By Book Club Team 
Normal People by Sally Rooney poignantly lays out the different ways love, identity, and power can play their way through any two young people; in this novel, Marianne and Connell. Following their on/off relationship from school well into university, this deeply evocative yet sparely laid-out prose highlights the emotional depths of intimacy with class difference and personal growth.
| Author | Sally Rooney |
| Publication date | August 28, 2018 |
| Goodreads Rating | 3.81 |
| Page count | 273 pages |
| Topics | Fiction, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Adult, Coming Of Age, Novels, Irish Literature, Adult Fiction |
Normal People Book Summary
Normal People by Sally Rooney is a deeply affecting, multilayered exploration of love, identity, and the intricacies of human connection. It maps out the trajectories of Marianne and Connell’s lives, both from the same small Irish town and classmates who start a sexual relationship in their final year of high school, until college.
Connell is quiet, clever, and popular and fits seamlessly into the social texture at their school. Marianne is frank, very bright, and socially withdrawn, avoided by her peers and misunderstood even by her family. Despite their apparent differences, the two start a secret relationship during their high school years, compelled by a mutual understanding and deep emotional connection. Their relationship, though, is marked by unspoken feelings and pressures from society that breed misunderstandings and heartbreak.
When they later head to Dublin for university, it is another story entirely: Marianne finally blooms socially and academically in the ivory tower of university life and finds her niche among new friends. The ever-liked Connell doesn’t fit in and struggles with anxiety and depression. This change in their social status further complicates the relationship as they navigate through the power imbalances, insecurities, and emotional baggage that have always existed between them.
Marianne and Connell repeatedly break apart and come back together throughout the novel, never quite letting go of each other. Sometimes romantic, platonic, and even destructive, the bond between them remains deeply rooted in mutual understanding and shared experiences. The story deals with class-Connell is from a working-class background, while Marianne’s family is well off-and the residual effects of trauma, the difficulty of mental health, and the human need for intimacy and validation.
Rooney’s prose is spare but intensely evocative, capturing the small, quiet moments that define relationships. She portrays Marianne and Connell with raw honesty to make their flaws, vulnerabilities, and personal growth all so real and relatable. Normal People is not a love story; it is an in-depth explanation of how people change each other for good or bad and what it means to truly know and be known by another.
Normal People: Genre
Sally Rooney’s Normal People is a mix of literary fiction, romance, and coming-of-age genres. It is a character-driven, realist story of love, class, and personal growth told with emotional depth and unflinching honesty. Perfect for readers who enjoy thoughtful and intimate narratives.
Normal People Book Review
Sally Rooney’s Normal People is a poignantly candid exploration of love, identity, and the labyrinthine ways of human connection. The novel follows Marianne and Connell through their complex, changing relationship-a deeply resonant portrait of intimacy, class, and independence.
Pros:
- Emotionally valid: Rooney captures the minute details of relationships, making everything seem raw and real.
- Character-driven: The focus on Marianne and Connell’s inner struggles and growth makes for a deeply intimate and relatable narrative.
- Minimalist yet impactful prose: Rooney’s stripped-down writing style allows readers to focus on the emotions and nuances of the characters’ journey.
- Thought-provoking themes: The novel explores issues such as class, privilege, mental health, and identity with sensitivity and depth.
- Ambiguous reality: The open-endedness of the story is what makes real relationships work and leaves the reader to think about much afterwards.
Cons:
- Slow pace: The lack of a traditional plot structure or major events may feel uneventful to some readers.
- Ambiguity: While some appreciate the unresolved ending, others might find it unsatisfying or frustrating.
- Minimalist style isn’t for everyone: Readers who prefer lush descriptions or action-packed narratives might find the prose too sparse.
- Emotional heaviness: The deep concentration on mental health struggles and the dynamics of relationships may feel heavy or draining at times.
Normal People is a beautifully written, emotionally rich novel that will appeal to readers who love character-driven stories and subtle, introspective writing. It’s not for readers who like fast-paced or plot-driven stories, but it’s a deeply moving exploration of what it means to love and be loved.
Normal People Ending Explained [Spoilers]
The ending of Normal People by Sally Rooney is intentionally open, mirroring the complexities of the relationship between Marianne and Connell and their personal journeys. In the last scenes, Connell receives an opportunity to go to a prestigious writing program in New York-a great avenue for growth and career building. Marianne encourages him to go; she thinks that’s the best decision for his future, even though they will be physically separated.
This moment so poignantly illustrates the depth of their emotional relationship and mutual respect, perhaps as nowhere else in the book. Misunderstandings and insecurities driving them apart give way to open speech and encouragement of one another’s ambitions. The ending doesn’t resolve what happens to them regarding their romantic future-that is, will they stay together or part ways-but rather that both have grown emotionally and have irrevocably altered each other’s lives.
Rooney does not offer a conclusion to this story, and that is quite simply because the story is less about a happy ending and more about relationships-which in reality are messy, unpredictable, and most times leave room for both hope and uncertainty. This ending suggests how Marianne and Connell will be imprinted from their relationship and molded by the love and understanding they share regardless of the outcomes. It’s bittersweet and reflective, really staying true to the novel’s theme of imperfect but deeply meaningful human connections.
Normal People Characters
Major characters in the novel Normal People by Sally Rooney include the following:
Major Characters
- Marianne Sheridan: Brilliant and candid but lonely at school; from an affluent family but emotionally abusive. Throughout the novel, struggles with self-worth, seeking acceptance and love while navigating complex relationships.
- Connell Waldron: Introverted, observant, and popular at school. He comes from a working-class family, and his mother cleans for Marianne’s family. He struggles with feelings of insecurity and anxiety, particularly as his social status changes when he gets to college.
Supporting Characters
- Lorraine Waldron: Connell’s mother, kind and down-to-earth. She is straight-thinking and judgmental of the way Connell initially treats Marianne.
- Denise Sheridan: Marianne’s cold and critical mother who enforces the abusive ambiance in the family.
- Alan Sheridan: Marianne’s older brother, flagrantly abusive to her, feeding worthless feelings about herself.
- Peggy: The friend at university and part of her new circle; outgoing and provocative but sometimes incredulous and selfish.
- Niall: Connell’s supportive and easygoing friend in college, offering him companionship and a sense of belonging during difficult times.
These characters form the emotional backdrop of Marianne and Connell’s evolving relationship, each contributing to the novel’s exploration of love, class, and identity.