We love Normal People by Sally Rooney

Normal People is the second novel from Irish author Sally Rooney and as well as being longlisted for the Man Booker Prize for fiction, it has already become a staff favourite at Readings. Here’s why we love this novel.


‘I loved Normal People and I knew that I would. Sally Rooney is two for two with her excellent, uncannily realistic stories about the complexities of human relationships. I didn’t want Normal People to end but I am glad that she’s only just at the beginning of her career – I can’t wait for her next book.’ – Kelsey Oldham


‘It’s a bold claim, but I honestly feel like Normal People is a perfect book. It’s intelligent and compulsively readable, emotionally affecting and thought-provoking, and its characters each feel so three dimensional. I loved reading this book as much as I did Rooney’s first book, and I really hope she has a third book lined up for publication very soon.’ – Ellen Cregan


‘I didn’t get around to reading Conversations With Friends but knew it was one of those ‘all in’ or ‘all out’ kinds of books – so I went into Normal People blind, wondering if I’d get on board. And yes, yes I did! I love a campus novel, and this had all the elements that makes the best of those books so great: characters on the cusp of ‘real life’, struggling with the weight of decision-making, trying to find out who they really are in the middle of learning what’s important. It’s really fabulous writing from a such a young talent. I think this book (which was one of the most requested advance copies amongst staff that I can remember for a long time) is set to be one of the books of the year.’ – Alison Huber


Normal People is, hands down, my favourite book of the year. I loved it so much it almost hurt to read. The novel perfectly captures the intimacy and vulnerability of the relationship between Connor and Marianne, and their story is one that will stay with me for a long time.’ – Nina Kenwood


‘This is an incredibly gripping novel about the mundane. While there has been, to a small extent, a revolt against kitchen sink realism, Rooney’s handling of the nuances of relationships comes without the usual tricksiness or cold-heartedness that often gets attached to the work of young writers. The plot of Normal People is minimal, descriptions mostly kept to character, but it contains great depths. People should read it.’ – Chris Somerville


‘I missed out on Conversations With Friends, but lots of my colleagues loved it. After reading Normal People, it seems the hype is justified. This story of young love is made special by the quality of Rooney’s writing: sharp, elegant and imbued with wisdom.’ – Joe Rubbo


‘This is an extraordinarily intimate novel. Rooney is such a smart and perceptive writer about people. In both her books she demonstrates a remarkable ability to pinpoint and describe emotions in all their complexity and changeability. Normal People is the kind of novel that casts a spell over the reader – pick it up and you won’t want to put it down.’ – Bronte Coates

Cover image for Normal People

Normal People

Sally Rooney

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