I picked up Normal People as part of the Banned Books challenge, drawn in by its premise of an intense, complicated relationship between two people who can’t seem to stay apart. Connell and Marianne, who grew up in the same small town but led very different social lives, form a connection that follows them from high school to Trinity College in Dublin. 

Despite my interest, the story's development felt lacking. Their constant push-and-pull became frustrating, making it hard to stay engaged. There were sparks, like when Marianne’s said, “Most people go through their whole lives, without ever really feeling that close with anyone,” which resonated with me as it captured the emotional weight of their relationship. I wish the author had spent more time developing that aspect rather than telling us about all their other failed relationships.