Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Series: Standalone
Number of Pages: 435
Date Read: 1/11/16
Genre: Realistic Fiction,
Romance, Contemporary
Synopsis (Found on
Goodreads.com):
A coming-of-age tale
of fan fiction, family and first love.
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? Writing her own stories?
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?
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? Writing her own stories?
And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?
My Review:
So I finally read Fangirl my
first Rainbow Rowell book. I have been debating whether I should read this book
over the last few months. I wasn't sure if I would like it or not. But......I
loved it! It was awesome, cute and sooo good! I'm so glad that I read it.
Here's a basic summary of the plot. Twins Cath and Wren did everything together but now when they're going to college, Wren doesn't want to dorm with Cath. Which breaks Cath's heart. So Cath goes to college and has a roommate Reagan, who likes to party and is never really around which Cath likes because she gets to be alone. Reagan also has a best friend, Levi, who is always in Cath's room and who is literally happy all the time. This book is about Cath dealing with her first year of college, a new romance, doing things without her sister and writing fanfiction for the World of Simon Snow.
I see what everyone was talking about in regards to how Simon Snow is just like Harry Potter. I agree but that "fact" didn't really bother me. I actually likes seeing the differences and similarities between Simon and Harry. The author even mentions Harry Potter in the book too which I though was hilarious. AT the end of every chapter in this book, there are excerpts from the world of Simon Snow- Parts of chapters from the seven books that were 'written" and fanfiction that Cath wrote (earlier fanfic and excerpts from her huge fanfic Carry on). I would't mind if the actual Simon Snow series were to be really written. I'd read them.
On to the characters!
I loved Cath. She was sooo relatable. While reading this book it seems to me that Cath has a serious case of anxiety. She doesn't eat food for the first month she's in school because she doesn't know where the dining hall is and she is too shy to ask anyone where it is. She has extreme anxiety in the beginning about being at college, talking to Reagan and Levi and basically about leaving her dorm room. Classes are ok for her though. She doesn't like to party and she doesn't like to talk to people. Cath really begins to come out of her shell when Reagan starts dragging her around with her. Cath also has great morals. She won't even casually kiss anyone. Kissing to her is important and I like that about her. She is very reserved but can still get silly when she wants to. She is extremely loyal and is a family person. She cares and worries a lot for her dad and her sister. She is loyal to Wren even when Wren is being a total bitch to her for no reason. Cath loves cooking breakfast and she often goes home to take care of her dad, which I think is awesome. I really like Cath because she's a normal person with so much inner strength to deal with what she has to in this book. She sees herself as weak or unworthy but she really is the strongest character in the book.
I have to be honest I really didn't like Wren at all. Even after a part in the book, I can't bring myself to care about her. She was really nasty to Cath about college. I mean Wren knows her sister has bad anxiety but she decides to drop her like a hot potato and do her own thing. That is very insensitive. She constantly makes fun of Cath because Cath doesn't drink or party and she even begins to make fun of the Simon Snow fanfic that Cath writes. It's like she forgot that she loves the series too and used to write fanfic with Cath. Wren was just a big old drunk, who wanted to go to college to party all the time. Nothing wrong with that but don't push away the only family you have.
I loved loved loved Levi. From the moment you meet him you instantly like him. He is always happy, always smiling and soooo nice to people. He's good natured, kind, friendly, likes to have a good time and loves his friends. He situates himself in Cath's life and at first Cath doesn't really want to be friends with him but he wins her over. I mean how can you NOT be friends with Levi. I would love to have him as a friend. He'd be the life of the party. While he is fun loving, Levi can also be serious and have serious conversations. He's a farm boy and has very good manners. I just love his character and he brings out the best in Cath.
I also loved Reagan. She is such a sassy b*tch! I say that in a good way. Her friendship with Cath is hilarious. Reagan is very sarcastic and says whatever is on her mind. She makes fun of Cath but Cath knows she does it because she loves/likes her. Reagan is not the 'I love/care for you ' kind of person. She doesn't really show her emotions but she shows she cares in different ways. She can be a bit hard to handle but she's there for Cath when she needs her and she ends up being a great friend to Cath.
I loved the romance that Cath has. At first she doesn't really know what to do in general and is very anxious about everything, especially kissing. But the guy is awesome and doesn't pressure her at all. They take they're time and the romance develops really well. Both Cath and the guy are there for each other and encourage each other as well as have "fun time" together. Wink Wink. The romance was sweet and so well done. The guy is perfect for her and he likes and supports her fanfiction. I hope they get married! I haven't read about a couple this perfect for each other in a long time.
