Just Like Normal People

If you call yourself an avid book-lover, you have probably at least heard of Normal People by Sally Rooney. Normal People is the epitome of a slow-burn romance that will inflict the utmost reflection on any listener’s heart and mind. We wanted to find listens that will create that same feeling after a listen, so we rounded up books that will leave you feeling the same way Normal People did. 

One Day by David Nicholls

Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley have only just met, but after only one day together, they cannot stop thinking about one another. As the listen spans over twenty years, snapshots of that relationship are revealed on the same day, July 15th, of each year. Dexter and Emma face squabbles and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears, but as the true meaning of their love surfaces, they have to come to terms with their ultimate reality. 

Tender by Belinda McKeon 

When they meet in Dublin in the late nineties, Catherine and James become as close as two friends can be. She is a sheltered college student, while he is an adventurous, charismatic young artist. James is urging Catherine to take over her own life, to lead with gusto. But as Catherine opens herself to new experiences, James’s life feels as though it is a prison. Catherine wants to help bring life back to James, but as time continues on, and as life begins to take the friends in different directions, she discovers that there is a fine line between helping someone and hurting him further. It is the story of first love and lost innocence, of discovery and betrayal.

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

When it comes to the never-ending list of responsibilities that entails becoming an adult, journalist and former Sunday Times columnist Dolly Alderton has seen and tried it all. In her memoir, she vividly recounts falling in love, finding a job, getting drunk, getting dumped, realizing that Ivan from the corner shop might just be the only reliable man in her life, and that absolutely no one can ever compare to her best girlfriends. Everything I Know About Love is about bad dates, good friends, and—above all else— realizing that you are enough, even though some of those lessons may lead to unfinished feelings. This listen is great for any audience, as it will prepare, relate, or reflect on many. 

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry 

Poppy and Alex are the definitions of nothing in common. Poppy is about as outgoing as they come, as she was raised to be unapologetically herself at all times. She craves adventure and travel – so much so that she made it her career as a travel writer for a luxury magazine. Alex on the other hand, could not be more different. To put it simply, he wears khakis. For most of the year, the two live apart from each other, but they have a summer tradition of going on one wonderful week-long vacation together. That is until things got weird, and the vacations stopped. But, this year, Poppy knew that the only thing to get her out of her rut was that vacation with Alex – and somehow, he agreed to go along. Now she is facing the pressure of making this vacation perfect, hoping to bring back the Alex and Poppy that once was, but will they ever get past what happened two summers ago? 

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