This book perplexes me a bit. I feel like I shouldn’t have enjoyed it, but I did. I know that is due in part to the accessibility of the writing. Rooney doesn’t bury you in lengthy descriptions, paragraphs that last pages, or details that aren’t necessary. The chapters are a decent length, and are broken up even further. I actually liked Marianne for a while, but I feel like she loses her likability. I can’t quite explain it, though. I sort of feel that she’s stuck in an endless loop of unhappiness that she could get herself out of, but doesn’t. Connell is more likable, for me. I guess I relate to him in some ways, and am also a bit jealous of his educational pursuits. There’s more focus on the power he holds over Marianne, but I think that goes both ways. They clearly have a hold on each other that keeps them coming back to each other. I definitely disliked the ending. There was something sort of abrupt about it. I have no issue with a non-ending, where the story stops with things still happening, but I just didn’t like the way this came to an end. It does fit with the characters, but it just didn’t feel right.