Normal People

Normal People by Sally Rooney is a contemporary literary novel following the complicated relationship between Marianne and Connell, two young people from the same small town in Ireland whose lives continue to intersect as they move from school into university and young adulthood.

Connell is popular at school while Marianne is more isolated, but the two develop a private connection that becomes increasingly important to both of them. As their circumstances change, their relationship moves through friendship, intimacy, distance and reconnection.

The novel explores love, friendship, class, communication, shame, intimacy and the ways relationships can shape our sense of identity. Rooney's restrained, closely observed style makes the emotional lives of her characters the centre of the story.

Recommended age: 18+ years / Adult readers

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Literary Fiction, Romance, Coming-of-Age, Relationship Fiction

Why readers will enjoy it:

• A deeply character-focused story about a complicated relationship
• Explores love, friendship and communication with emotional subtlety
• Examines differences in class and social background
• Follows characters through important stages of young adulthood
• Appeals to readers who enjoy contemporary literary fiction and relationship-driven stories

Read-alikes: Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney, Writers & Lovers by Lily King, Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan, Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan, and Talking at Night by Claire Daverley.

BookJoy Library: Borrow Normal People from BookJoy Library in Kanakapura Main Road, Bangalore. BookJoy offers a curated collection of books for different ages and reading interests, with membership plans and delivery available across Bangalore.