☆never been read! ☆ minor wear from being on my bookshelf! Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town, but the similarities end there. Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation— awkward but electrifying something life changing begins. Normal People is the story of mutual fascination, friendship and love. It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find that they can't.