Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney

Sally Rooney’s Conversations with Friends is an introspective novel that explores the tangled relationships between four individuals—Frances, a bright but emotionally detached university student; Bobbi, her outspoken and confident best friend/ex-partner; and Melissa and Nick, a married couple ten years their senior that they become entwined with. As Frances navigates a complicated affair with Nick, she grapples with questions of self-worth, power dynamics, and the meaning of intimacy. Rooney’s sparse, unembellished prose lends itself to an unfiltered and often painfully honest portrayal of young adulthood, complete with its emotional contradictions and societal critiques.

Despite its raw take on creative-types and the awkwardness of being young and uncertain, I found myself disengaged from the story and disconnected from the characters. While Rooney has a talent for crafting complex, flawed individuals, Conversations with Friends didn’t resonate with me personally. Instead of being drawn into their struggles, I found myself perplexed and sometimes uncomfortable. That said, the dysfunction and controversy embedded in the plot are exactly what make the novel compelling to so many readers, serving as a fascinating study in human behavior. Even if I didn’t personally enjoy the journey, I can appreciate Rooney’s ability to write characters who feel thoroughly real, even in their unlikability.

Content Disclaimer: Conversations with Friends discusses alcoholism, extramarital affairs, societal privilege and self-harm in a way that may feel triggering to some. There are also vivid descriptions of the serious medical condition Endometriosis.

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