I read Fangirl a while ago and it was very exciting to see that they created it as a graphic novel. I know a lot of students prefer graphic novels so I feel like this is a great way to get them to read more. This book is listed as manga which I'm not sure what really is different than a traditional graphic novel. The images in this book were beautiful. It's a comic, but had realistic features and not caricaturist embellishments.

As someone that has a Fan Fiction account and written stories for some of my favorite characters, I understand how Cath feels. Sometimes when the book ends, you still imagine the lives of those characters and it's fun to share your visions. I never tried to submit fan fiction for a college writing course, nor did I ever attach my real name to my writing. Like most Fan Fiction writers, I started my stories with a disclaimer saying I was not the original author and such. Some authors actually enjoy reading fan fiction and I've even heard of two that openly admit to posting their own "fan fiction" just to see if people like new story ideas before writing a sequel.

This is everything that I had hoped it would be. The perfect combination of Rainbow Rowell’s writing and Sam Magg’s manga-inspired illustrations, in the first of a four part series. Catch and Wren, twin sisters have started college, and whilst Wren has grown away from Simon Snow, Cath is still a super-fan. The pressures of college, the anxieties of fitting in and making friends and worry about their dad hugely affects Cathy, but she sticks with the fanfic - even if her writing professor isn’t impressed.

This is a superb and uplifting first part of Fangirl reimagined as a graphic novel. The illustrations capture the characters and mood completely, and we feel for Cath dealing with the new surroundings, people and and pressures. Excellent stuff. I cant wait for part two already!

** NetGalley ARC** I really liked this! I read part of it at night and the rest the next morning. I loved the drawings, they were both very manga-style, but also accurate with how the characters look. What I really liked is how even though it's MUCH shorter than the actual book, I don't feel like I missed anything. It feels like all the very important parts were there, which is crazy because Fangirl is huuuuge. Fangirl is a very long book for a contemporary so it works that they cut off the first manga somewhere in the middle. Even though now I really want the next one!

If you love Fangirl, then you will love this graphic novel! Sam Maggs' manga-inspired illustrations really brought the story to life. I definitely recommend reading the novel first because it is so good, but this is a great alternative!

This is going to be a short and sweet review: I loved the original novel and the graphic adaptation of Fangirl is everything I could have hoped for in a book. The style is easy to follow, the characters well represented, and overall it stays true to the original story. I can't wait for the rest!

The first in a Manga series, based on the very popular Fangirl novel.

I think this is a fantastic introduction to Manga and graphic novels for young adults. And I will be highly recommending this to my pupils.

Yes! What a gorgeous addition to a wonderful series of novels! I read Fangirl at exactly the right time, in college myself, writing fanfiction, obsessed with a magical boy wizard of my own. This novel is near and dear to my heart even as I've grown past that stage of my life, and this manga is a beautiful tribute to the emotions that novel evokes. The art is on point - Cath, Wren, Levi, even Simon and Baz - all look just as I saw them in my head, and the plot stays faithful to the novel even with this change of format. I love it. I'm very excited for the next volumes, to relive this wonderful story all over again.

Yes yes, I know. Rainbow Rowell isn't the greatest. But, I did love Fangirl, and I wish so hard that that book existed when I was a dorm troll writing fanfic and socially isolated from everyone and everything, suffering from undiagnosed anxiety and depression.

This is a pretty solid adaptation (and Levi was drawn so adorably), and I guess I'll be tuning in for volumes...however many else.

I wont lie, when picking up this manga a few hours ago, I was worried I had misremembered how much I loved the novel. Worried that I had built it up too much in my head. I'm happy to know that I was wrong, this reminded me just how much I loved this story from the beginning. I can't wait for subsequent volumes to come out. The animation is on point for all of the characters, and feels like such a fresh way to dive back into a beloved novel. Although I had forgotten how much I hated Wren....

This is the super enjoyable first installment of the manga adaptation of Rainbow Rowell's beloved romance novel, Fangirl. Fangirl remains one of my very favorite YA books, perhaps one of my very favorite books, period. This adaptation manages to nail all of the important moments, which is quite a feat. I really enjoyed it, but must admit that it made me want to reread Fangirl... again. Looking forward to the rest of the volumes!

Despite ending on a major cliffhanger I really enjoyed this graphic novel adaptation of Rowell's Fangirl. I'm interested in seeing more of the fake Harry Potter universe (and I think Rowell has gone on to write stories in that universe), but even more so I'm interested to see where the characters go. The themes of identity, family, caring, introversion, mental health, love, and creativity are intertwined really well together, and the art is clean and strikes a nice balance between realism and cartoon. Looking forward to the second part.

