Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

SYNOPSIS

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?

Synopsis from Goodreads

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PERSONAL REVIEW

I can't believe I've never written a review of Fangirl! It's one of my favourite books, an immediate recommendation from me, and one of the few books I have multiple copies of. Every time I read Fangirl I fall in love with it again; Rowell has created characters that I want to befriend, hug, and hang out with over and over. 

Character-Driven Story with All The Feels
Firstly, I always emphasize to people that this is a character-driven novel and its honestly one of the biggest reasons I always fall in love with this book. Cather, Levi, Regan, and the others are all so well crafted that you immediately picture them as real people. Beyond that, there are so many moments in this book that always either hurt or warm my heart. When Cather sees Levi at the house party: I'm gutted. When Levi's waiting at the hospital all night just to make sure Cather doesn't need anything: my heart melts. It's just such a great story!

Cather's Character Growth is Excellent 
Obviously these characters are well crafted, but it's always Cath's story arc that makes me so happy. Her growth over the course of her freshman year of college is so organic and real. It's such an important (and crazy!) year for people and Cath goes through a journey that so many people can relate to. What's really wonderful about her is that she's an introvert who is celebrated for being one, not shamed for it. Cather finds her people and they love her for being her. 

This Is A Story For Everyone
I honestly believe that Fangirl is a novel that everyone can enjoy (unless you honestly only read action novels. In that case, you may not like this as much). It deals with so many relatable problems - being in new environments, building new relationships, family dynamics, romantic relationships - that I think that anyone who reads this will fall in love with the characters. While the Simon Snow inserts may not appeal to everyone (which is fair), the character arcs definitely will!

Rainbow Rowell is one of my favourite authors, and Fangirl is the primary reason why. It hit me on every level and even though I haven't been in most of the situations that Cather experienced, it's like I was really living it. Every time I start reading it, I literally can't put it down. I'm gushing, and I know it, but I would 100% recommend this book to everyone (and I do!). I'd love to know what you think about Fangirl!

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FINAL RATING: 5/5