“I feel so frightened of being hurt not of the suffering, which I know I can handle, but the indignity of suffering, the indignity of being open to it."

The entire book is basically just centered around certain conversations (both in person and over email) and then the rest of the story is context for them, but I still found it interesting. It’s like getting a window into strangers’ lives.  Since you’re kind of separate from the characters in that way, it’s emotional but more melancholic than heartbreaking. Beautiful World, Where Are You also has that feeling of “sonder”; the knowledge that every persons life is as vivid and real as your own. Because of this writing style it’s definitely not for everyone, and there also isn’t really a plot, it’s just a narrative of these characters’ lives, both the eventful and uneventful parts, but I still really liked it. 

Honestly it’s almost concerning how much I relate to these characters and their endless streams of thought. To quote one of my favorite booktubers, “fuck you Sally Rooney for writing unlikeable characters that I relate to.” Although honestly, I don’t think they’re that unlikeable. They’re just normal people (no pun intended) with mostly good intentions that make a lot of mistakes.

It’s funny, in a small way, this book has changed my perspective on life. I imagine my life being told through the lens of this story, which makes the so-called “ugly vulgarity” of ordinary life more bearable. I really enjoyed reading this and can’t wait to get my hands on Sally Rooney’s other books.