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matrim's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Es un buen libro para una lectura tranquila. Siento que la protagonista no tiene mucho desarrollo y el drama que llega a ocurrir siempre se resuelve de forma rápida y no muy dramática, pero te deja con un buen sabor de boca.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Alcoholism
lchambers394's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Overall I liked it. I liked Cath and Levi and how pure and genuine their connection was. They were both likeable and complicated characters, enhanced by the other characters — especially Reagan and Wren. Cath and Levi were also incredible autistic and adhd representation. I liked the storylines and multimedia a lot and growing with Cath felt natural and hopeful. This book gave a space to all of us that get lost in books and to the wonderful fanfic writers that help us continue to enjoy them.
My main issue was the ending. It felt anticlimactic and rushed. For most of the book Cath’s fanfic was praised as just as valid as her uni work. So ending with an extract from her uni piece kinda undermined that. The ending and Cath’s conflict with Levi felt rushed and one dimensional. The message should have been that yes expanding your world is important, but it’s better to find a way to combine your new life and your authentic self. Cath’s fanfiction meant more to her than any uni piece and the climax should’ve been her finishing her greatest work, Carry On. I struggle to rate it lower, however, as I did really enjoy the majority of the book and I’m not mad enough at the ending for it to ruin it.
It was a personal and hopeful read, and I enjoyed it.
It was a personal and hopeful read, and I enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, and Alcohol
nafisa_tabassum's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Rainbow Rowell books have an irresistible charm to them - they romanticise the little things in life. The books tell us of familiar things - rebellious eyeliner, rural landscapes, a shared obsession with a loved one, horrible food habits at university - and makes it feel new and worth paying attention to. I think this ability of hers is most obvious in 'Fangirl'.
This is an intensely relatable book and made me cry. Cath is not like me at all, but she goes through coming-of-age stages that are timeless. The way her family is written is especially heartbreaking - there comes a stage in life where familiar relationships change and Cath portrays how hard it can be to adjust to that. Her relationship with her father is loving, but painful in a way that personally related to me and opened up old wounds.
The romance is a distracting and delightful highlight. The main guy is golden retriever, and I have never been able to resist fictional golden retriever men.
Lastly, Cat grows with her love for media and being a true geek - by her own definition, someone who would choose fiction and fantasy over reality any day - and doesn't force her or Wren to grow out of it. Instead, their loved ones participate in their interests. The novel takes fanfic as seriously as it should be, and shows the genuine art, love and dedication that goes into it. It understands girl geeks, which was refreshing.
I think this is my favourite Rowell book. I'll come back to it.
This is an intensely relatable book and made me cry. Cath is not like me at all, but she goes through coming-of-age stages that are timeless. The way her family is written is especially heartbreaking - there comes a stage in life where familiar relationships change and Cath portrays how hard it can be to adjust to that. Her relationship with her father is loving, but painful in a way that personally related to me and opened up old wounds.
The romance is a distracting and delightful highlight. The main guy is golden retriever, and I have never been able to resist fictional golden retriever men.
Lastly, Cat grows with her love for media and being a true geek - by her own definition, someone who would choose fiction and fantasy over reality any day - and doesn't force her or Wren to grow out of it. Instead, their loved ones participate in their interests. The novel takes fanfic as seriously as it should be, and shows the genuine art, love and dedication that goes into it. It understands girl geeks, which was refreshing.
I think this is my favourite Rowell book. I'll come back to it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Forced institutionalization
basementdweller's review against another edition
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Abandonment
Minor: Eating disorder
I was so disappointed with this book, but I dragged my way to the end in the hopes it would at least have a decent ending. It doesn’t. The MC never really learns how to fix her own problems or set boundaries. She starts off rather pathetic, and eventually become a little less pathetic…Plus half the book is filled with unnecessary Simon Snow passages.chaos_and_chapters's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts
findleydunn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Vomit, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
notsolocaltheatrekid's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction and Vomit
Minor: Sexual content
brontesauruses's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Levi best boy!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Abandonment
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
nonidude's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
There's not much I liked about this book which sucks because Rainbow has been so highly rated by people I know, and I have another of her books on my to-read shelf...
First off the writing was just weak; it had moments near the end where it got better, but overall - too many cringe moments. A couple examples...
"His eyes were that color you can't see in the rainbow. Indigo."
"Levi giggled. (Did guys 'giggle' or 'chuckle'? Cath hated the word 'chuckle.')"
"...leaning over her left shoulder. He smelled good. (Breaking news: Boys smell good.)"
There was also a couple moments in which the writing was very repetitive. One here where she restates things you mentioned just 10 pages earlier.
P. 231
"She started coming downstairs every morning when she heard the coffeemaker beeping. To check on him, to see him off.… Cath would make him breakfast while he ran—and after he ate and left for work, she'd fall back asleep on the couch. After a few days of this it already felt like a routine.... Cath would usually wake up again when Wren came downstairs or came home."
P. 242
"Their dad got up to jog every morning. Cath woke up when she heard his coffeemaker beep. She'd get up and make him breakfast, then fall back to sleep on the couch until Wren woke up."
Also, I thought this book talking about a fandom was supposed to be a spoof of Harry Potter - it's pretty clear from the way Rainbow talks about books, movies, the author, the plots, etc. and yet! Harry Potter is alive and well in this universe bc the characters mention it?? Weird...
My final complaint is on the characters - I personally didn't find them likable. There was a scene in which they talked about rape too lightheartedly. There's scenes in which the men seem to act chivalrous almost to the point of being offensive. Idk I just don't think I would hang out with any of them by choice (maybe the dad; he seems alright).
First off the writing was just weak; it had moments near the end where it got better, but overall - too many cringe moments. A couple examples...
"His eyes were that color you can't see in the rainbow. Indigo."
"Levi giggled. (Did guys 'giggle' or 'chuckle'? Cath hated the word 'chuckle.')"
"...leaning over her left shoulder. He smelled good. (Breaking news: Boys smell good.)"
There was also a couple moments in which the writing was very repetitive. One here where she restates things you mentioned just 10 pages earlier.
P. 231
"She started coming downstairs every morning when she heard the coffeemaker beeping. To check on him, to see him off.… Cath would make him breakfast while he ran—and after he ate and left for work, she'd fall back asleep on the couch. After a few days of this it already felt like a routine.... Cath would usually wake up again when Wren came downstairs or came home."
P. 242
"Their dad got up to jog every morning. Cath woke up when she heard his coffeemaker beep. She'd get up and make him breakfast, then fall back to sleep on the couch until Wren woke up."
Also, I thought this book talking about a fandom was supposed to be a spoof of Harry Potter - it's pretty clear from the way Rainbow talks about books, movies, the author, the plots, etc. and yet! Harry Potter is alive and well in this universe bc the characters mention it?? Weird...
My final complaint is on the characters - I personally didn't find them likable. There was a scene in which they talked about rape too lightheartedly. There's scenes in which the men seem to act chivalrous almost to the point of being offensive. Idk I just don't think I would hang out with any of them by choice (maybe the dad; he seems alright).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Vomit, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
megwilli's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Abandonment, and Alcohol