

1,376 RATINGS

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78 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

mhalgren
Dec 17, 2024
8/10 stars
they’re just like me fr
Anonymous
Dec 11, 2024
Read this at some point, but it got too boring so I didn't finish.
I thought there was something wrong with my book, but I found out it was written intentionally without quotations, which is a big no.
Don't think i'll be picking it up again.
Poi
Dec 04, 2024
4/10 stars
A rather pointless book, unlovable characters, no major plot, even the sex is uninteresting.
Judy Book Doc
Nov 27, 2024
8/10 stars
Having taught high school students, I admire Rodney's accurate depiction of 2 teens. A complex coming of age novel with a profound examination of a relationship.
Raeashley
Nov 15, 2024
9/10 stars
This book destroyed me… they feel very real and very broken. Definitely saw glimpses of myself in both Connell and Marianne, which made this read very difficult. Sally Rooney will leave you deep in your feelings over these characters and that is a good sign of a good book in my opinion.

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