A review by k_meredith
Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

emotional hopeful relaxing
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I really like this book a lot.  It wasn't as fluffy as I thought it would be, but it gives some really great context for the Simon Snow Trilogy.  It's definitely going to be a comfort read for me.  I like the journey we go on with Kat that is, honestly, mostly in her head.  It's nice because there are some big events, but most of them are her developing confidence and self awareness the way that ideally everyone does in college.  She fights for herself, and that's pretty kick ass.  I do have some issues with the way mental health is portrayed.  The twins' dad is bipolar who pretty typically lives unmedicated, in spite of some pretty serious and apparently dangerous periods, currently and previously.  The girls support him choosing to go off meds-- and I mean that literally.  They provide support for him to do that.  And there isn't ever any pushback or time given to learning to manage behavior with meds as a valid tool.  I'm not saying everyone has to be medicated, but I feel really strongly that presenting unmedicated as better adds to mental health stigma, and I was disappointed to see that.  And I was disappointed in the lack of transparency specifically about meds between Art and his daughters.  Like, written into the text- not just as an omission.  This review probably says a lot more about me and my state of mind RN than it does about the book, so let me end with this- books about creative process and/or personal growth are my absolute favorite, especially with a fantastic element, and I really do love this one.
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