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lri_reads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I thought the book was really good! I didn’t really see the point of all the Simon content before each chapter, I didn’t really understand how it related to each chapter but maybe I just wasn’t paying enough attention to it. There were some little things that I felt took away from the ability to be immersed into the story and connect with Cath but I found her and the other characters relatable enough that it didn’t matter. Overall, I really liked this book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Minor: Violence and Vomit
canburky's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Trigger warning: mentally unstable family
Fun read, but it was hard for me to get through. Not enough character development for how traumatized some of the characters are.
Fun read, but it was hard for me to get through. Not enough character development for how traumatized some of the characters are.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Abandonment
katialena's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A good fluffy read if you want to explore how the character experiences their first year of university and how they navigate the new and changing dynamics in their life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Eating disorder, Infidelity, Vomit, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
lotteversteegen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Abandonment, and Alcohol
vgp's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a story of first times, of facing moving out of home and feel the oddity, of finding your people and falling in love. I devoured almost the whole book, except the last fifth or so, because all the plots were done and it felt they didn’t need any further development. I also got a bit bored with the fanfiction excerts writen by the main character, Cath, and the extracts from the book that inspired her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
natnurdock's review against another edition
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Abandonment
justinareads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Abandonment
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