YA Weekend: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (September 2013)
Author Info: rainbowrowell.com
Wendy’s Rating: 5 of 5 stars
I initially thought this book was about, well, fangirls–those super geeky people who get utterly lost in fictional worlds and write fanfic and cry over the relationships of the fictional characters of those worlds. People like me. And it totally is about that, but it’s also so much more. It’s also about loneliness and family and mental health and first days of college and sisters and twins and relationships and integrity and perseverance and friendship and writing and empathy and anxiety. It’s the perfect book for anyone who understands any or all of those things or lives with any or all of those things, while still being easily relatable to someone on the outside looking in. In fact, for the latter, this book serves almost as a quirky little guide book on how to deal with all of this, without ever shedding a disdainful light on these issues.
The story is told through Cath, half of a pair of 18-year-old twins who are attending college, and are away from their single father for the first time. Issues with their mother who abandoned them at a young age have made them a close knit little family, but this separation and all the pressures of college threaten to tear them apart. Cath is an introvert and suffers from anxiety. She has that whole ’90s movie shy, geeky girl with ponytail and glasses vibe going on, but Rowell gives her so much more agency. While she does find support in her gruff roommate Reagan and Reagan’s cheerful bestfriend Levi, Cath maintains control on her life, and can and will say “no” when she needs to. More importantly, her friends might not understand her, but they don’t pressure her or put her down.
Cath also writes fanfiction, which is a major element of this story. She is working on the conclusion of an epic story called Carry On, Simon, which is based on the fictional World of Mages–which in itself is a bit of fanfiction, as the similarities between it and the Harry Potter series are evident. Yet, the World of Mages is fully unique, and fleshed out. Excerpts from it and Cath’s fanfiction begin each chapter, and, as her relationship with Levi develops, Cath also reads much of Carry On, Simon to him. Initially, I thought the excerpts a bit of a distraction, but by the end of the book, I was clamouring for Rowell’s recently announced Carry On to be a thing immediately.
I walked into this book expecting one thing, and discovered it to be so much more. I found a new favourite author and something new to fangirl over.
The BiblioSanctum 
Sounds good 🙂 Not to mention it’s a 5
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I’ve been slow to jump on the Rowell band wagon simply because contemporary YA isn’t my thing but of all her books this sounds the most up my alley. Your review has convinced me to give it a go – she’s obviously a talented writer and the fan-fiction excerpts etc… sound like a nice touch! Have you read any of her other books?
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I assure you, I’m not a fan of YA either, but some books have managed to break through. This is definitely one of them, and the fanfiction aspect makes it even more unique.
I haven’t read any of her other books, but I certainly intend to now — especially Carry On, Simon, which stems from the fanfic she writes within Fangirl.
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Sounds interesting. Glad that you enjoyed it especially when you started off a little unsure.
Lynn 😀
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I did read this one when it was released in French and I really liked it even if not as much as you did I think. I wasn’t really interesting in the fanfiction parts at the end of each chapters but despite that I really enjoyed the story. Great review!
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Thanks!
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Awww you’re right: it IS about fangirls like us but it’s also SO much more ♥ It’s basically a slice of life. REAL life, with family issues, and mental health issues and friends and love and everything in between. I related to Cath SO.FREAKING.MUCH too and I just wanted to hug her. Awesome review^^
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Yes! I don’t have the level of anxiety issues etc that she has, but I could still appreciate that. And I love love love how everyone responded to her. This wasn’t about belittling her. It wasn’t a stupid 90s movie where the geek girl takes off her ponytail and glasses and becomes cool. She’s accepted for who she is. Quirks and all.
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I have this one on my tbr – I read Eleanor & Park and I loved it, so I will have to give Fangirl a try soon. I’m glad you liked it so much!
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This one looks really tempting, even though it’s nothing like what I usually read. Glad you liked it!!
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