Fill your weekends and the time until the September release date with these reads (iStock/The Independent)
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Three years after her critically acclaimed, coming-of-age novel Normal People was published, Sally Rooney returns with a new book titled Beautiful World, Where Are You, which will be published by Faber & Faber on 7 September 2021.
The publisher announced the news on Tuesday 12 January, along with details of the book. It focuses on the lives of four young people, Alice, Felix, Eileen and Simon, living in Ireland, as they navigate the pressures of work and relationships against the backdrop of political turmoil and fears of their future.
Beautiful World, Where Are You follows on from Rooney’s hugely popular novels, Conversations with Friends which waspublished in 2017 and 2018’s Normal People. The latter book won multiple awards – notably being named Waterstones Book of the Year 2018, Costa’s Novel of the Year 2018, and then Book of the Year 2019 at the British Book Awards.
Normal People tells the story of love, uncertainty, displacement, and class; it articulates feelings that will resonate with many of us and it beautifully captures the complexities of modern-day relationships. It’s a powerful and heart-wrenching portrayal of youth, intimacy and communication, as both characters yearn for the comfort of understanding one another during hardship.
With this much anticipation on its shoulders, when the BBC/Hulu TV adaptation was announced, fans of the novel were nervous about whether it would live up to their expectations. But the 12-part series, which launched in April 2020, was lauded as a triumph, from the direction and acting to the script and carefully compiled soundtrack.
As one of the most talked about TV series during the first national lockdown, it gripped the nation with its nuanced depiction of first love, with fans even going mad for that chain necklace worn by leading actor Paul Mescal. A mini-series based on Conversations with Friends is also in the worlds from the same production team.
If like us, you can’t wait to get your hands on Rooney’s latest novel, we've found the books that will fill the void until September and promise to provide a little escapism. Happy reading!
You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.
‘Normal People’ by Sally Rooney, published by Faber & Faber
Centred around the lives of two teenagers, Marianne and Connell, from the same small Irish town, Rooney depicts their on-off relationship as they navigate school and university. The pair are at opposite ends of the social spectrum, yet have more things in common with one another than anyone else around them. Landing a spot in our guide to the best books written by women, our reviewer praised the author, noting that "Rooney is still only 29 but she’s a wonderful writer who deserves every single plaudit she’s received."
'Exciting Times' by Naoise Dolan, published by W and N
Based in Hong Kong, this sharp, witty and ultimately moving debut novel from Irish author, Naoise Dolan, explores a love triangle. Newly arrived 22-year-old English teacher Ava finds herself caught between the financial security of a non-committal banker and an alluring lawyer. Dolan brings a fresh insight into modern love that will inevitably make this a hit among those who love Normal People.
'An American Marriage' by Tayari Jones, published by Oneworld Publications
This book featured on Barack Obama’s 2018 summer reading list, and for good reason, too. A masterpiece in storytelling, An American Marriage dissects what happens to a relationship when unforeseen circumstances sabotage it. Beautifully told with authentic characterisation, it explores the hearts and minds of three people who are separated by forces beyond their control.
Jones's probing of issues around race and justice is subtle yet moving and is done with such emotional intelligence. Much like Sally Rooney’s protagonists, expect these unforgetablle characters to stay with you long after you’ve finished it.
'The Interestings' by Meg Wolitzer, published by Vintage Publishing
This book is told from the perspective of six teenagers who are bound together at summer camp, forming an all-consuming bond through competition, companionship and shared goals. The story unfolds as characters navigate their lives, from teenagehood to middle age, all taking differrent paths as they grow older. It's not without moral rigour, touching on selfishness and envy, as it becomes clear that not everyone can sustain the high of that summer.
‘Conversations with Friends’ by Sally Rooney, published by Faber & Faber
Sally Rooney's debut novel, Conversations with Friends , delves into the dynamic between four people: two school friends Frances and Bobby, and a married couple Melissa and Nick. The two couples become messily entangled in this mordantly funny book. Rooney's first book landed her a spot as a formidable voice for the millennial generation.
'Ordinary People' by Diana Evans, published by Vintage Publishing
Inspired by John Legend's Ordinary People, which portrays the bittersweet stage of romance after the honeymoon period, Diana Evans' exuberant third novel is all about relationship malaise. It's a persuasive account of life once the butterflies have stopped fluttering and children have arrived. An immersive look into friendship, parenthood, sex, and grief – as well as the fragility of love. It is told with such detail, you’re left wanting more.
'Expectation' by Anna Hope, published by Transworld Publishers Ltd
A story told from the perspective of three inseparable friends who live together on the edge of a common in east London. Their shared world is ablaze with romance and rivalry, and the promise of everything to come. After 10 years pass, they are not where they had hoped to be in life. With each character hungry for what the other has, this novel shows how lives divert and intertwine as we get older. An easy read that doesn’t shy away from subject matters that give equal measures of reality and grit.
