Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Blurb:

Cath and Wren are identical twins, and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they’re off to university and Wren’s decided she doesn’t want to be one half of a pair any more – she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It’s not so easy for Cath. She’s horribly shy and has always buried herself in the fan fiction she writes, where she always knows exactly what to say and can write a romance far more intense than anything she’s experienced in real life. Without Wren Cath is completely on her own and totally outside her comfort zone. She’s got a surly room-mate 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.

Now Cath has to decide whether she’s ready to open her heart to new people and new experiences, and she’s realizing that there’s more to learn about love than she ever thought possible . . .

My Favourite Quotes:

1. I’m the kind of girl that fantasizes about being trapped in a library overnight.
2. Nobody wins until nobody wins.
3. You can park your snark at the gate, Omaha.
4. You give away nice like it doesn’t cost you anything.
5. I can throw a big tantrum if you like that sort of thing.
6. Anyone can fly. Anyone with a friend.

My Take:

Fangirl is one of my favourite reads from 2019! It had me hooked from the very first page.

Fangirl is the story of two sisters about to experience the adventure that is college for the very first time. Cath and Wren look at the world differently, live their lives differently. The first year of college is definitely an eye-opener for them. One loves living in the moment while the other, perhaps spends too much time with her thoughts.
Fangirl is told from Cath’s perspective. Cath’s life is flipped upside down as the first semester begins. She finds it difficult to cope with so much change in her life. The fear of the unknown and new experiences holds her back.  I found myself rooting for Cath as she finds her way through family issues,  tricky assignments, stubborn boys, heartbreak, romance, and learning.
One thing I love about Rainbow Rowell’s writing style is that she knows her characters inside out. All the characters have their own arcs. She taps into their psyche perfectly. Her stories focus on all the characters and not just the protagonist. You get to see what each of the characters stands for. All the characters bring something unique, providing depth and authenticity to the story.
Fanfiction was another positive for me! It is so rear to see the world of fangirls, let alone fanfiction writers. Cath loves that world that she has created with her favourite characters because it is full of magic and comfort. The escape that her love for fanfiction provides her makes her feel protected and cherished. Rainbow Rowell has not only successfully created Cath’s world, but she also created the fantasy world of Simon and Baz within it. I cannot believe she turned the world of Simon and Baz into a full-blown series! I can’t wait to read Carry On, the first installment of the Simon and Baz series.

If you are looking for a feel-good book then Fangirl is definitely the way to go!

Thank you for reading the review!

Link to the review of Rainbow Rowell’s first young adult novel – Eleanor and Park

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Happy reading!

Bookish Brat