Book Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released: September 10th 2013
Review Source: Purchased

In Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl, Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

A New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of 2013

Fandom: The community that surrounds a tv show/movie/book etc. Fanfiction writers, artist, poets, and cosplayers are all members of that fandom. (Urban Dictionary).

Before I begin this review, let me point out I am a fangirl myself. I fangirl about almost every fandom out there: Harry Potter, Twilight, The Hunger Games, etc. I’ve done many fan events and world premieres and I know how addicting fandom can be. It can consume you entire world without you noticing.

This book captures every fandom out there perfectly. I love how when reading this book I felt related, part of it.

Cath is Simon Snow fan. Her whole world revolves around Simon Snow fandom, Wren and her father. Let’s not forget to mention that she also writes Simon Snow fanfictions. When moving to college, her twin sister Wren, decides to put distance apart. Cath feels abandon and is not a fan of meeting new people. Now with a new stranger as roommate, Cath tries to hide in her shell, but this becomes really hard with her roommate’s boyfriend, Levi.

Not only did Rainbow did an amazing job at capturing the life of a fangirl but I love how she manages to teach us that it is okay to be a fangirl. People can be judgmental, but those who really love and care for you will be okay with you being obsessed. I love Cath and I love how she remains truthful to herself. If you are a fangirl, of any fandom, this is a book you must read. Thank you, Jenn from Books and Swoons for recommending this book.