When a favorite novel is turned in to a graphic novel, it is always an exciting day! Fangirl is a favorite and by publishing it as a graphic, there is an entirely new set of readers reaching for it now. The already amazing novel is enhanced with the illustrations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy of the graphic novel version of Fangirl.

I love Rainbow Rowell. I know that's a bit of a controversial statement, as Rowell has had some issues with Park's portrayal in Eleanor & Park, which is one of my favorite books. I understand that it is a problem, I recognize that, and I have been trying to shift some of my focus to reading more books by and about Korean and other Asian cultures.

A big part of that for me is that I got into Manga in a big way. Like, annoyingly huge. I read one volume of My Hero Academia and was hooked.

So, Rainbow Rowell + Manga = Great! Right?

Well....

Here's the thing, I love Fangirl. It is such a love letter to those who write fan fiction and to those involved in fandoms. I read that back in college when I was really starting to accept who I was, a big freaking nerd.

When this was announced, I was so excited. The cover is absolutely GORGEOUS. It was something I didn't know I had been waiting for and I needed it. Luckily, NetGalley was able to fix me up with a digital copy for me to review (Sorry it's over a week late). I tore into it.

Fangirl focuses on Cath. She's has an identical twin named Wren and they are going to the same college! How fun! The problem is, Wren is taking a very different path than Cath. Wren wants to go out and drink and make friends, Cath wants to stay in her dorm and write fan fiction for her favorite book series Simon Snow (think Harry Potter). Cath is in the process of writing her version of what the 8th and final book in the series will be. Her roommate, Reagan, is feisty and, while a little rude, takes Cath under her wing and helps her through her first semester.
Enter Levi.

Levi is Reagan's boyfriend (?) who is tall, blonde, and always smells like coffee. He's nice, funny, and "has a smile for everyone." He, like Reagan, tries to help Cath break out of her shell. He's also really cute.

A few things right off the bat: It is definitely a Shojo manga, something that I was not used to as I read a lot of Shonen. The art style of Shojo is much softer than Shonen which is evident from the first page. It's not a bad thing. I thought the art was beautifully done.

When you bill something as a Manga, you kind of expect it to be read a certain way (right to left). As I had a digital copy, I couldn't use the book as a guide (starting from the back, reading to the front). The first few pages could have been read R-L or L-R. I was EXTREMELY confused starting out. It IS supposed to be read left to right like an Western book. So why bill this as a Manga? It's a graphic novel drawn in the Shojo style. That's all. I dunno, I'm not a book publisher.

The adaptation itself was excellently done. Granted it's been a few years since I read Fangirl, but it did fit in pretty well with my memories of it. The dialogue was excellent. The narration was very well done and captured Cath's style perfectly.

It was going all well and good, until it just stopped. It was like "Okay, the end, see you in book 2 of 4!" What?! This is a four volume series? How are they going to stretch this out to four books? They were already at the halfway point!

Ultimately, I was underwhelmed by this book. If you are a fan of Rowell, definitely pick it up, but Pumpkinheads this is not. I'm giving this a 7/10 or 3/5 for Goodreads sake.

Thanks again, Netgalley!

I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl story. I read it a few years ago and the story really resonated. I love when a character has to grow and Cath has quite a bit of growing to do. The art style is perfect. It’s is so clear and easy to read. The feelings are so well represented and really add to the mood and flow of the plot. I would highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the next installment.

I love rainbow rowell but unfortunately this one didn't do it for me. I need her to come out with another novel already

Fangirl Vol. 1 is fantastic! I loved the original book and seeing it drawn out like it was in the manga, it is absolutely mind-blowing. I love that when she is "writing" the Simon Snow bits, the manga displays for those as well. I have read Carry On and Simon and Baz are my favorites. It's the best of both worlds!

Just like the original this book speaks really well to the young adult journey through University. While it starts as a tale of isolation the beautiful illustrations do help to keep you on track for the warm conclusion of the story.

A well done adaptation of the original novel! Focusing on key points of the novel to drive the story along with talented artwork and interesting characters.

Fangirl is one of my all time favorite YA books, and as a fan of both Rowell and Maggs, I was so excited to see this collaboration. The illustrations are fantastic and the story shines through just as well in Manga as it does in a novel.

I think this was a really solid adaptation of the book! I had the same feelings I had when I first read the text book, of frustration with Cath but also remembering how I felt in that weird transitional time of college.