I have lost count of the number of times I've reread this. While I didn't get along with Rainbow Rowell's earlier works, FANGIRL hit me right where I needed it. Cath is a relatable bundle of anxiety, but her anxiety is not just the normal levels we all experience at some point, but rather something debilitating that she really works on over the course of the book. The Simon Snow fanfiction world is fully realized, with the fanfic excerpts being so tantalizing (no wonder there have been entire spinoff series dedicated to the characters that Cath created in her fanfics!). Levi is swoonworthy perfection and fully realized, just like all of the other characters.

10 years on, and I will still read this again and again to take me back to all the feelings of anxiety, longing, and growth of the college years.

5 out of 5 gnomes

This book was both funny and full of heart. It was great to get a look into the world of fanfiction which I haven’t explored much before.

The book is set up in an interesting way too, it includes excerpts from the fictional Simon Snow series (which is reminiscent of Harry Potter) and excerpts from Cath’s fanfiction of the series. After reading some of the excerpts though I for one would love to read a finished version of Cath’s work Carry On, Simon.

Cath is a freshman at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and the change from what she’s used to might be too much. She’s a complicated character and her worldview is nervous yet observant. I don’t know about you but I could identify with Cath, she’s just kind of awkward yet awesome.

Her relationship with her family has so much turmoil but it’s also much of the heart of the book. The family is indeed really messed up but they seem to find a way to get by. I love that the parents are a large part of the story. I also like how all the parental relationships aren’t fully resolved or tied up with a nice bow. These relationships are messy and you don’t know what the future might bring for them.

How she gets along with her twin sister felt very realistic from a sister point of view. If you have a sister you will know that sometimes you relationship can be stormy and you’ll react like oil and vinegar to each other. On the other hand though your sister will always be there if there is trouble or to stand up for you. These sisters go on quite the journey and you will be rooting for them.

I’m kind of ashamed that I didn’t figure out how close/why Cather and Wren were named what they were until it was explained in the book. It was a total no duh moment for me.

This book makes you care so much about every character and want to know exactly what their deal is. Cath’s roommate Reagan was unexpectedly awesome and her and Cath’s interactions were often hilarious.

The romance in this book is well done and never to much. Rowell definitely knows how to write a hot kissing scene. Neither one of these characters is perfect and they really do grow as people and as a couple.

The end is excellent because everything just goes together so well with Cath really finding her voice and you can just imagine the future and the next year in these character’s lives. I highly recommend this book because once you start it’s hard to stop and you’ll have to know how the story ends.

My first reaction upon finishing this book was the need to sit and ruminate upon it for a while. I was so caught up in the world Rowell had created that it took me some time to move on. The book acknowledges that people and relationships are complex. That passion is good but shouldn't be our entire world. A lovely read that has the chops to endure.

After reading Eleanor and Park, I was excited to read Fangirl. I flew through this book. It tells the story of twin sisters, Cath and Wren, starting college and each forming their identities. Cath is a fanfic writer who struggles with her sister's new unavailability, handling her family situation, and forming a new relationship. I wanted to read Cath's fanfic. Cath is relatable, especially for introverts with social anxiety, and it was a pleasure to read.

This book had lots of hype. And I did enjoy it. A fun contemporary novel, with the setting in college, which is an nice to see for older YA novels.
I am an twin, and we both did go to college together- and it was an blast but we also had our separate interests/ and alone time.
I think its always hard for me to read books when the twins are growing apart... because my twin and I are super tight.
But the romance was sweet and I enjoyed seeing Cath grow.

This book is everything that is right with fiction. I read this many years ago and still think of it often and recommend it frequently! I know anything written by Rowell is an immediate multiple purchase for my library.

You know those books that come along where you just find yourself smiling as you read? Wanting to read it constantly? Resentful of anything that takes you away from the perfect words? Fangirl was that book for me. I adored the characters, the romance was pitch perfect and the exploration of fan fiction (including the little snippets from Carry On) just blew me away. By far my favourite of Rainbow's novels.

I love Rainbow Rowell's books. I've read most of them, and have liked every single one I read. I read Fangirl a few years ago when it first came out, and recently decided to re-read it because it had been a while. I loved it just as much during my second read through.

Usually in my reviews I like to list the positives and negatives, but there wasn't a single thing I disliked about this book. Cath was a great main character. I loved how relatable she was. I could definitely see parts of myself in her, such as the antisocial tendencies being around people, and being a total nerd.

Another thing I loved about Cath was the relationships that she did have with the few people she was close to. The relationship between her and Levi is one of the cutest that I've read in YA fiction. They were absolutely adorable. I also loved seeing the relationship between her, her sisters, and her dad. No matter what was happening they were always there for each other. Even when they were arguing, she dropped everything to be there for them when they needed it.

Fangirl is definitely my favorite Rainbow Rowell book that I've read. Reading the book a second time just made it that much better. I can't wait to read Carry On, the Simon Snow fan fiction that Cath was working on throughout Fangirl. I'm sure I'll love that as well.

“Because I'm the kind of girl who fantasizes about being trapped in a library overnight.” Who can resist Rainbow Rowell?

Really cute, like too cute for air. Fangirl took bits and pieces of freshman year of college and turned them into a fairytale. If only I had Cather's freshman year, it was such a piece of cake. And I would love to have Reagan as a roommate, total kickass character. And a wonderful friend to Cath, despite the snark and rage.

Levi, perfect, smiley, Levi. I loved him. I wanted to shake him. To show more emotion. To kiss Cath. To kiss me. To get into a fight with Cath. To do something other than smile. I talked with Eirini about this. She said he was too perfect, and I agree. Levi was too good to be true. He lacked a backbone in expressing himself. He would punch a guy for Cath one minute, and fail to communicate his feelings the next. It was mindboggling. But I still love him. And I'm happy Cath loves him too.

I only gave it 4 stars because I feel like the ending was very rushed. From Cath writing her 10k story, to the Simon Snow midnight release, to Nick divebombing on everyone at the dorms. To Cath's mom. I kept turning the page, waiting for words to appear when it remained blank. Maybe if some of the fanfiction was taken away, there could have been more room for growth in these tumbling snowballs of resolution.

UM, PERFECT. Also seriously, why hasn't anyone written a novel about fandom before? Or have they and I just missed it?

Seriously SO ON POINT in every way. Like, the highs and lows of fandom, and how cool fandom is, but also how sometimes maybe you need to turn off the computer and go do a thing, and how people have different kinds of intelligences and that's okay. (view spoiler)

And I loved the world of Simon Snow--a series that basically sounds like Harry Potter mixed with Narnia et al. The fragments of it and the fragments of Cath and Wren's fanfiction were so perfect.

In conclusion: SQUEEE

I'm so mad this doesn't come out until fall because I want ALL MY FANGIRL FRIENDS TO READ IT.
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