I started reading this back in October. It's taken me a long time to get through it what with all the stuff I've had to read for Uni and all the essays I've had to write at the minute. But, it's done and it was so worth it. I read Eleanor and Park in September and loved it. I gave it FIVE big fat stars in this post right here. So, obviously, I had high hopes for Fangirl....and it really did not disappoint.
Fangirl:
Fangirl is everything it says in the title. It is a book all about fangirling and the fandom community. Cath's whole life is a dream world. She is in love with the Simon Snow book series. Growing up, Cath and her twin sister, Wren, consume their whole lives writing Simon Snow fan fiction, eventually acquiring thousands of views on their posts. Only, when they leave for college, while Cath is still addicted to the world of Simon Snow, Wren wants to move on and decides she doesn't want to share a dorm room with Cath. Cath has to share a room with a forthright roommate, Reagen, and is constantly in the presence of Reagan's ever-smiling boyfriend, Levi. Cath must juggle her online fan fiction world, with her creative writing course, with her social life and family life. But the main question is: can she leave Simon Snow behind?
I related with Cath's character SOO much. Aside from the fan fiction world which I have never been a part of, I have so much in common with her. I am extremely shy, I'm in my first year at uni, I love the imaginary world more than the real one and have unbreakable feelings for my sister. So yeah, it was easy for me to relate to her.
And, of course, Levi. Levi. Oh. My. I think I liked him more than Cath if I'm honest. He was just a nice guy, right? There are so many too-good-to-be-true characters in fiction (which obviously we adore - I mean come on!), but it's also nice to have a guy who's just 'normal'. I thought he was so sweet and his relationship with Cath, particularly the times when Cath would read him fan fiction, were the cutest parts in the book.
Whether this is a negative, I'm not sure. But my main problem with the book overall was its predictability. I mean, the characters were not predictable, but certain scenarios were. It was pretty obvious that Cath and Levi were going to get together - I figured that out on the first page. But, I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I don't think Rowell would have been able to make it any less obvious if I'm honest.
I love the way Rowell dealt with Fangirl culture. I thought it was very real, the way people get so absorbed in another world is something I can definitely relate to, and I feel Rowell portrays this beautifully.
There were funny highs and sad lows. Overall, this was a really nice YA book with really likeable characters as I expected from Rowell. (I stayed up some nights unable to put it down, telling myself I could handle the sleep deprivation, so I'd say it was pretty good).
I can't say I enjoyed it more than Eleanor and Park because I just found that TOO good - I love that book so much - but, don't get me wrong, Fangirl would still be something I'd read all over again!
****
"Real life was something happening in her peripheral vision."
"I choose you over everyone."
"The more I care about someone, the more sure I am they're going to get tired of me and take off."
"I'm rooting for you."
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