Original rating on 8/21/22  ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Updated Review after reread on 5/28/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I originally read this during a 24 hour readathon and I didn't really understand it the first time I read it. I was tired, had major book fatigue, and was struggling to get through it because of the lack of quotation marks. It took me 6 hours to read a book that usually only would've taken me around 2. 

Now that I have reread it I have furthered my understanding and I now am in love with this book. I think about it constantly and know why others make it their whole personalities. 

The first time I read this book I hated Connell with a passion. Every time he did anything I wanted to burn him to the ground. I was pissed the Marianne couldn't see his red flags because he was a walking one. I loved Marianne, she could do no wrong. 

Now, I understand both characters motivations, both characters are misunderstood, have motivations for being the people they are and when they come together they get to be themselves instead of who they pretend to be in public. 

Connell and Marianne are drawn to one another throughout different moments in time and it is just a complicated story of their relationships and how they change throughout time. I fall more in love with this book every time I read it or think about it. 

I am now a Normal People stan.