Scan barcode
ktoreilly's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I came for “gay Harry Potter” but got so, so much more - deeply lovable characters, a heartwarming queer “enemies to lovers” romance, a fresh take on “the chosen one” trope, and a uniquely creative, fun world. There may be flaws, but I don’t want to hear them. This book filled me up with so much warmth, joy, and love, I’m genuinely sad it’s over but I very much look forward to revisiting it again.
kaylakathleen's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
amyhungerford's review against another edition
3.0
Star Rating: 2.5 Stars
This rating makes me sad. I have loved every other Rainbow Rowell book so far.
I'll be honest... I do not get this book.
Maybe if I read Fangirl first, I would love this too. But I did not.
It was honestly pretty boring, and I couldn't get myself to care about any of the characters. I know its based off of fan fic from Fangirl, but it reads like fan fic and I AM NOT HERE FOR THAT. This is a published book. I expect quality.
I spent most of the trying to match up each character with their Harry Potter counterpart. I mean, Rainbow Rowell didn't even really try to break from Harry Potter.
And I do not get the Simon/Baz obsession. For most of the book, its a one sided affection with other side giving no indication they're remotely interested in the other.
AND THEN.....
Sexy, sexy guy-on-guy kisses.
WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?!
This rating makes me sad. I have loved every other Rainbow Rowell book so far.
I'll be honest... I do not get this book.
Maybe if I read Fangirl first, I would love this too. But I did not.
It was honestly pretty boring, and I couldn't get myself to care about any of the characters. I know its based off of fan fic from Fangirl, but it reads like fan fic and I AM NOT HERE FOR THAT. This is a published book. I expect quality.
I spent most of the trying to match up each character with their Harry Potter counterpart. I mean, Rainbow Rowell didn't even really try to break from Harry Potter.
And I do not get the Simon/Baz obsession. For most of the book, its a one sided affection with other side giving no indication they're remotely interested in the other.
AND THEN.....
Sexy, sexy guy-on-guy kisses.
WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?!
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was really fun and enjoyable to read. It was fairly obvious that it was inspired heavily by Harry Potter, but that didn't really take away the fun of it at all, and it wasn't a clone of it or anything. There was never a moment where I was bored, except I will say that during the beginning, before Baz shows up at school gets a little tedious. All it is, is Simon looking for Baz, waiting around for Baz, and obsessing about Baz. It just went on a little too long.
I really liked the characters here. There were times when I didn't love Agatha, but by the end I really liked how her story turned out. There was just a lot to like here, and I will definitely be looking for more by this author.
I really liked the characters here. There were times when I didn't love Agatha, but by the end I really liked how her story turned out. There was just a lot to like here, and I will definitely be looking for more by this author.
cgreaderbee's review against another edition
3.0
[a:Rainbow Rowell|4208569|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1342324527p2/4208569.jpg] certainly has a way with words ... and romances.
“Sharing a room with the person you want most is like sharing a room with an open fire.
He's constantly drawing you in. And you're constantly stepping too close. And you know it's not good--that there is no good--that there's absolutely nothing that can ever come of it.
But you do it anyway.
And then...
Well. Then you burn.”
The beginning of this book is a little hard to get through, especially as an avid Harry Potter fan. If you don't already know, in another of Rowell's books -[b:Fangirl|16068905|Fangirl|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355886270s/16068905.jpg|21861351] - the main character Cath writes fan fiction on the wildly popular Simon Snow series, which is equatable in our world to the Harry Potter series. Carry On is Rowell's desire to actually bring Simon Snow's story to the surface. The beginning of this novel is the most uncomfortable in its similarities to Harry Potter & Hogwarts. There's the magical school Watford (Hogwarts), run by the powerful headmaster The Mage (Dumbledore). There's discord between the magical world, split essentially between Purebloods and Mudbloods, for lack of better phrasing. Plus, there's a friendly groundskeeper, I mean goatherd, Ebb (Hagrid).
But, for what it's worth, the story branches away from all the similarities that formed the groundwork and includes its own unique plot and character development. It challenges the concept of The Chosen One, and shows that prophecies aren't always what they seem.
Some positives:
- The writing & pacing. The sentences and lines read quickly and flow nicely. The paragraphs and chapters were pretty short, making the book a literal page-turner.
- POV & perspective. We got a sampling of nearly every character's POV; while Simon & Baz were my favorites, I still think the others added a unique flare to the bigger story.
- The slow-burn. From enemies to more. Simon & Baz do not disappoint.
- Snark, wit, and banter.
- Smart and caring friends like Penelope. Courageous and unexpected goatherd friends like Ebb.
- Vampires and mystery and spirits that return wanting their killers brought to justice.
Some negatives:
- As mentioned above, the awkward Harry Potter similarities.
- The magic system was rather wimpy and weak and didn't make a lot of sense, but I don't believe magic was the point of the story anyway...
- The Insidious Humdrum. Could there not have been a better name for this?? I hated having to read this word repeatedly.
- The confusing and seemingly random 'Lucy' chapters that I had to go back and read through at the end to make sure I understood.
