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?
Or will she just go on living inside somebody else’s fiction?
Fangirl is about a girl called Cath who has a twin sister called Wren. Wren and Cath are both starting their freshman year in college and so are experiencing very big changes. Wren has decided that she doesn’t want to room with Cath and has separated herself from Cath.
Cath is a major Simon Snow fan, a fictional book that isn’t unlike ‘Harry Potter.’ You name it- t-shirts, posters, her own fan fiction account- and Cath has got it. She has immersed herself in the world of Simon Snow.
Told over a period of a year, Fangirl tells the story of Cath getting used to her new life and also brings up old struggles.
Cath was a very easy character to relate to. It’s not very often that I can say I empathise with a character, but I did with Cath because we are very alike. At times I wondered if Rowell was writing about my own life. Cath loves reading. Do I? Check. Cath loves writing. Check. Cath would rather stay in and read or write than go out. Check. Cath has quickly become one of my favourite female characters.
As always, Rainbow Rowell has delivered on the romance side and I kept wanting MORE. More of those adorable scenes, please! I just ate them up.
There are a lot of subjects broached including mental health issues and alcohol abuse. I thought both things were dealt with in a mature manner and in a way that the reader could understand, even if they had no history of either things.
I really want more of Fangirl. I’m already imagining different scenarios and what could possibly happen after the novel’s end. It was such an amazing and beautiful book and I’m so glad that I requested it because it made me realise that it’s okay to be your own person and to do what you want. As long as you’re happy. Rainbow Rowell is definitely one of my favourite authors and I’ll read anything she writes.
14 Comments
maya
10 June, 2013 at 8:04 amHaven’t heard of this before but I’ve seen so many amazing reviews for Eleanor & Park (which I haven’t read either!). I’ll definitely be checking the library for them both, great review!
Leanna (Daisy Chain Book Reviews)
10 June, 2013 at 9:10 amThis one sounds like a lot of fun. I’ve yet to read any of Rainbow Rowell’s books but I’ve heard lots and lots of good things!
Anya
10 June, 2013 at 10:01 amThis sounds right up my street! Definitely checking the library for this 😀
Nikki R
10 June, 2013 at 4:08 pmYay!! I’ve only read Rowell’s Eleanor & Park, too, and I loved that one as well. I’m so glad you loved Fangirl! I’m really, really looking forward to reading it.
So Many Books, So Little Time
10 June, 2013 at 5:49 pmI seriously need to read some of Rainbow Rowell’s books!
Tilly Currer
10 June, 2013 at 6:36 pmI’ve seen this!! I really liked the idea of Fangirl but for some reason I didn’t request it. So glad you liked it!
Amber @ The Mile Long Bookshelf
10 June, 2013 at 6:42 pmOh wow, this book is named after my occupation! 😉 I NEED TO READ THIS RIGHT NOW OMG I WANT ASDGHJKL awesome review x
Jesse Owen
10 June, 2013 at 6:46 pmI seriously need to read this – I just love the idea 🙂
thebookishowl
11 June, 2013 at 8:41 amGreat review! I might request this because the plot looks amazing. 😉
Jess Hearts Books!
11 June, 2013 at 6:23 pmI want to read this book so bad! Although I guess I should really read Eleanor and Park first seems as I own that one 😛
Beverley
14 June, 2013 at 9:14 pmAw, Lucy, this is such a cute review! I remember seeing Eleanor and Park around and I really wanted to read it but never had the time.. And I LOVE the title of this book: FANGIRL!!!!!! Seriously, this must be named for us book bloggers 😀 Cath sounds really awesome, don’t you just love it when you can empathise with a character? It’s those moments when you’re reading and thinking: ‘We should be best of friends’ that is the most amazing feeling ever!
Fabulous review, Lucy!
Zoe Crook
15 June, 2013 at 5:25 pmI have been wanting to read Eleanor and Park ever since John Green reviewed it.. and I still need to get my hands on it! I was scrolling down Goodreads one day and discovered that Rainbow Rowell had written another book… called Fangirl. I screamed. Like, literally dancing around my room. A book about fangirling??! SOLD!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it 😀 Like Beverley said, it is great when you can empathise with the main character. Great review 🙂
chrissireads
17 June, 2013 at 5:58 amSounds great! I hope to read this book soon.
alice-jane
2 July, 2013 at 8:49 pmAHHHH so jealous that you got an early copy! I’ve seen Fangirl at lot on blogs lately and it seems like a great read! So happy you liked it and I’ll definitely try to find a copy when it comes out!