Rating: 3.5 STARS Genre: YA/Romance Standalone/Series: Standalone How I got this book: Library 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? This book should come with a trigger warning.
Yes, it's YA, and for the most-part, it's a lighthearted quirky story with smatterings of romance. But, it also deals with some pretty heavy issues i.e. mental health, abandonment issues and alcoholism. I read this book off the back of Carry On to see if it would help me to understand that book a little better. I'm pleased to report that it did actually, and I'd highly recommend that people read Fangirl before reading Carry On. It gave me a much better understanding and appreciation for Simon and Baz that I just didn't have before. I think it's hard for some authors to write a writer as their main character, they can easily come across as pretentious and all knowing, but I think Rainbow Rowell does this perfectly with Cath. Cath is instantly likeable and relatable and she remains down-to-earth throughout the whole book, something I love about her. I think every avid read, aspiring writer and self-confessed book nerd will find something of themselves in Cath's introverted nature. Personally, I loved Cath, despite some of her crying and self-doubt sessions that reminded me so much of myself that I wanted to shake her. Levi is undeniably good. It's clear from the beginning that he's the perfect match for Cath and it's lovely to see their relationship evolve. I can't lie, I hated Wren for almost the entirety of the book and I wouldn't spit on her mum if she was on fire, but it worked well for the story and made Cath, and her dad, even more lovable. I really enjoyed this sweet, college story about a shy girl who has to learn to make her own way in life. It also made me really want to get back into reading fan-fiction, and I would if not for the fear of losing myself in it for hours like I used to! 3.5 sweet, shy stars. Do you have a favourite fan fiction? Comments are closed.
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About Kay (She/Her)
Book addict, film mad, music lover, business owner, writer and mum (not necessarily in that order), living in the UK. About Sophie (She/Her)
Sophie loves books (obviously). She has a passion for photography and spotting wildlife, and is interested in anything made with passion and creativity. THIS BLOG IS SPOILER FREE!
Rating system: 5 Stars - AMAZING!! 4.5 Stars - Almost perfect! 4 Stars - I really loved it 3.5 Stars - I liked it alot 3 Stars - I liked it (I don't typically review books that I rate below 3 stars)
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