From the Bookshelf of Challenge Corner…

Fangirl

Rainbow Rowell

Start date: June 1, 2019

Finish date: June 30, 2019

Discussion: Book of the Month

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What Members Thought

Mar 20, 2019 Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction rated it it was amazing

Shelves: new-adult, reviewed, cover-love, romance, favorites, own-physical-read, contemporary, uno-challenge

Disclaimer: This review MAY contain spoilers.

This book is bloody brilliant! Truly magnificent! I was so hooked on reading this that I took a sick day at work just so that I could finish reading it in one sitting.

I really connected with the main character more than most I read about. There were so many parallels between the main character, Cath, and myself that it felt like this book was about me or written specifically for me. I am from Omaha, Nebraska just like the main character and the autho Disclaimer: This review MAY contain spoilers.

This book is bloody brilliant! Truly magnificent! I was so hooked on reading this that I took a sick day at work just so that I could finish reading it in one sitting.

I really connected with the main character more than most I read about. There were so many parallels between the main character, Cath, and myself that it felt like this book was about me or written specifically for me. I am from Omaha, Nebraska just like the main character and the author so I got every single Omaha, Lincoln, or Nebraska reference. Every single place mentioned is one that I have been to. Cath even lived in South Omaha, a predominantly Mexican part of Omaha, which is where I have lived most of my life as well. The taco trucks, the blizzard/weather, the stores and gas stations, and restaurants mentioned, and even the bookstore that they all went to at the end of the book when the last Simon Snow book was released are all places that are real for me and that have meaning for me so I felt extra connected to the story and to Cath's character. Even the parts of Cath that had nothing to do with geography were significant for me. Cath's anxiety, her love for a book fandom, the fanfiction, her father's bipolar disorder, the way that Cath deals with her mother issues, just all of her is so like me that it's scary. I truly loved her character and her story.

The cast of supporting characters was so delightful. I loved each and every character in this story. Each character had a purpose and brought so much to the story. I love how flawed these characters were. Rowell had no qualms about making these characters as real as possible with imperfections, weaknesses, and bad habits. These are, of course, balanced out with very positive character attributes, but the inclusion of the not so good ones makes me appreciate the characters, the story, and the author even more. Most authors like to have what I refer to as shiny characters. Essentially, characters that are blindingly beautiful and can do no wrong. Perfect. And no one is perfect. This is one thing in literature that I think authors can struggle with because authors love their characters like their own children and can't bring themselves to portray them in a negative way. Rowell's characters felt extremely real.

A lot of contemporary YA stories have the same plots rehashed in different ways, but the plot of this story is utterly unique. And the story is truly captivating. It caters to nerds like myself. The story has a very beautiful and realistic portrayal of nerd culture. At least the facet of nerd culture concerning fanfiction. As a book nerd and a reader and writer of fanfiction myself, I felt the story very accurately illustrated this part of nerd culture. And it was so very exciting to read about it since it isn't something that I've seen done before. It is always empowering and invigorating to feel represented. And this book definitely represents me. Apart from the subject matter of the story, I also very much loved the sequence of events and the main character's journey. The story is told so beautifully and honestly.

Overall, I was really blown away by this book. It captivated me from the first page. Everything about it is magical. I have never reread a contemporary story before, but this is one that I know I will revisit in the future. I can now certify that I am a Rainbow Rowell fan for life. She has written a story that has truly left a mark upon my soul and has spoken to me unlike any book has before. This book is special and I urge everyone to experience its glory.

More reviews on my blog: Novel Nerd Faction ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Oct 09, 2013 Trisha rated it it was amazing

Oh, Rainbow Rowell, You are an amazing master at your craft. You absolutely dazzle me with your comfortable and easy words until I am so wrapped into the story, I actually feel the characters. When Cather was nervous, I was nervous. And when she hurt, I had pain so deep in my chest, I had to actually step away from the book for a whole day, because I wasn't sure I could take it.

And my deep affection for these characters completely took me by surprise. I mean, I thought I liked the story and I th ...more

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Feb 28, 2017 Susan rated it liked it

I really wish I had read this book before Carry On. I know they are 2 stand alone books, Fangirl and Carry On but for me I would have rather read this one then Carry On. I liked Fangirl but I didn't love it and I really wanted to love it like all the other reviews I had seen. Maybe it was over hyped for me. I liked the romance but Cath was very immature and really annoying. I LOVED Levi so much and I thought he was so sweet how he took Cath under his wing then fell in love with her. Don't get me ...more

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Mar 28, 2020 The Anxious Bookaholic rated it did not like it

Shelves: 2020-bookshelf, dnf

Not technically a DNF but words cannot explain how much I disliked this book. I am a proud YA, romance and fanfiction fan. So naturally any book that combines all 3 of those jump to the top of my TBR stack.
I can go in detail with all the things I disliked about this book: the writing, the world building, the absolute lack of character growth. I know some people will argue on that last one but come on. If this is acceptable character growth for you, please write to me so I can reconnect better b ...more

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