Why people recommend it
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney is a critically acclaimed contemporary debut novel exploring the intricate relationships among a group of young adults in Ireland. On The Book Review, staff members and guests frequently referenced the title during reading roundtables and author discussions. John Williams and Livia Gershon both shared that they had recently read the novel for segment discussions, while Greg Coles noted his experience rereading the debut. As a guest, Brandon Taylor spoke with Pamela Paul about Rooney's rapid rise to literary prominence, connecting her initial debut to her subsequent mega-bestselling work. Elizabeth Flock also selected the novel as a featured book club pick for September, praising it as one of the most talked-about debuts in recent memory. Meanwhile, Lauren Christensen mentioned picking up the book immediately after finishing another title. Not every mention was universally glowing, however, as Tina Jordan offered a critical perspective, categorizing the work as a low-stakes millennial novel that nevertheless appealed to a wide audience. Despite mixed reactions to its thematic scope, the book remained a frequent talking point among literary commentators examining contemporary fiction trends.
Who recommended it
- Brandon Taylor Discussed
- Pamela Paul Discussed
- John Williams Recommended
- Elizabeth Flock Discussed
- Livia Gershon Recommended
- Greg Coles Discussed
- Tina Jordan Discussed
- Lauren Christensen Discussed
Brandon Taylor — 3 mentions
“Sally Rooney is a young Irish writer who burst onto the scene with her debut novel conversations with friends a few years ago now and then she followed it up with a mega bestseller normal people which was made into a very successful television show”
“whereas normal people it felt more grownup and more it just felt like there's more substance to it and so I you know I'm very much in the camp of normal people over conversations with friends”
“I think in the first two books normal people and conversations with friends they were written I think at the same time almost”
Pamela Paul — 2 mentions
“conversations with friends or normal people”
“and then I gave my copy to Greg I said you can have it I'm done”
John Williams — 1 mention
“what I read this time around was conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney a novel that got a lot of attention last year”
Elizabeth Flock — 1 mention
“tell us a little bit about the book we chose our pick this month is one of the most talked about debut novels in recent years and it is conversations with Friends by the young Irish writer s Rooney”
Livia Gershon — 1 mention
“I actually just finished the book conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney which I didn't read when it came out I think two years ago”
Greg Coles — 1 mention
“I am reading Sally Rooney's debut novel conversations with friends it came out I think in 2017”
Tina Jordan — 1 mention
“the other was conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney and I just felt with both of them both of them were very Millennial novels and I'm sure appealed to many many people maybe even some of whom are not Millennials themselves but I felt like the stakes were very low”
Lauren Christensen — 1 mention
“interestingly right after I finished that book picked up conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- A Drinkable Feast
- A Grief Observed
- A Motor-Flight Through France
- A Swim in a Pond in the Rain
- A surprised queenhood in the new Black sun
- Annie Allen
Other mentions (4: passing, ad reads, own books)
“you read conversations and normal people yes”
“so that's three books one forthcoming from Brandon Taylor and three books by Sally Rooney they are conversations with friends normal people and her latest beautiful world where are you”
“you gave me conversations with friends which I have read and enjoyed”
“previously had only read a few pages maybe 30 pages of conversations with friends before giving my copy to our colleague Greg kohs”