Another Sally Rooney inspired contemporary romance read that is quiet and character-driven. This was sweet. We follow Rosie and Will over a huge span of their lives starting from 17-years old as they move in and out of the life but never quite get a chance to be a couple despite their feelings for each other.
This was a sweet read. A bit slow for my taste though, I did personally find the characters quite young. Perhaps if you’re in your 20s you’ll relate to the story more. There is some beautiful writing though.

I work within Penguin Random House and received this book as part of Penguin Reads, meaning I am not expected to review in exchange for my free digital copy.

Wonderful novel, a beautifully observed story about love and loss, with characters so real that you feel as if you know them.

I did enjoy this novel and particularly enjoyed Will’s story. The only issue I had was that there were so many twists along the road it began to feel like a really hurtful and negative situation (which I know was kind of the point. But maybe it was tooooo much?) d recommend it but with a forewarning you have to be a bit patient with Rosie.

This is a star crossed love book, but also it's a sensitive meditation on the impact of grief.
Rosie and "bad boy" Will meet at a campfire . However early in their potential relationship there's a complication, due to Rosie's twin brother, that has far reaching consequences.

Rosie reminds me of Marianne in Normal People by Sally Rooney in having a controlling mother and issues to do with food and safety. Her father remains curiously absent (I guess the author wanted to focus on the main characters, but I did wonder about the relationship of the twins with their father)

The author has an acute psychological insight , especially as to the long term effects of grief. She lets her characters have nuances and ambiguities (yes, even the mother) Sometimes you don't always like Will and Rosie, but you always understand them.

This was such a well observed novel and definitely rivals Sally Rooney. Perceptive and beautifully written.

A really good read. It was quite a slow start but I soon got into it and was engrossed in the story. Rosie and Will met when they were teenagers but they both had problems and the time never felt right for them to be together. As the years past and they both tried to make new lives for themselves they were always drawn back together as friends but actually deep down they both wanted more.A lovely heartwarming read that was beautiful and moving at times but also the characters had much sadness and anxieties to cope with.

The book has so much potential but I feel it was written in very much layman’s terms with no punctuation was very poor and off putting.

I found this book hard to follow and I’m gutted because I was looking forward to it.

Thanks Netgalley and Claire for my copy of this book!

truly melancholic in some places, sally rooney is obviously the most easy comparison to reach to, it almost reminded me of the not terrible jco books.

This one really deserves all the hype it’s been getting - it’s a great read and super relatable. Recommend to anyone even if it’s not their usual genre.

A long, drawn out love story. The last quarter elevated my rating from three to four stars. It's a good enough read. I found Rosie pretty insufferable most of the time, so I really didn't care what happened to her.

My favourite romance novel since One Day. That's it, that's the review. Will and Rosie's story takes place over two decades and is told from both points of view - which is similar to Nicholls' novel, but different enough not to be too similar. The prose is profound and beautifully raw in places. The missed chances vibes is heartbreakingly strong and really does make you reflect. Highly recommended.

"But her voice keeps him awake that night. And again, the night after that.”

It took me a long time to pick up Talking At Night - so much so that the novel has been out for several months and is still in my ARC pile. But it turned out that I read it at the exact right time to be totally sucked into Rosie and Will's story - I devoured it in 24 hours, unable to put it down. It's a heart-wrenching read, and at times I found it genuinely upsetting, but it's also a gorgeous testament to the power of love.

Will is the local bad boy, and Rosie is a high-achieving loner. The two hit it off at a party and continue to orbit one another - but then when tragedy strikes, Will and Rosie's lives are turned upside down and they have to learn who they are - and who they are to one another - within a horrific new reality.

Talking At Night spans decades in the lives of its characters, lending the novel a decidely old-fashioned feel, but also leaving it indebted to Sally Rooney. Rooney's Normal People looms large over this one; it deals with lots of similar ideas, including love across social class, the lasting impact of trauma, and two people who can't stay away from one another. Though it's not as accomplished as Normal People, Talking at Night is nonetheless a quietly powerful read. Daverly tackles many difficult themes - and there are so many of them! - thoroughout the novel, and she mostly succeeds in taking a nuanced look at them. I could have done without Simon's arc; particularly as elements of it mirror my own story and so I found inconsistencies within it very frustrating. But I'll forgive that as Daverly manages everything else pretty well.

The prose is mostly lovely - if a little overwritten at times - and the small cast of characters are fully fleshed out and considered in their actions and motivations. If I was to sum this up, I'd definitely put it in the "quietly devastating" category. Tear-jerking and tragic, Talking at Night nonetheless had me turning pages until the wee hours; it's a compelling character study, deftly drawn, as well as a heartfelt romance.

Sorry, couldn’t carry on! The no speech marks irritated me so much I had to give up. Why has this become a thing? It isn’t cool it is annoying.
Gave up not even halfway through the first chapter as it bugged me so much.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Michael Joseph for approving me for an ARC of this book.

