Title: Talking At Night

Author: Claire Daverley

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Rating: ★★★★★

Why I read it: TikTok recommendation

Talking At Night is a beautiful work. It tells the story of Will and Rosie; two people who find themselves connecting as teenagers, but everything in the world is working to keep them apart. As the years go by, their story unfolds in a series of reconnections, as neither of them can let go of the past. It’s a familiar story – others online equating it to Sally Rooney’s Normal People – yet it feels fresh in its own way.  

Right away, I developed a connection with Rosie. On page nine, the author details her internal dialogue while on a treadmill, and states, “…she wonders, as her feet pound the belt, why she is always trying so hard. Who she is trying for. Why everything matters, all of the time.” From that moment, I knew I would be hooked on this story. Her backstory is complex, and although it is clear that she is being set up to be the “good girl,” I appreciated that the author gave her more dimension. On a similar note, Will is initially set up to be the “bad boy,” yet I found myself falling for his charm and found him to be quite misunderstood. 

Both Rosie and Will, as well as numerous other characters, are navigating an intense amount of grief. I won’t lie to you, this book is emotional – not just from the emotions you feel from the story between them, but also from the incredible amount of tragedy that seems to sneak around every corner. I knew I was doomed for heartbreak when everything seemed resolved with nearly 100 pages to go. 

Another quote that had me relating to Rosie came on page 177, “…she lets him lead the way, because she has never had that before; never had someone plan things for her. She has always been the planner. The worrier.” I think there are a few others out there who can relate, and that one statement summed up everything I needed to know about Rosie at that moment, and why she was feeling the way she was feeling. 

I rated this five stars because of the emotions it evoked in me. I want to feel things when I read: intrigue, sadness, curiosity, shock, happiness, etc. This book brought out so many emotions at so many different times, yet, shockingly, it simultaneously felt like a warm hug. I liked that the author did not over describe the characters or the scene – giving you just enough to let your imagination run wild. 

I will warn you that some claim that there is an element of miscommunication, which at times, may be frustrating. I disagree. What presents as miscommunication is a result of teenagers going through a traumatic event together that dramatically alters both of their lives, and neither character knows how to process it. Thus they spend the rest of their lives navigating missteps as a result. I didn’t mind this as this is really the main plot driver of the story, and without it, the characters can’t develop in the way that they need to. 

I found the character development to be strong, and the writing to be powerful and vivid, and this is one of those books that I wish I could go back and read for the first time again. To feel those raw emotions again. I closed the back cover with only two words in mind: achingly beautiful. 

My only critique, if you can even call it one, is that there were no quotation marks throughout the novel. While unsettling at first, I quickly got over it, as the story quickly takes hold of you and soon I forgot that was even something I dared care about.

TL;DR: Would I recommend it to a friend? Absolutely. If you want to feel something, this book is for you.