Review for Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell!
ONE SENTENCE REVIEW: A SPIRITUALLY RELATABLE AND MOVING EXPERIENCE THAT WAS EXTREMELY REALISTIC, TOUCHING, HEARTWARMING, ADORABLE, AND SO SO WORTH IT. (I RECOMMEND READING CARRY ON BY RAINBOW ROWELL FIRST)
Quick View Review
Characters: **** (4.8/5)
Plot: **** (4.7/5)
Writing Quality: **** (4.8/5)
Amazon Rating: **** (4.5/5)
Summary: Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life-and she's really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving. Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go. She doesn't want to. Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone. For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?
Review: I had seen Fangirl in Barnes and Noble every visit, the bright, pastel colors nearly hypnotizing. The first time I became aware of Rainbow Rowell’s relatively new novel, the only other experience I had with the author was Eleanor & Park. In other words, I had mixed feelings. What convinced me to read this amazing novel was my ALL TIME FAVORITE FANDOM, Carry On, which is also by Rainbow Rowell. By reading Carry On beforehand, which I recommend to do first if you haven’t done so already, I was able to appreciate the Simon Snow Fandom right alongside Cath. While reading, I was surprised to relate to Cath on so many levels; for example, I enjoy reading fanfiction, as well as writing it, and I belong to fandoms like the Simon Snow fandom. Rowell does an amazing job including the prominent rise of fanfiction in the fictional writing world and what it means to the writers and readers of this genre. Each character in this novel is intricate and very developed. I felt a strong connection with each one and got lost in the back stories and small habits and details of Cath, Levi, Wren, and even the less focused characters like Raegan, Nick, Cath’s dad, and even Cath’s mom. The whole plot was realistic and reassuring, like someone was telling me, “you’re not the only one”, while patting my shoulder comfortingly. Like Cath, in new situations I become a nervous wreck, and constantly want to be alone in the comforts of my bed, reading fanfiction or writing it. College is a looming, dark cloud ahead that hasn’t really taken shape yet, causing all the what-if’s to rise. Fangirl informed me that it’s okay to feel unsure, and that all you need to do is be yourself. .I absolutely loved the small sections of Simon Snow fanfiction she includes in between chapters, keeping the spirit of the Simon Snow fandom alive. I finished reading the book with a goofy smile on my face, feeling deeply happy and satisfied while simultaneously aching for more Fangirl and/or Carry On. These characters will surprise you, stir your emotions, and ultimately stick with you for a while (occasionally I will fangirl over Fangirl or Carry On without a solid reason). I was spiritually moved, and I know that you will too.
Recommendations: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz, Carry On by Rainbow Rowell, I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, Paper Towns by John Green.
Happy Reading!
XOXO,
Zoe
