A review by btg
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-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? Yes

5.0

I devoured this book in, like, a day.

Cath just hits. It's easy to relate to her; to borrow Rowell's words, she "jumps off the page." But the even more astounding part of the book is that Rowell manages to put words to experiences that are rarely talked about and that rarely get representation -- fic authors moving into original fiction, anxious first year college students who don't party, children of adults with mental illness. I found Cath to be intensely relatable, and Rowell's depiction to be very truthful. Rowell's tone is free and easy; she writes as though she has lived experience in this world. While Rowell admits to being a fic author early, I don't know enough about her personal life to guess about the rest. What I can say is that I felt a lot of me reflected in Cath that I don't see in a lot of stories, and I didn't know I needed to hear.  

I'll admit I didn't originally love Levi as a love interest at the beginning of the book; I found him too forceful. But as Cath gained her own confidence, he grew on me. They developed their banter and their language. I'm not sure the romance would have cemented if it wasn't a slow burn, if Cath didn't have time to grow before she and Levi got together. I think where Rowell succeeded here is in thinking ahead; she didn't give Cath a love interest appropriate for her beginning. She gave Cath a love interest appropriate for when she was ready, and I think that's super powerful. And Rowell's handling of the love triangle, normally a tired trope, was absolutely masterful. 

Fic authors, put down the fic for a bit and read this book. You won't regret it. 

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