Having heard a lot about this particular author and her previous work, I was excited to read this extract. Unfortunately, this particular writing style is not for me. The author puts a lot of detail into her writing and sometimes, this made it feel a little bit like waffling on. Although only a small extract, I felt that it took too long to read because of all of the subtle detail that wasn't needed, in my opinion.

I also did not like the lack of speech marks. I have seen this in other novels and find it too off putting. I believe it is a technique used to make the speech part of the actual story, but I just cannot get on with that particular style.

I couldn't connect with the characters and found the mannerisms came across as rude and unrealistic. I won't rush to read the full book.

When I requested this, I did not realize it was just the first chapter of the book, though still happy to read in anticipation of the book's release next month. I've thoroughly enjoyed Sally Rooney's books in the past and am very much looking forward to reading this one. The first chapter wets your appetite for more- it opens on a first date in a small town. The woman, a writer, is new to the town and she meets a local. Their conversation is interesting from the start- there is evasiveness and uncertainty. Just that short first interaction intrigues me on what is to come next. Hopefully will get to read the whole novel soon!

Thank you NetGalley and Faber & Faber for the advance reader copy of the first chapter.

Scanning messages and emails yesterday, I saw one from NetGalley with the text “Beautiful World, Where are You”. I was beyond excited.

Alas, it is an "extract", Chapter 1. I set my disappointment aside and jumped right in. I immediately recognized Sally Rooney’s signature style – short, clipped sentences, unpunctuated simple and edgy dialogue between cryptic and precarious people. And the protagonist is a writer.

It was a treat and makes me even more excited to get ahold of the whole thing.. Just one more month to September. I will be patient and let everyone know that there is something special on the way.

Thank you to Faber and Faber and NetGalley for the eExcerpt..

Consider my appetite for BWWAY WHETTED by this extract - I feel like I am going to absolutely love this book. I just wish I had an opportunity to devour it already, absolutely cannot wait to see it out in the wilds.

I can tell I’m going to enjoy this. Raw characters, dry humour and eerie descriptions. We’re introduced in the first chapter to our main character Alice who is on a date with Felix after moving to what we learn is a small town on the coast, presumably in Ireland, after living in a Dublin and New York. Alice is a writer and seems intelligent and a bit mysterious. Classic Sally Rooney writing. I can’t give a full review until I’ve read more than the first chapter but I have a good feeling about it and I can’t wait to read it in full.

Only an extract so impossible to judge its quality or to offer a sensible review on such limited evidence.

This first chapter was so intriguing and left me wanting to read more, I can't wait for the whole book to come out and for me to read it.

(Rating it 3 stars simply because I only have one chapter to go on)

I find it really hard to rate the entire book just by the first chapter, hence only 3 stars. Certainly it was intriguing and I would most likely read the entire novel once it's published. I think it's a really interesting concept, considering the description of the plot and the promise of the new characters being introduced further down the line.

This is just the first chapter which is nice for a taster. Didn't really tell me much about the plot or the characters as they kind of seem like carbon copies of the main characters in Normal People at the moment. I am intrigued enough to want to read the rest of it for sure, but I wasn't hugely blown away.

I am such a big fan of Sally Rooney and this Chapter Extract did not disappoint. Rooney has a way of making her characters extremely like-able and Alice is just another one to add to the list. I am looking forward to the rest of the book. I highly recommend.

Even if this extract is quite short it left me wishing I could read the entire book soon
Love what I read

This definitely makes me want to read more and feels a bad case of cliffhangers and I hate cliffhangers ! But I loved what I’ve read and I need more asap

I really enjoyed the first chapter of this book and I am really looking forward to reading the whole book. I loved the writing style.

I appreciated the opportunity to read the beginning of Sally Rooney's new book Beautiful World, Where Are You. I definitely want to read the whole thing.

This is a tantalizing first chapter from Sally Rooney's upcoming (third) novel. I must admit to not having read Rooney's previous novels. I haven't watched her adaptation of "Normal People" either and so I approached this extract from her new novel as a proverbial blank slate. Admittedly, it is difficult to surmise the themes of the book from the initial scenes: A young couple have a date at a bar in an Irish coastal village. They have evidently never met before and over the evening they get to know some basic details about each other (she's a novelist; he works in a warehouse; she lived in New York, he is a "local"). They end up at their house. Nothing happens. So, a pretty normal, pretty disappointing evening, but described in a way which makes me want to read the rest of the novel;.

What struck me:

* the style - strangely both intimate and detached;
* the characters - not particularly likable (yet) but providing for interesting development
* the dialogue - feels "normal" and authentically reflecting the halting, rather uncomfortable conversation of a man and a woman who are "new" to each other
* a sense of underlying humour.

I don't really believe in star ratings: even when i've read a whole novel, let alone on the basis of one chapter. But given that the chapter intrigued me, I'll go for full 5.

After reading the first chapter, I am hooked as I am with all of Sally’s novels. I think I’m going to love Felix, he seems very mysterious and vague!

The writing style is true to Sally’s previous novels; the lack of speech marks not an issue as I am now familiar with her writing style.

After reading this I am now eager to read the rest of the book; why is Felix so taken aback in his responses? What exactly does Alice write about? Is there a past history?

I am excited to read the rest of the book!

I will read literally anything Sally Rooney puts her name to - she has such a way with character development, dialogue, and sense of place, achieved in such sparse and poetic language. Thank you NetGalley and Faber for the extract and I cannot wait to read the full book!

I loved this first chapter - reading Sally Rooney weave her magic - simple and yet cleverly draw you in.

I cannot give this chapter a ‘book’ star rating. I will have to wait and read the remainder of the book (I did not realise this was just an extract).

This extract was so intriguing I definitely want to read the book. Rooney does characters like no one else.

An engaging dialogue between Alice who’s a writer and Felix who works in a warehouse. Apparently they appear to be on a blind date. Short and sweet chapter.
Thank you to Sally Rooney, NetGalley, and Faber & Faber Limited for this extract.