Conversations With Friends: A Novel

"Sally Rooney is an astute observer of conversation – in this case, the conversations of 21-year-old Frances, a brilliant (but occasionally self-destructive) college student and poet living in Dublin. This book is thoroughly modern – it’s sprinkled with instant messages and references to Greta Gerwig films and Tinder – but it also feels classic in its keen observations on relationships, jealousy and writing itself. It is essentially a novel about adultery and friendship, but the plot is secondary to the sparkling dialogue. Rooney is just a few years older than her protagonist, and the book feels so honest and specific one can’t help but wonder whether it’s somewhat autobiographical."