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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Before we start, let's just get one thing out of the way:
I'm never going to be done being mad about this.
Luckily, after reading the book, I don't think I'll be buying the physical copy anyway. I didn't love it. I liked it! I enjoyed it! I read it all in one sitting.
But I don't need to have it. Mostly because it doesn't need to exist.
I was so enchanted with the first book because it felt silly, right? It felt like this fun little riff off of a book she'd already written. It was a side project. It was a fanfic!
It did not need a sequel.
Things I liked:
-I liked learning about the magical atmosphere in America.
-I liked Shepard
-I liked Agatha getting more developed
Things I didn't like:
-...... meh
It's not that I didn't like the book. I did! Probably wouldn't read it again but it was fun.
It felt very transitional. From the cliffhanger at the end to Simon and Baz's hot-and-cold relationship, to the kind of wandering and wayward plot.
Which was probably the INTENTIOn but FUCK I don't have TIME FOR THIS SHIT.
With the first one, I felt like Rainbow was in on the joke. She was poking fun at the whole thing herself.
And making it a series makes me feel like it's being taken way too seriously.
I didn't want a series. The story doesn't need to be a series. You can spin straw into gold as much as you want but that doesn't mean you had much to start with, you know? A magical series could totally spring up out of the fake Harry Potter from Fangirl but should it?
It's fine. It's fun. There is nothing objectionable about the book or the idea that it might be a series.
But, to paraphrase Maggie Steifvater in a series I very much DID and DO want a continuation of: I'm perfectly aware that it's possible to have a book-series that isn’t all-encompassing, that isn’t blinding, deafening, maddening, quickening. It's just that now that I've had that kind, I don't really want the other.
WHY would you have the first editions of books in the same series NOT MATCH?
— Yelling Girl That Calls People To Vote (@JessJessDaBest) September 25, 2019
I have a first edition of Carry On. The second book in the series just came out with a cover that matches THE SECOND EDITION
NOW I DON'T WANNA BUY IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATCH@rainbowrowell WHY
I'm never going to be done being mad about this.
Luckily, after reading the book, I don't think I'll be buying the physical copy anyway. I didn't love it. I liked it! I enjoyed it! I read it all in one sitting.
But I don't need to have it. Mostly because it doesn't need to exist.
I was so enchanted with the first book because it felt silly, right? It felt like this fun little riff off of a book she'd already written. It was a side project. It was a fanfic!
It did not need a sequel.
Things I liked:
-I liked learning about the magical atmosphere in America.
-I liked Shepard
-I liked Agatha getting more developed
Things I didn't like:
-...... meh
It's not that I didn't like the book. I did! Probably wouldn't read it again but it was fun.
It felt very transitional. From the cliffhanger at the end to Simon and Baz's hot-and-cold relationship, to the kind of wandering and wayward plot.
Which was probably the INTENTIOn but FUCK I don't have TIME FOR THIS SHIT.
With the first one, I felt like Rainbow was in on the joke. She was poking fun at the whole thing herself.
And making it a series makes me feel like it's being taken way too seriously.
I didn't want a series. The story doesn't need to be a series. You can spin straw into gold as much as you want but that doesn't mean you had much to start with, you know? A magical series could totally spring up out of the fake Harry Potter from Fangirl but should it?
It's fine. It's fun. There is nothing objectionable about the book or the idea that it might be a series.
But, to paraphrase Maggie Steifvater in a series I very much DID and DO want a continuation of: I'm perfectly aware that it's possible to have a book-series that isn’t all-encompassing, that isn’t blinding, deafening, maddening, quickening. It's just that now that I've had that kind, I don't really want the other.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Love the continuing data of the magic and the relationships! When is Pt 3 coming?
------------------------
Just reread (Niv. 2021) to refresh my memory before reading the finale.
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Just reread (Niv. 2021) to refresh my memory before reading the finale.
the plot structure was a lot tighter in this sequel, and i appreciated foregoing all the random segues and memories. Rowell still managed to fit in a lot of character development, too. liked it a lot.
I really enjoyed this book more than the first one which I enjoyed. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Didn't click from me as well as the first book. Might give it another try in the future, because I really want to love this book.
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3.5 stars
ok. yeah. i liked this, but i certainly had some issues with it. however, i don't think my issues were the same as most people who read it.
i for one really love Simon and Baz's relationship in this. i really appreciate the representation of Simon as someone who's gone through a traumatic experience and is now experiencing the aftermath of said trauma. it's not always beautiful to be a traumatized person, especially in romantic relationships. i really, really, really appreciate that Simon wasn't turned into the beautiful traumatized person trope. he's allowed to be ugly, allowed to be broken, allowed to be shitty! like i said, it was really refreshing.
as a lot of other people pointed out, this book is very plot-driven, as opposed to Carry On which was more character-driven. while i enjoyed the plot, i feel like some characters were neglected. i wish there was more about Penelope, Agatha, and Shepard. especially Shepard!!! he's such an intriguing character, and i wish we learned more about him in this. i'm hoping the next book goes back to being more character-driven.
overall, i enjoyed this, but i definitely didn't enjoy it as much as the first one. i'm so happy that Simon is a real, honest representation of the experience a lot of people with PTSD have in regards to their love life. it's a nice reminder that we don't have to be beautiful and palatable all the time. i'm very excited for the next book!!!
ok. yeah. i liked this, but i certainly had some issues with it. however, i don't think my issues were the same as most people who read it.
i for one really love Simon and Baz's relationship in this. i really appreciate the representation of Simon as someone who's gone through a traumatic experience and is now experiencing the aftermath of said trauma. it's not always beautiful to be a traumatized person, especially in romantic relationships. i really, really, really appreciate that Simon wasn't turned into the beautiful traumatized person trope. he's allowed to be ugly, allowed to be broken, allowed to be shitty! like i said, it was really refreshing.
as a lot of other people pointed out, this book is very plot-driven, as opposed to Carry On which was more character-driven. while i enjoyed the plot, i feel like some characters were neglected. i wish there was more about Penelope, Agatha, and Shepard. especially Shepard!!! he's such an intriguing character, and i wish we learned more about him in this. i'm hoping the next book goes back to being more character-driven.
overall, i enjoyed this, but i definitely didn't enjoy it as much as the first one. i'm so happy that Simon is a real, honest representation of the experience a lot of people with PTSD have in regards to their love life. it's a nice reminder that we don't have to be beautiful and palatable all the time. i'm very excited for the next book!!!