💖This slow burn, will they won’t they romance needs to be at the top of every romance reader’s pile. If you’re a fan of Where Rainbows End (Love Rosie) or One Day then you will love it!

⭐Spanning over many years we see the complicated relationship of Rosie and Will unfold. As they each face their own difficulties and challenges through the years they seem to be each other’s constant, safe space. There was so much beauty in their story and the way it was told.

😥On a few occasions I felt the inevitable tears rise to the surface. I defy anyone to not feel moved by this story. It poetically explores relationships, friendships and self-discovery, making it relatable in many ways.

The most peculiar thing happened with this book. I loved the plot, I loved the romance. I wanted Rosie and Will to end up together.

But I didn't like them. Or maybe that's strong. I was indifferent to them.

That said, I loved it. It was a 4* read only because it went on a touch too long. I loved the writing. It won't be for everyone, without speech marks but I just think writing like this - Sally Rooney does it too - adds to the romanticism.

It's a yes from me.

I have to confess it took me two attempts to restart this book due to the writing style where at first it is unclear who is talking as no quotation marks are used. However once you get used to this style it is worth sticking with.

A realistic love story from teenage years to their 40's, it is quite sad and shows life as unexciting and unfulfilled however the core story at the centre of this is captivating in it's own way.

Thank you to Netgalley for the copy.

Talking at Night by Claire Daverley was an incredibly heart wrenching and emotive story about Rosie and Will, two people whose lives are connected by a tragedy. Much like in Sally Rooney’s normal people, the story follows the pair at numerous points in their lifetime as the pair reach milestones in their adult life. We span the course of their relationship from the age of 17 to mid 30s and Claire cleverly brings us along to experience the highs, but also the tumultuous and emotional experiences they go through along the way.

Talking at Night is poignant and moving but so incredibly sad as we follow two people who the timing is never quite right for, but you follow their will-they-won’t-they with bated breath in case this is the time that it finally works out for them. I do feel as though the prose could have been tighter in some areas, and that sometimes certain aspects of the plot bled on for too long f without cause, but I did enjoy reading it.

Its worth mentioning that I did find the discussion around weight and calorie counting quite triggering as someone with history in this area, so definitely check trigger warnings first!

*Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Joseph for letting me read an early copy

Quiet, bookish Rosie Winters and notorious Will White have never even spoken to each other at school, but after they have a lengthy conversation by a bonfire at a party one night, neither can get the other out of their heads.

So begins a tentative friendship - Will wants more, but Rosie is focused on her studies and the plan she has set in place for herself. A notorious perfectionist and people pleaser, Rosie is also mindful of her twin Josh and how he feels about she and Will. Will says he'll wait - but they're still drawn to each other.

When tragedy strikes, Will blames himself. He and Rosie each need to find a way to deal with what has happened, before it destroys them both.

I tore threw this - for a 400 page book, I think I read it over a couple of hours in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. I didn't always like the characters or the decisions they made, but I think it was a really gripping read if you like character-driven novels that span a couple of decades. The whole Simon arc I could have done without - I just felt bad for him from the start.

The book has been compared to Sally Rooney (what hasn't been compared to Sally Rooney at this stage) - I can't speak to that, as I haven't read her books, but for me it was more reminiscent of One Day by David Nicholls. I really enjoyed it.

I’m really torn reviewing this book.

I had high expectations. Very high. Lots of advertising, social media discussion etc - setting it up to be THE romantic read of the moment. I was excited to read it, still breathless from One Day all these years later.

And perhaps this is where my standards are too high. The storyline itself just doesn’t feel fresh anymore.

Execution-wise, this is well written on the whole - but it didn’t keep me turning the pages throughout the night. I couldn’t fall in love with, root for or even make relationships with the characters. It is a lovely story, but perhaps highlighted for me that the “winner” behind this story will be for a slightly younger audience for myself, for whom the storylines are fresher?

I also feel like I’m the only person frustrated by the “Sally Rooney-Esque” style of writing, with no speech marks etc. Sometimes difficult to read.

Enjoyable, but not the page turner I expected.

I’m hesitant to write this review because I’ve got a strong sense of right book wrong time with this one. Talking at Night has all the elements of a book I should love, but unfortunately, it just didn't land. The beginning, with the initial introduction to the characters and the set-up of the plot was super intriguing to me, and I couldn’t wait to keep reading.

However, the storyline just became more and more implausible as it went on. I am a keen defender of the miscommunication in Sally Rooney’s Normal People and the justifications Marianne and Connell have for not being together, but here I just couldn’t seem to get behind Rosie and Will’s actions. It made them very unlikeable in my eyes, which affected my investment in them as a couple.

What I will say is that if you’re a fan of Normal People then this is absolutely the book for you. Rooney’s novel has become a sort of yardstick in literary fiction, and so many titles are compared to it, but I believe that if Daverley did not take direct inspiration from that novel, then certain elements of it subconsciously influenced this book.

I can’t wait to revisit this although it wasn’t a hit for me the first time around. I can still so clearly see its merit. I will be eagerly awaiting its release in paperback.