This is another hyped up book that I kept seeing basically everyone reading, and it really did sound like a good choice when I read the blurb and my interest was slightly spiked in its direction.

Sadly, this is where my rule of not pursuing popular books should have stayed intact.

DISCLAIMER: This review could contain possible spoilers based on my opinions. All opinions and views are my own.

Book Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell #bookreview #rainbowrowell #realisticfiction #booktwt #bookaddict #booktwitter

Tweet

Challenge prompt: The letter F in the A-Z Book Challenge 2022
Originally published: 2013

Pages: 483
Format: E-book

Plot from GoodReads:

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, 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 fanfiction, 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 fanfiction 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?

Thoughts:

I found some parts of the book well-written but the characters didn’t always show consistency throughout the book.

The plot was easy to follow but not always light to read. I did feel that it lacked some depth and maybe needed to include a few twisted scenarios here and there.

I get Cath’s social awkwardness and it was good to see some growth on her side, all mainly thanks to Levi. Pretty much, the only good medicine in the book was Levi and him alone.

Cath’s mental illness is a big part of who she is and how she is represented in the book but I didn’t get a huge impact on awareness around it, instead other elements were showcased that I believe weren’t as important.

Wien came across quite selfish and oozed in desperation to present herself in a light that wasn’t her.

The supporting characters needed better development, and Cath lacked crucial details to help understand her better as a main character in the book.

I don’t read fan fiction so I didn’t get the obsession with it in the book (I prefer original pieces of work but don’t discourage others to try their hand at writing). Although I did pick up on the symbolism between the fan fiction characters and the twin sisters.

Sadly, the ending was rushed and wrapped up too quickly, especially considering the length of the book and the need behind finishing the book on such a note.

Overview:

One of the biggest themes in the book circles around mental illness yet it was treated as a secondary element in the plot.

The book left me quite confused about the meaning behind it and what the author was actually trying to highlight.

My Rating:

The book has a rating of 3.99 on GoodReads. I gave it a 3.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell {Book Review} #bookreview #rainbowrowell #realisticfiction #booktwt #bookaddict #booktwitter

Tweet

Have you read Fangirl?

---

The easiest way to stay up to date with the latest posts is to subscribe to the blog!

---

Do you have a book you want reviewed?
Send me an email: sincerelyyoursannie@gmail.com