Audiobook Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

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Carry On
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Narrated by: Euan Morton
Reading Level: Young Adults
Genre: Fantasy
Released: October 15th 2015
Review Source: Borrowed from Library

Simon Snow just wants to relax and savor his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest, and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he’ll be safe. Simon can’t even enjoy the fact that his roommate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can’t stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you’re the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savor anything. Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story — but far, far more monsters.

Carry On was an absolute blast to listen to! The characters, the shenanigans, the kissing, and all that melodrama, made for the perfect audiobook. Now that I've done two of Rainbow’s books on audio I can only assume the rest would be excellent as well (but definitely Landline).

Rainbow first introduced us to Simon Snow and moody Baz in Fangirl. Cath was a natural fangirl like most of us, obsessing over books, fictional characters, and just not being able to get enough of the story, which inevitably lead her to write fanfiction, Carry On, Simon. While Carry On is not written as Cath, it’s Rainbow exploring the world she touched on briefly in Fangirl and leading us to hilarious new fantasy world. Carry On takes the obvious parts out of some of our favorite stories, ahem the chosen one, and sets up a fantasy world with vampires, dragons, magicians, and the best spells ever. So our chosen one Simon Snow is entering his last year at Watford School of Magicks, which of course ensues all the drama that could possibly happen. First his arch nemesis/roommate, Baz, hasn’t shown up, which one would expect to be a blessing but Simon knows not to trust Baz, so he’s constantly looking over his shoulder, expecting the worst. Then his girlfriend breaks up with him, his magic is crazy uncontrollable, he’s super powerful, and you can see where this could pose an issue? And it doesn’t help that the Mage keeps him in the dark about basically everything, even if Simon is suppose to be his heir, ya more issues. So have fun with senior year Simon Snow and try not to get to killed!

“Just when you think you're having a scene without Simon, he drops in to remind you that everyone else is a supporting character in his catastrophe.” 

While I did mention that Carry On originated from Fangirl it is entirely a separate story. I have yet to be disappointed in a book by Rainbow, and I’m only missing Attachments, and Carry On was no different. The audiobook was a blast, the jokes were on point, the spells were fun, and the kissing was the best. Also, the swearing. Teens, especially seniors in high school, swear. It was almost refreshing, but I also have a sailor’s mouth myself.