- Agatha was the worst. Simon and Penny should just give up on her. Clearly she just wants to live a Normal life with her vapid, magic-less friends. Let her go; I'd gladly take her place.
While I know some other readers weren't a fan, I would still recommend this book, especially if you have previously fallen for Rowell's writing.
“Does it have to be fatal every time? The biting? Couldn't you just drink some of a person's blood, then walk away?"
"I can't believe you're asking me this, Snow. You, who can't walk away from half a sandwich.”
“Sharing a room with the person you want most is like sharing a room with an open fire.
He's constantly drawing you in. And you're constantly stepping too close. And you know it's not good--that there is no good--that there's absolutely nothing that can ever come of it.
But you do it anyway.
And then...
Well. Then you burn.”
The beginning of this book is a little hard to get through, especially as an avid Harry Potter fan. If you don't already know, in another of Rowell's books -[b:Fangirl|16068905|Fangirl|Rainbow Rowell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1355886270s/16068905.jpg|21861351] - the main character Cath writes fan fiction on the wildly popular Simon Snow series, which is equatable in our world to the Harry Potter series. Carry On is Rowell's desire to actually bring Simon Snow's story to the surface. The beginning of this novel is the most uncomfortable in its similarities to Harry Potter & Hogwarts. There's the magical school Watford (Hogwarts), run by the powerful headmaster The Mage (Dumbledore). There's discord between the magical world, split essentially between Purebloods and Mudbloods, for lack of better phrasing. Plus, there's a friendly groundskeeper, I mean goatherd, Ebb (Hagrid).
But, for what it's worth, the story branches away from all the similarities that formed the groundwork and includes its own unique plot and character development. It challenges the concept of The Chosen One, and shows that prophecies aren't always what they seem.
Some positives:
- The writing & pacing. The sentences and lines read quickly and flow nicely. The paragraphs and chapters were pretty short, making the book a literal page-turner.
- POV & perspective. We got a sampling of nearly every character's POV; while Simon & Baz were my favorites, I still think the others added a unique flare to the bigger story.
- The slow-burn. From enemies to more. Simon & Baz do not disappoint.
- Snark, wit, and banter.
- Smart and caring friends like Penelope. Courageous and unexpected goatherd friends like Ebb.
- Vampires and mystery and spirits that return wanting their killers brought to justice.
Some negatives:
- As mentioned above, the awkward Harry Potter similarities.
- The magic system was rather wimpy and weak and didn't make a lot of sense, but I don't believe magic was the point of the story anyway...
- The Insidious Humdrum. Could there not have been a better name for this?? I hated having to read this word repeatedly.
- The confusing and seemingly random 'Lucy' chapters that I had to go back and read through at the end to make sure I understood.
- Agatha was the worst. Simon and Penny should just give up on her. Clearly she just wants to live a Normal life with her vapid, magic-less friends. Let her go; I'd gladly take her place.
While I know some other readers weren't a fan, I would still recommend this book, especially if you have previously fallen for Rowell's writing.
“Does it have to be fatal every time? The biting? Couldn't you just drink some of a person's blood, then walk away?"
"I can't believe you're asking me this, Snow. You, who can't walk away from half a sandwich.”
allibhendon's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
livvi29's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I reread Fangirl earlier this year, so I thought it was finally time to read Carry On—a book that's been sitting unread on my shelf for probably 8 years. When I reread Fangirl, I found myself skipping a lot of the fanfiction parts because they felt a bit cringy. So, I didn't have high hopes going into this.
Honestly, if you've read Harry Potter and wanted Harry and Draco to be a thing, you'd probably enjoy this book a lot more than I did. I just found this really lacked the world-building that a fantasy story needs. It's clear Rainbow Rowell expects readers to recognize it's essentially Harry Potter fanfiction, so she doesn't fully explain the world.
A lot of the beginning is just info-dumping to explain what has happened before this school year, which felt tedious. However, the second half of the book is definitely stronger than the first. It starts to develop more of a plot, and I found myself intrigued by where it was going.
While this book had its moments, it didn't quite hit the mark for me.
Honestly, if you've read Harry Potter and wanted Harry and Draco to be a thing, you'd probably enjoy this book a lot more than I did. I just found this really lacked the world-building that a fantasy story needs. It's clear Rainbow Rowell expects readers to recognize it's essentially Harry Potter fanfiction, so she doesn't fully explain the world.
A lot of the beginning is just info-dumping to explain what has happened before this school year, which felt tedious. However, the second half of the book is definitely stronger than the first. It starts to develop more of a plot, and I found myself intrigued by where it was going.
While this book had its moments, it didn't quite hit the mark for me.
elbell's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
hannet's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
Anyway, I can’t read this book objectively because a) I’m clearly obsessed (as in devout) and b) the characters and story are absurdly refined because of all the additional reading I’ve done, including Fangirl a couple weeks back.
On that note: glad Rowell gave Baz a happy ending and didn’t kill him like Cath planned to! Ebb dying though, ughhhh.