In Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl, 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?
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?
A New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of 2013
A New York Times Best Seller!
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5
katelynbrouse (Grade: B+) I think for those who are really into the fandom life will enjoy this book. The main character is extremely relatable. The book does not solely focus on the aspect of romance, which is rare to find in YA novels. Cath struggles with social anxiety and simply not knowing how to adapt to college life, making friends and having a relationship which is refreshing. The book is infused with a fictional fandom and it's WONDERFUL. I also really love how much this book focuses on the importance of family.
(Rated on Nov 4, 2013)
3
notesinthemargin (Grade: A+) Loved it! Honest and real. YA needs more characters like Cath, that step outside of that over-confident, kick-assness and into a more real place. I relate.
(Rated on Jan 16, 2015)
3
HeathersCorner
(Grade: A) The last few "young adult" books of this type I read didn't impress me but this novel reminded me of why I usually love them. I related, I cried, and I couldn't stop reading. Yes, this book is about fandom, but the focus is really on Cath's real-life relationships, and how she tries to maintain a balance between her family and her old carefully-crafted life, and her new unpredictable one in college. The wonderful, realistic character-growth was a joy to read and I was sad to reach the last page.
(Grade: A) The last few "young adult" books of this type I read didn't impress me but this novel reminded me of why I usually love them. I related, I cried, and I couldn't stop reading. Yes, this book is about fandom, but the focus is really on Cath's real-life relationships, and how she tries to maintain a balance between her family and her old carefully-crafted life, and her new unpredictable one in college. The wonderful, realistic character-growth was a joy to read and I was sad to reach the last page.(Rated on May 23, 2017)
3
bennett_the_ceo
(Grade: A–) From roommate anxiety to dining hall gloom, Rowell does a masterful job of capturing the psyche of a college freshman. To add to that, she weaves an adorable romance, a multi-layered family drama, and an interesting study of what being a writer really means. The only lackluster element of "Fangirl" is the excerpts of the protagonist's own writing placed between each chapter. The sketches never quite mesh, although the ploy does work in distinguishing fanfiction as a separate form of art.
(Grade: A–) From roommate anxiety to dining hall gloom, Rowell does a masterful job of capturing the psyche of a college freshman. To add to that, she weaves an adorable romance, a multi-layered family drama, and an interesting study of what being a writer really means. The only lackluster element of "Fangirl" is the excerpts of the protagonist's own writing placed between each chapter. The sketches never quite mesh, although the ploy does work in distinguishing fanfiction as a separate form of art.(Rated on May 21, 2017)
2
ekcook (Grade: B) Charming, though imperfect. Definitely a great book for a lazy day. Eat a bowl of ice cream and put away whatever Derrida textbook you've been torturing yourself with for a sweet treat with a meaningful story that manages to be great in spite of its flaws.
(Rated on Oct 30, 2013)
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