Normal People follows the intricate, on-again, off-again relationship between Connell Waldron and Marianne Sheridan from their high school years in a small Irish town to their time at Trinity College Dublin. Connell, initially popular, and Marianne, an outcast, first connect because Connell's mother works as a cleaner for Marianne's wealthy family. As they navigate early adulthood, their relationship is deeply affected by their differing social classes and personal insecurities. The story explores themes of love, class division, and the profound impact two people can have on each other's lives as they struggle to communicate and truly understand one another.