Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Pages: 445
Genre: YA
Publisher: St. Martin's Press/ Raincoast Books
Release Date: September 10, 2013

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Summary: (Goodreads)

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?

Review: 

I absolutely loved this book!! Rainbow Rowell you are a brilliant writer and I will definitely be reading more of your books!! I wish I read this when it came out earlier but now that I read it, Fangirl is one of my favorites:) the characters are easy to connect with. There also needs to be a sequel. This was definitely different and it brought me to a happy place. It also made me smile and laugh.  I really did like the protagonist, Cath who I can really relate to.  

Cath is an introvert and her hobby is to escape by writing fan-fiction for her favorite series. This is very easy to connect with because I also love to read and one day if it does happen write a book. Her passion to keep the story alive for her fans is there. Fangirl also is set during Cath's first year in college. College or anywhere you go, will either let you fit in or you can become a misfit or become overwhelmed. The romance of the book unravels as well through her college life, which was nice to see. She is a normal student who struggles in classes like the rest of us, have a crazy family and even become friends with her roommate, who is the exact opposite of Cath. 

This does remind me of what I go through in my everyday life at times through the novel. There was a number of wonderful characters who helped Cath in this story. Regan is her very blunt, honest, and intense roommate. She is really funny, and it really gets Cath to open up. She was cold in the beginning but they really got along! Now to Levi. He really is the most lovable character. His charisma about everything really can spread in and out of the book. Levi is social, friendly and has a smile on his face. Even when he is serious he is really cute. He is different from Cath, but they are perfect together. 

Fangirl was not all about the romance. Family was another big topic that happened. Cath struggle's with her twin sister Wren and a workaholic father. Wren is the opposite of Cath because she wants to experience the college life by drinking and partying. Another was how their mother played a part in the book. She left when the twins were 8. Lots of family drama that was good and bad but can relate to. 

As this was my first Rainbow Rowell novel, it was great since it left me with a smile on my face. I did not want to put it down. The fanfic parts where a part of the story that gave Cath another way to reflect her feelings and write her own story of how she wants to end her favorite book series. If you are looking for another great contemporary read, Rainbow Rowell is a great author. I will be reading more books by her for sure and own on my shelf. 

5/5