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eggjen's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book basically in one day - it was a mad, crazy, obsessive daylong reading spree in which putting the book down felt painful and wrong until I'd finished. My apologies to the children, husband and pets neglected on February 19, 2014.
In many small ways, it felt like this book was written exactly for me - like the author had captured a piece of my soul and put it on paper. While I can't necessarily relate to the WHOLE story (don't have a twin sister or a psychologically diagnosed mental illness - also don't write fanfiction and am significantly older than 18) - so much of it I could definitely relate to and I quickly found myself rooting for Cath and waiting for certain plot events to come about. I, simply put, loved this book and kinda wish I could read it all over again today.
In many small ways, it felt like this book was written exactly for me - like the author had captured a piece of my soul and put it on paper. While I can't necessarily relate to the WHOLE story (don't have a twin sister or a psychologically diagnosed mental illness - also don't write fanfiction and am significantly older than 18) - so much of it I could definitely relate to and I quickly found myself rooting for Cath and waiting for certain plot events to come about. I, simply put, loved this book and kinda wish I could read it all over again today.
baoluong's review against another edition
4.0
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell delved into some subjects that most mainstream authors are not concerned with now these day. Though homosexuality is touched upon in this story through the fanfiction medium, it does pose a question as to what women find sensual and is writing about it considered porn? Is it more acceptable to films? What about the exploitation of sex vs. love? Can one differentiate the two or are they synonymous.
There is also the matter of the love interest and how he, Levi, is not the typical model by which most YA novels seem to follow. It's really up to the reader then to determine for themselves whether or not appearances should follow to a T and if the story is really about "How to find yourself a boyfriend".
It's deeper than that because the theme focuses on forgiveness and both first and second chances. Was it acceptable that Cather and Wren's mother left or did she do the right thing to admit that she was not capable to take care of anyone and walk away. Maybe having no mother is better than missing one in the beginning. If their mother stayed would she have loved them anymore or learned to at least. Is love unconditional and granted or are we all just left to our own devices to fend for ourselves. Personally, I believe that no one chooses to be born into the world so those that brought you here are responsible in every way to ensure your basic necessities at the very least if not love you (it seems that Cather and Wren's mother didn't even pay child support and she created a new family to start over), but the children should also be mindful and understand that it's okay to think when they're young that they are their parent's whole world, but it becomes an unacceptable flawed idea when they grow up to disregard the lives that their parents lived before they had them and the lives they still continue to live now. At one point, I though Cath was behaving as a selfish brat when she refused to even empathize with her mother, but I suppose my empathy was thrown out the window when Laura left Cath for the second time.
I found myself coming to these conclusions throughout the book which was why I think so highly of it. It's more than Cath being left by Wren. It's about her trying to become a separate entity while having an identity stemming from the same roots as her twin. At times, I found myself frustrated with Cath and her anti-social ways and I had this false perception that it was a game to her, but oh how wrong I was. It was not a game and I realized that when she spoke about her Dad, how he would go off the edge and be consumed by simply thinking-forever thinking. Cath was more than an introvert, she would be paralyzed by panic attacks with just the thought of touching people (she was late to her classes for the first two weeks of her freshman year because she was scared to walk in crowed hallways). It's quite beautiful actually how Cath is the half of the twins with their father's madness and Wren's half portray their mother's fearlessness.
All in all, I found this book simply amazing.
There is also the matter of the love interest and how he, Levi, is not the typical model by which most YA novels seem to follow. It's really up to the reader then to determine for themselves whether or not appearances should follow to a T and if the story is really about "How to find yourself a boyfriend".
It's deeper than that because the theme focuses on forgiveness and both first and second chances. Was it acceptable that Cather and Wren's mother left or did she do the right thing to admit that she was not capable to take care of anyone and walk away. Maybe having no mother is better than missing one in the beginning. If their mother stayed would she have loved them anymore or learned to at least. Is love unconditional and granted or are we all just left to our own devices to fend for ourselves. Personally, I believe that no one chooses to be born into the world so those that brought you here are responsible in every way to ensure your basic necessities at the very least if not love you (it seems that Cather and Wren's mother didn't even pay child support and she created a new family to start over), but the children should also be mindful and understand that it's okay to think when they're young that they are their parent's whole world, but it becomes an unacceptable flawed idea when they grow up to disregard the lives that their parents lived before they had them and the lives they still continue to live now. At one point, I though Cath was behaving as a selfish brat when she refused to even empathize with her mother, but I suppose my empathy was thrown out the window when Laura left Cath for the second time.
I found myself coming to these conclusions throughout the book which was why I think so highly of it. It's more than Cath being left by Wren. It's about her trying to become a separate entity while having an identity stemming from the same roots as her twin. At times, I found myself frustrated with Cath and her anti-social ways and I had this false perception that it was a game to her, but oh how wrong I was. It was not a game and I realized that when she spoke about her Dad, how he would go off the edge and be consumed by simply thinking-forever thinking. Cath was more than an introvert, she would be paralyzed by panic attacks with just the thought of touching people (she was late to her classes for the first two weeks of her freshman year because she was scared to walk in crowed hallways). It's quite beautiful actually how Cath is the half of the twins with their father's madness and Wren's half portray their mother's fearlessness.
