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audacityspork's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Rainbow Rowell as a fantasy writer is completely different from Rainbow Rowell as a realistic fiction writer. I read “Fangirl” right before this, and this story blows that out of the water.
I’m a sucker for romance AND the kind of mysteries Harry Potter does — this book captures both genres brilliantly. The magic system isn’t quite Harry Potter, and it’s better for it. I enjoyed this romance more than any of the other romances I’ve read this year. Simon and Baz are so lovable together and separate. I laughed and cried, and there were romantic moments that made my heart skip a beat. It managed to surprise me!
The mystery had some predictable bits, but some really interesting payoffs that I didn’t anticipate!
The audiobook was brilliantly narrated. I’m excited for more!
Anyway, I will be rereading this. So far, it’s this year’s romance book to beat, as far as I’m concerned.
I’m a sucker for romance AND the kind of mysteries Harry Potter does — this book captures both genres brilliantly. The magic system isn’t quite Harry Potter, and it’s better for it. I enjoyed this romance more than any of the other romances I’ve read this year. Simon and Baz are so lovable together and separate. I laughed and cried, and there were romantic moments that made my heart skip a beat. It managed to surprise me!
The mystery had some predictable bits, but some really interesting payoffs that I didn’t anticipate!
The audiobook was brilliantly narrated. I’m excited for more!
Anyway, I will be rereading this. So far, it’s this year’s romance book to beat, as far as I’m concerned.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Blood
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
elliereads97's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars -- okay. so.
this is the gay fanfiction that cath in [b:Fangirl|16068905|Fangirl|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355886270s/16068905.jpg|21861351] writes, based on the harry potter equivalent of her universe. (in the author's note, rowell says something about how Simon's story is the amalgamation of the many Chosen One stories before it. that's nice and all, but it's very much a queer, parodic retelling of harry potter.)
this book could have been a dumpster fire. but it's FANTASTIC.
first of all, it's ambitious of rowell to try and replicate a cast of characters as lovable as HP's, while also subverting an array of Chosen One-type-story tropes. but she DOES it. actually, she completely exceeds expectations. i just wanna say here, just because it's my goodreads review and i can say whatever i want, that i love tyrannus basilton grimm-pitch with my entire being.
if you grew up loving harry potter, [b:Carry On|32768522|Carry On (Simon Snow, #1)|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481729252s/32768522.jpg|43346673] will make you nostalgic for that wonderful Feeling only harry potter has. but it also creates something entirely new, and, in my opinion, just as magically addictive as HP. (get what i did there? because magic??)
my only major complaint, and reason that it isn't a 5 star, is because of the blatant bisexual erasure. simon is clearly established as liking both girls and guys -- but bisexuality/pansexuality is never shown on page. it isn't even mentioned as an option when simon is contemplating his newfound queer identity. given how some of the comments about queer people and identity in [b:Fangirl|16068905|Fangirl|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355886270s/16068905.jpg|21861351] are.....messy, to say the least, i wasn't surprised -- just disappointed. if you're going to write queer characters, especially when the representation in your book isn't Own Voices, there is no excuse: you need to do your research and not further contribute to the already widespread erasure of bisexual identity.
this is the gay fanfiction that cath in [b:Fangirl|16068905|Fangirl|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355886270s/16068905.jpg|21861351] writes, based on the harry potter equivalent of her universe. (in the author's note, rowell says something about how Simon's story is the amalgamation of the many Chosen One stories before it. that's nice and all, but it's very much a queer, parodic retelling of harry potter.)
this book could have been a dumpster fire. but it's FANTASTIC.
first of all, it's ambitious of rowell to try and replicate a cast of characters as lovable as HP's, while also subverting an array of Chosen One-type-story tropes. but she DOES it. actually, she completely exceeds expectations. i just wanna say here, just because it's my goodreads review and i can say whatever i want, that i love tyrannus basilton grimm-pitch with my entire being.
if you grew up loving harry potter, [b:Carry On|32768522|Carry On (Simon Snow, #1)|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481729252s/32768522.jpg|43346673] will make you nostalgic for that wonderful Feeling only harry potter has. but it also creates something entirely new, and, in my opinion, just as magically addictive as HP. (get what i did there? because magic??)
my only major complaint, and reason that it isn't a 5 star, is because of the blatant bisexual erasure. simon is clearly established as liking both girls and guys -- but bisexuality/pansexuality is never shown on page. it isn't even mentioned as an option when simon is contemplating his newfound queer identity. given how some of the comments about queer people and identity in [b:Fangirl|16068905|Fangirl|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355886270s/16068905.jpg|21861351] are.....messy, to say the least, i wasn't surprised -- just disappointed. if you're going to write queer characters, especially when the representation in your book isn't Own Voices, there is no excuse: you need to do your research and not further contribute to the already widespread erasure of bisexual identity.
ahoeft09's review against another edition
4.0
I unhinged my jaw to swallow this book whole … and did so within, like, 20 hours. It was so fun to read! I was obsessed that Simon was obsessed with Baz in a Harry-Potter-during-his-sixth-year kinda way, but that it ends in romance!! I also loved that I kinda walked into the middle of a story (never read Fangirl, don’t plan to), and that these huge life-altering experiences are so casually and cavalierly mentioned. It was a new approach for me.
No complaints about the Harry Potter similarities. I dug it.
The climax wasn’t quite as dramatic as I wanted (hence the four stars and not five), but I’m hooked and will likely start and finish book 2 in a couple days.
No complaints about the Harry Potter similarities. I dug it.
The climax wasn’t quite as dramatic as I wanted (hence the four stars and not five), but I’m hooked and will likely start and finish book 2 in a couple days.
jamyrbane's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Really liked this book! The plot was really interesting and Simon and Baz had me crying, laugh and cry again. I just live them so much. Poor Baz, I understand the pain.
dreamersolace's review against another edition
5.0
I was greatly surprised by this book. I've seen it on the internet and on book shops for the past 8-9 years and I don't know why I never gave it a chance but I'm glad I did it now.
Simon, Baz and Penny were absolutely great, I also loved the chapters in other povs to learn more from their history. I was pretty disappointed Simon didn't learn about his parents in this book but I guess that's for the other two books. I feel like that's the only thing that doesn't allow this book to be a standalone.
Baz and Simon match each other's freak and that's what matters the most.
Simon, Baz and Penny were absolutely great, I also loved the chapters in other povs to learn more from their history. I was pretty disappointed Simon didn't learn about his parents in this book but I guess that's for the other two books. I feel like that's the only thing that doesn't allow this book to be a standalone.
Baz and Simon match each other's freak and that's what matters the most.
bigsleepie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
lindenlace's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
roelina99's review against another edition
5.0
Still just as good, maybe even better, than the first time I read it. This time I will definitely be reading book two and three also. Love the slowburn and the enemies to lovers and especially the he falls first tropes in this one. This book was exciting, cute and nail-biting all at the same time. I even forgot some of the plottwists from the first time I read the book, which made rereading it even more exciting and surprising. Finished it almost entirely in one day just because I couldn't put it away.
maggiemccoy13's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
abbey_s02's review against another edition
4.0
So gorgeous, I loved Fangirl, and it was a fantastic idea to follow up with this!