I thoroughly enjoyed Fangirl and now I'm off to read Carry on! I'm sure I'll love that one too!
Here's a basic summary of the plot. Twins Cath and Wren did everything together but now when they're going to college, Wren doesn't want to dorm with Cath. Which breaks Cath's heart. So Cath goes to college and has a roommate Reagan, who likes to party and is never really around which Cath likes because she gets to be alone. Reagan also has a best friend, Levi, who is always in Cath's room and who is literally happy all the time. This book is about Cath dealing with her first year of college, a new romance, doing things without her sister and writing fanfiction for the World of Simon Snow.
I see what everyone was talking about in regards to how Simon Snow is just like Harry Potter. I agree but that "fact" didn't really bother me. I actually likes seeing the differences and similarities between Simon and Harry. The author even mentions Harry Potter in the book too which I though was hilarious. AT the end of every chapter in this book, there are excerpts from the world of Simon Snow- Parts of chapters from the seven books that were 'written" and fanfiction that Cath wrote (earlier fanfic and excerpts from her huge fanfic Carry on). I would't mind if the actual Simon Snow series were to be really written. I'd read them.
On to the characters!
I loved Cath. She was sooo relatable. While reading this book it seems to me that Cath has a serious case of anxiety. She doesn't eat food for the first month she's in school because she doesn't know where the dining hall is and she is too shy to ask anyone where it is. She has extreme anxiety in the beginning about being at college, talking to Reagan and Levi and basically about leaving her dorm room. Classes are ok for her though. She doesn't like to party and she doesn't like to talk to people. Cath really begins to come out of her shell when Reagan starts dragging her around with her. Cath also has great morals. She won't even casually kiss anyone. Kissing to her is important and I like that about her. She is very reserved but can still get silly when she wants to. She is extremely loyal and is a family person. She cares and worries a lot for her dad and her sister. She is loyal to Wren even when Wren is being a total bitch to her for no reason. Cath loves cooking breakfast and she often goes home to take care of her dad, which I think is awesome. I really like Cath because she's a normal person with so much inner strength to deal with what she has to in this book. She sees herself as weak or unworthy but she really is the strongest character in the book.
I have to be honest I really didn't like Wren at all. Even after a part in the book, I can't bring myself to care about her. She was really nasty to Cath about college. I mean Wren knows her sister has bad anxiety but she decides to drop her like a hot potato and do her own thing. That is very insensitive. She constantly makes fun of Cath because Cath doesn't drink or party and she even begins to make fun of the Simon Snow fanfic that Cath writes. It's like she forgot that she loves the series too and used to write fanfic with Cath. Wren was just a big old drunk, who wanted to go to college to party all the time. Nothing wrong with that but don't push away the only family you have.
I loved loved loved Levi. From the moment you meet him you instantly like him. He is always happy, always smiling and soooo nice to people. He's good natured, kind, friendly, likes to have a good time and loves his friends. He situates himself in Cath's life and at first Cath doesn't really want to be friends with him but he wins her over. I mean how can you NOT be friends with Levi. I would love to have him as a friend. He'd be the life of the party. While he is fun loving, Levi can also be serious and have serious conversations. He's a farm boy and has very good manners. I just love his character and he brings out the best in Cath.
I also loved Reagan. She is such a sassy b*tch! I say that in a good way. Her friendship with Cath is hilarious. Reagan is very sarcastic and says whatever is on her mind. She makes fun of Cath but Cath knows she does it because she loves/likes her. Reagan is not the 'I love/care for you ' kind of person. She doesn't really show her emotions but she shows she cares in different ways. She can be a bit hard to handle but she's there for Cath when she needs her and she ends up being a great friend to Cath.
I loved the romance that Cath has. At first she doesn't really know what to do in general and is very anxious about everything, especially kissing. But the guy is awesome and doesn't pressure her at all. They take they're time and the romance develops really well. Both Cath and the guy are there for each other and encourage each other as well as have "fun time" together. Wink Wink. The romance was sweet and so well done. The guy is perfect for her and he likes and supports her fanfiction. I hope they get married! I haven't read about a couple this perfect for each other in a long time.
I thoroughly enjoyed Fangirl and now I'm off to read Carry on! I'm sure I'll love that one too!
Rating: A+
Ooo I'm so glad you enjoyed this one. I need to read it myself. I've only read two by Rainbow Rowell so far, but I loved both.
ReplyDeleteI'd definitely recommend Fangirl and Carry on. They are my favorites!
Delete