Fangirl, from Rainbow Rowell

Hi, there! Hope you’re having a wonderful Sunday so far – I am, haha! Today’s book is one of the most talked of pretty much everywhere: Fangirl, from Rainbow Rowell.

from my Instagram 😀

 The Story

Cath is the kind of person that doesn’t deal well with changes. She’s already stressed out enough for going to college, she didn’t need her twin sister Wren shooing her off and announcing that she doesn’t want to share her room with Cath.

Cath also didn’t need a scary roommate or her weird almost boyfriend that doesn’t seem to have a room of his own – if he had, maybe he would spend less time in Cath’s. Cath didn’t need a classmate that only cares about himself and his writing to tag along with her on their assignments as well. Or even the worry that her father may have a nervous collapse any minute without her at home to keep an eye on him.

But Cath had all those things on her life, while trying to finish her Simon Snow fanfiction, Carry On. Her real life seemed to insist on pulling her away from her own world, no matter how hard she fought it.

As the year goes and Cath realizes how people aren’t always what they seem, her offline life starts to show some appeal. Will Cath abandon her Simon Snow fixation or can she balance it with her new self that actually has friends that are not inherited from Wren?

The Analysis

Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂

I loved this book far more than I imagined I would. Despite not being socially awkward as Cath, sometimes I have some difficulties in living my own life. Books, mangas and fanfictions are way more appealing almost all the time. I thank every day for all my friends, for all the people that I love and that I know that love me back, but sometimes, Anneliseland just wins me over. (A good example is that I’m writing this review while my relatives are all in the pool, on a beautiful summer day.)

That said, I understand very well how Cath feels about the real world. Sometimes, it can be so scaring that we want to just run away. It has been a while since I felt this level of connection with a character. Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to give this book a big five stars because I felt the end was so lacking. Don’t worry, no spoilers, but my impression was that Rainbow was writing on her computer, looked at the words counter and said: “I guess this is enough, I’m tired. Hey publisher, you can send it to the world now!”. 😦

A friend of mine on Instagram (yes, I’m talking about you dear @writerahart! <3) pointed out that maybe this is Rainbow’s way to leave her reader wanting more. I hate when authors do that on standalone books, it’s too frustrating for me. You can leave some loose ends and it can be awesome, but this was just lacking. Still, four stars! 🙂

The narrative pace was slow, but not in a bad way. Rainbow presents us with lots of details, as Cath is very perceptive of everything. The narrative style was third person from Cath’s point of view only. It worked for me and I loved Cath, so I can’t complain, haha!

The plot was simple and so well executed that filled my heart with warm. Fangirl is the kind of book that shows the reader that it is okay to like “children’s things” and still grow up. Simon Snow was their Harry Potter and did not stop Cath’s life, not even when she made us believe that it had. There were some cool twists, but nothing out of this world and, honestly? Fangirl didn’t need to impress with twists. A young adult’s life can be a plot twisting itself and Rainbow was brilliant at capturing that.

Now, the characters. I loved Cath, but she got on my nerves sometimes. She was too stubborn, haha! The funny thing is that, even knowing that she and Wren were identical twins, I imagined them as being totally different. Not the kind “looking in the twisted mirror” different, but physically different. I guess that’s the after effects of both personalities, haha! Also, I hated Wren, even after the twists. I understand Cath for wanting to be with her and I think that she’s right, you have to try to always be your sister/brother’s best friend, but Wren just… She went too far. Same thing with Cath’s mother. She also went too far and I hated her, haha! Cath’s dad was really cute and huggable, I loved every scene he was on and my heart almost broke when he got sick 😦

And then there was Levi.

Ok, I’m kidding, haha! But oh boy, he had guts to like and stick with Cath. She was a difficult person and too afraid of people in general, but Levi never minded it. He was always there, always smiling and caring. Being flawed and real. In my head, he started as an okay boy and evolved as Cath’s feelings did. In the end, I thought him the most amazing and beautiful guy in the world. Like a blonde version of Ian Somerhalder.

sorry to bother you, handsome

Love is a powerful beauty tool.

I won’t even bother to mention Courtney and Nick because they simple don’t deserve to be featured in here, but I will say this: all of Rainbow’s characters could be your neighbors. It is awesome.

Also, we can’t forget about Carry On! Almost a character itself inside the story, it’s Cath’s personal private paradise. The only place where she controls everything and can do and say the right things all the time. Carry On has the power to unite people though something and it is a beautiful metaphor for reading. Besides, a story about a girl who writes gay fanfiction is badass by itself. Golden star for Rainbow! ❤ I can’t wait to actually read Carry On in February ❤ ❤

Overall, this is one of the best books I’ve read in my life, lacking end and everything. If you like contemporary romance and young adult, you just have to read Fangirl ❤

That’s it! Thanks for reading ❤ Do we have any Rainbow Rowell’s fans around??