Normal People: A Novel by Sally Rooney – Winner of the 2018 Costa Novel Award and Longlisted for the 2018 Man Booker Prize (Paperback)

Normal People by Sally Rooney is a critically acclaimed novel that explores the complex relationship between two young people in Ireland as they navigate their way through love, class, and identity. The novel has been praised for its realistic portrayal of the intricacies of human relationships and the struggles that come with growing up.

The story follows the lives of Marianne and Connell, two young people from very different backgrounds who attend the same school in a small town in Ireland. Marianne is an outcast, ridiculed by her classmates for her intelligence and lack of social skills. Connell, on the other hand, is popular, well-liked, and athletic. Despite their differences, the two develop a deep connection and begin a complicated on-again, off-again relationship.

As they journey through high school and college, Marianne and Connell’s relationship is tested by their own insecurities, the judgment of others, and the class differences that separate them. Rooney masterfully explores the complexities of love and identity, and the ways in which our backgrounds and social status can shape our lives and relationships.

Normal People has received widespread critical acclaim since its release, with many praising Rooney’s ability to capture the intricacies of human relationships and the way that they evolve over time. The novel has been called a modern masterpiece, and Rooney has been hailed as one of the most important writers of her generation.