I've heard such varying reviews of this book, that I was unsure of what to expect. The first 100 pages felt a bit like a fast-forward version of One Day, but then the different arcs intensified and though it was intense and hard to read at times, I really liked exploring the new aspects of the characters. The timeline in the novel spans over several years, but I didn't find that the relationship between Marianne and Connell always reflected that, especially considering how they communicated with and kept misunderstanding each other. I was also  disappointed with the ending, though I should've expected it as other character-driven novels I've read have ended somewhat similarly.