Sally Rooney Double Feature 

By Faith Zochowski

If you’re a member of the beloved BookTok community, you’ve likely heard the name Sally Rooney. She is a #1 New York Times Bestseller and author of multiple novels, including Normal People and Conversations with Friends. Rooney writes in an old-fashioned sort of way but intertwines relevant aspects of today’s society. Both novels center around difficult topics in relationships, such as marital affairs and neglect. Her evocative style and compelling words make for a great read. Check out the summaries below for these two novels! 

 

Normal People 

Normal People follows the story of Connell and Marianne. Marianne Sheridan is the outcast and weirdo in high school while Connell Waldron is popular and athletic. Marianne lives with her mother and verbally abusive brother Alan, and Connell lives with his mother who cleans the Sheridan’s house twice a week. The two cross paths often because Connell picks his mother up from her cleaning job. Publicly, Connell ignores Marianne as he cares too much about what others think of him. In secret, though, the two develop a secret relationship and find similarities as two people who are insecure and feel empty inside. Connell is too prideful to make their relationship public, but Marianne continues to be strung along because being around him is the only time she feels alive and seen. The two “break up” before going off to University, but cross paths again while studying in Dublin. They are on an off for a few years, always finding ways back to each other. Both of them equally go through a rough patch; Marianne goes through an abusive relationship and Connell copes with the suicide of one of his friends. Even through the troubles and heartache of Marianne and Connell’s relationship, they realize that nobody understands them quite like each other. Again, the novel reflects issues such as difficult family life, abusive relationships, and verbal abuse. It is a powerful book with deep rooted messages about the sticky dynamics of relationships. After reading the book, watch the adapted Hulu series starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal. 

 

Conversations with Friends

Frances and Bobbi are two best friends and former lovers who have a passion for poetry. One night as they are performing a reading of their poetry in Dublin, writer and photographer Melissa  who is in the audience tells them she is interested in writing a profile story on them. The three women begin to spend a lot of time together, and Melissa invites the pair over to her house quite often. It soon becomes apparent that Melissa gravitates toward the gorgeous, confident Bobbi while Frances develops a connection with Nick, Melissa’s handsome husband who is an aspiring actor. The two begin to message each other through an email chain, and some obvious flirting is occurring. When left alone at Melissa’s birthday party, Frances kisses Nick and the two begin having an affair shortly after, telling nobody. Frances is very young and knows it is wrong, but she feels a strong connection with Nick that she has never felt before. She also begins writing a short story about Bobbi without telling her, and when Melissa sends Bobbi the story, it creates a divide in their friendship. Nick continues to manipulate and use Frances, and Melissa and Bobbi become closer and closer. The dynamic of the two intertwining relationships is sure to keep you flipping the page. This book also deals with family issues, such as alcoholism, unfaithfulness, and struggles with sexual identity.  This book has also been adapted by Hulu as a short series starring Joe Alwyn as Nick.