I really enjoyed the distinct writing styles Sally Rooney chose for each character, which was an effective way to distinguish them and was indicative of their characters. The stream-of-consciousness approach in Peter's chapters, reminiscent of the Joycean literary tradition, could have easily felt pretentious or irritating but ultimately worked well for his character. Likewise, the more structure approach worked for Ivan–since he's a chess prodigy and logical thinker. 

I appreciated the nuanced, complex relationship between the brothers, which felt raw and compelling. However, I found the female characters, particularly Naomi and Sylvia, disappointingly two-dimensional. Both had real potential but seemed underwritten, often overshadowed by Peter's angst.

While it's not the best book I've ever read, it's definitely my favourite from Sally Rooney.