Last weekend, the Chinese version of Normal People, the second novel by young Irish writer Sally Rooney, was released at the 2020 Shanghai Book Fair. The book became a best-seller in the US, selling almost 64,000 copies in hardcover in its first four months of release. In April, a television adaptation first aired on BBC, gaining popularity with audiences all over the world.

The novel is about the complicated relationship between two teenagers, Connell and Marianne, who both attend the same secondary school in County Sligo and continue their studies at Trinity College in Dublin. Connell lives in a single-parent family, while Marianne has suffered from domestic violence since she was a child. Despite one being a social outcast and the other a sporting hero they begin a clandestine romance. The pair weave in and out of each other's lives, developing a strong bond that relieves their many deep-seated, unexpressed insecurities.

In the book, the author focuses on young love and complex relationships among modern people. The TV production has received praise for its realistic portrayal of intimate content. The NPR review said that among Rooney's abiding concerns are the fluctuating power dynamics in relationships. “At 28, Sally Rooney has been called the voice of her generation,” said The Washington Post.

Published by Shanghai Translation Publishing House, Normal People has both printed and digital editions. “

The outbreak of the epidemic has led to deeper awareness of the significance of reading. We have spent a lot of time in figuring out how publishers can transform and use new marketing strategies to influence more people with publisher brands and the value of reading,” said Han Weidong, president of the Shanghai Translation Publishing House.

Besides Normal People, Machines Like Me, written by celebrated English novelist Ian McEwan, and The Testaments, the sequel to the best seller The Handmaid's Tale will also be released during the book fair. The ceremony will be broadcast live through online platforms including Bilibili, Dangdang and Jingdong.