All in all, I found this book simply amazing.
alli_thebookgiraffe's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t think I am the exact audience for this book when it comes to being a fanfiction writer or reader but I really loved this book. It took me about 200 pages to really get into it but it was worth the wait. I do feel like I relate to Cath in a lot of ways. This was such a cute and a HEALTHY romance. I find a lot of YA these days have very odd and unhealthy versions of relationships. The romance just felt genuine. Reading the fanfiction bits were also fun. I think Rainbow Rowell’s book Carry On has something to do with the fanfiction in this book and that just makes me want to read that book next.
liv_burrow's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kkoerth613's review against another edition
5.0
This book. Ah.
I've been reading more of dystopian apocalyptic genre lately, so picking up this book was sort of a change. I wasn't expecting much.
I got more than much.
This. It just...the feels. It's a book, a novel that describes basic life. You don't just get the guy. No one lives happily ever after. (Even though they kinda did).
My favourite part of these kind of books is to see the character development. See how they change into a better or worse person. And Cath, she changed into a person that is involved more into her social life.
Her dad. He didn't have much breakdowns as we go on.
Wren. She changes a lot. She goes from Cath's best friend. To a wild party girl. Drinking alcohol. Landing herself in the hospital. And being Cath's wonderful best friend sister.
Reagan. I found that she changed into a nicer person, to Cath at least. At the beginning she didn't want a roommate. But at the end she wanted Cath to be her roommate for the next year.
Levi. I love Levi. He's just amazing.
Nick. Can I slap him in the face?
Courtney. Can I slap her too?
Abel. I find there's a trend here. People I want to slap.
Laura. Yep definitely a trend.
Blonde girl. Slap.
Jandro. DON'T SLAP. EVER. He wants the best for Wren. He never wanted her to drink. They should get married. Have a happy wedding.
I think my rant spree is over.
READ THIS. AMAZING. JOINING THE SLAPPING SPREE.
I've been reading more of dystopian apocalyptic genre lately, so picking up this book was sort of a change. I wasn't expecting much.
I got more than much.
This. It just...the feels. It's a book, a novel that describes basic life. You don't just get the guy. No one lives happily ever after. (Even though they kinda did).
My favourite part of these kind of books is to see the character development. See how they change into a better or worse person. And Cath, she changed into a person that is involved more into her social life.
Her dad. He didn't have much breakdowns as we go on.
Wren. She changes a lot. She goes from Cath's best friend. To a wild party girl. Drinking alcohol. Landing herself in the hospital. And being Cath's wonderful best friend sister.
Reagan. I found that she changed into a nicer person, to Cath at least. At the beginning she didn't want a roommate. But at the end she wanted Cath to be her roommate for the next year.
Levi. I love Levi. He's just amazing.
Nick. Can I slap him in the face?
Courtney. Can I slap her too?
Abel. I find there's a trend here. People I want to slap.
Laura. Yep definitely a trend.
Blonde girl. Slap.
Jandro. DON'T SLAP. EVER. He wants the best for Wren. He never wanted her to drink. They should get married. Have a happy wedding.
I think my rant spree is over.
READ THIS. AMAZING. JOINING THE SLAPPING SPREE.
shelivesinthepages's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. Can reread this a millions times over and still want more. Cath and Levi! I found Cath's sister Wren to be kind of a B**ch but I feel like the story isn't over. Would love a second book, to bad its a stand alone.
knuckledown's review against another edition
5.0
I knew that Fangirl would be a fun read, but I didn’t expect to feel so passionate about it. Of course, my personal background made it easy to identify with Cath. My first year of college was a tough transition, and I was quite involved with the Harry Potter fandom during my early teens. Simon Snow is a great spoof of Harry Potter without trying to exactly replicate it character-for-character. Not everyone will be able to relate to Cath so directly, but I hope that many can appreciate her. And I hope that those who can relate will find this book.
Few authors would have the courage to write about someone like Cath. She’s genuinely a nerd, not a hot girl hiding behind glasses, which makes her feel absolutely real. If anyone is the voice of misfits, it’s Rainbow Rowell. She approaches her characters with such love, and she isn’t afraid to share their full range of emotions, however mushy or neurotic. And because she cares so much, so do I. When something bad happens to her characters, I want to curl up in a ball and hide. How often does a book truly make you feel that way? I mean it as the highest compliment.
For more about Rainbow Rowell and other book reviews, check out my blog: Courtney Coherent
Few authors would have the courage to write about someone like Cath. She’s genuinely a nerd, not a hot girl hiding behind glasses, which makes her feel absolutely real. If anyone is the voice of misfits, it’s Rainbow Rowell. She approaches her characters with such love, and she isn’t afraid to share their full range of emotions, however mushy or neurotic. And because she cares so much, so do I. When something bad happens to her characters, I want to curl up in a ball and hide. How often does a book truly make you feel that way? I mean it as the highest compliment.
For more about Rainbow Rowell and other book reviews, check out my blog: Courtney Coherent
lyxabeth22's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0