Can you give a book 6 stars?
Fangirl was, by far, one of the best books I’ve read all year. I devoured it in two nights and my only complaint is that is ended already. Can we start an online petition for sequels to all Rainbow Rowell’s books? She always seems to leave me wanting more!
Cath’s life has been devoted to Simon Snow (a Harry Potter-esq book character) since her mother left Cath and her twin sister, Wren, when they were 8. Wren has mostly grown out of the Snow fandom and wants to start building her own identity, including living separately from Cath when they start their freshman year of college. Cath has been writing a fanfiction about Simon for the past two years that she has to finish before the final book in the series comes out; Wren would rather go drinking with her roommate, Courtney, than spend time with Cath and Simon.
Cath eventually forms a friendship with her roommate, an upperclassman named Reagan, who takes Cath on as a bit of a project:
“I feel sorry for you, and I’m going to be your friend.”
“I don’t want to be your friend,” Cath said as sternly as she could. “I like that we’re not friends.”
“Me, too. I’m sorry you ruined it by being so pathetic.”
As well as a friendship with Reagan’s boyfriend, Levi, who she begins to form feelings for, that finally bubble up to the surface when she finds out Reagan and Levi are no longer together:
“What’s the plan?’ she asked.
He grinned. ‘My plan is to do things that make you want to hang out with me again tomorrow. What’s your plan?’
‘I’m going to try not to make an ass of myself.’
He grinned. ‘So we’re all set.”
Honestly I could list quotes all day long that make Levi swoon-worthy, he is an ideal romantic leads. Cath is pretty easy to relate to, an awkward college freshman whose whole identity has been wrapped up in other people (her twin, Simon) until now. The slow burn of their relationship really gets you invested.
The book handles some more serious issues, like alcoholism and bi-polar disorder, but at its heart (like all the Rowell books I’ve read so far) it’s a romance. And a damn good one at that.
I gave The Suffragette Scandal by Courtney Milan six stars because I loved it so much. I adore Fangirl so I can totally understand why you want to rate it so highly.
As for sequels, I want them too. But you should read Landline and pay attention in the final quarter of the book, to some of the people Georgie meet. I don’t want to say anything else, for fear of spoiling it for you.
Landline is for sure on my To Read list!