★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney is a contemporary novel that explores relationships, communication, and emotional complexity in a very raw and introspective way.

I decided to read this book after really enjoying Beautiful World, Where Are You, and watching Normal People (I still need to read the book!). I was curious to explore more of Sally Rooney’s work and her way of writing relationships.

The story follows Frances, a university student, and the complicated dynamics that develop between her, her best friend, and an older married couple. As the relationships unfold, the book dives into themes of intimacy, vulnerability, and the often messy reality of human connections.

One aspect I struggled with in this book was the cheating trope, which is something I personally don’t enjoy reading about. While I understand that it adds to the realism and emotional complexity of the story, it made it harder for me to fully connect with the characters.

I can see how the novel aims to portray relationships in a very raw and honest way, and in that sense, it feels realistic. However, for me, the characters didn’t show much development throughout the story. While that can also reflect real life, I tend to prefer books where characters grow or where there is some form of resolution or change.

Conversations with Friends is a well-written and introspective novel that will likely resonate with readers who appreciate subtle, character-driven stories. For me, while I appreciated the writing style, the themes and lack of character development made it a less enjoyable read compared to the author’s other work.