TL;DR: This is a heartfelt, beautifully written Irish novel with 3D characters and a rich and complex story.

Plot: As you’ll see from the synopsis this is about 2 18 years olds falling in love with everything against them. As a reader you generally want The Thing to work out so I was really interested in seeing how this would go! Such a complex plot with lots of layers and executed in such an empathetic and beautiful way.

Places: the book is set in Derry/Londonderry which in itself is an interesting place. It is a setting with wild and beautiful scenery and complex and deep rooted communities and cultures which makes for a really interested setting.

People: The characters in this book are so magnificent, 3D and relatable and realistic. I just fell for our protagonists and the switch in POV really gives a depth to the 2 perspectives and backgrounds - namely being Catholic and Protestant.

Another wonderful thing about this book is that it has urged me look into Irish history in more detail. Any book that encourages further education, understanding and acknowledgement is good with me.

On another note, I can see where the comparisons to Normal People come from, especially in terms of marketing, and it is a compliment in that they are both beautiful books but I urge you to take this book as it is in its own right. It is written beautifully and really makes you root for those 2 people from such different backgrounds and I think I might have left a bit of my heart with them.

I adored this book and really recommend it to anyone who would like a contemporary novel with a wonderful young romance that deals with some serious issues.

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TW:
Alcoholism, cancer, death of a parent, bigotry, drugs, being drugged, guns, sexual assault, domestic abuse, fighting, overdose, attempted suicide.