“I miss you."
"That's stupid," she said. "I saw you this morning."
"It's not the time," Levi said, and she could hear that he was smiling. "It's the distance.”Oh, Rainbow Rowell has just gone and made herself a comfortable seat on my list of favorite authors. First there was Eleanor & Park and now this. I don't want to give a lot away with this book, because I urge all of you to go and read this book so I'll keep it short.
Fangirl is about a girl named Cath Avery who is eighteen and has a twin sister called Wren. The story takes place with Cath and Wren moving to university, Wren decides she and Cath shouldn't share a dorm together and should instead meet other people, which is hard for Cath, because Wren is a lot more social and outgoing, and she's Cath's security blanket in a sense. So, already the idea of going to university is going to be difficult for Cath as well as sharing a room with someone that you don't know, that's incredibly daunting. Also, Cath has an obsession with the Simon Snow series, which becomes quite clear that it's the Harry Potter of this book. With that obsession comes along the fanfiction. Which also relates into Cath's university courses as she's on a creative writing course, though she struggles to create her own worlds and characters this is because, Cath is a hugely popular fanfic writer, with literally thousands of readers. The story goes across Cath's first year as a freshmen in university, throughout the year we're involved in Cath's school life, family life and love life, and it's so different from what she expects.
I cannot express how wonderful this book is, I cried at some points towards the end because this book just feels so familiar. From the fanfiction, to the anxiety Cath feels, from Reagan's sarcastic comments to the romance between Cath and Levi. Everything in this book is so real and will be so recognisable to anyone who reads it. I love how fanfiction is a huge platform for this book, I thought it was so great that we get to read fragments of Cath's writing. I am so thankful that fanfiction is apart of this book, it's something I used to love, now not as much because I don't have enough time to read it but it's so wonderful to see an author acknowledging readers who write fanfiction.
I love the realism of Rainbow Rowell's characters, it's something I hugely admire about her writing. As for me the reason why I stay interested in a book, why I will still be thinking of it in six months time is purely for the characters. After reading piles of dystopian books, it's so refreshing to come back to realistic characters.
I love our lead Cath Avery, I found myself relating to her on so many platforms. I've read a few reviews where people were saying Cath was ridiculous for being so shy, but to me Cath isn't shy, she clearly suffers from social anxiety, which I suffer from also so I hundred percent understand how she cannot just do something so simple to other people like ask for directions to the cafeteria. I know the absolute terror of even thinking of asking someone which way is which, or what to do or where to go, it's awful. And what's worse, like myself, Cath fully knows the degree of her anxiety, she knows how bad it is, it's so heartbreaking to see a character know how deep they struggle and have no control over it. I felt so proud of her when she goes with Reagan to the cafeteria. Cath is just a brilliant person, and I'm just so proud of this character's development throughout the book, how she doubted herself, wanted to quit but came out winning.
Oh, our male lead, Levi, a person who is all smiles. I love Levi, I don't read much books where a male lead is so polite, so chivalrous, it was such a delight to read. I love his relationship with Cath, I love how he torments her, he makes her comfortable around him. But just like realistic people, Levi makes mistakes, which he makes amends for.
I'm really happy a character like Reagen exists in this book because there are so many Reagen's in this world, I know myself, I'm incredibly sarcastic like her, but there are other aspects to her that I recognize in the people around me. I'm so glad she's in the book, because Reagen is such an important character, she's the one that encourages Cath—in her own way—to go to the cafeteria which is such a bold move for Cath, because after when Reagen is busy Cath goes on her own. I think Reagen is my favorite of this book, definitely she's just a great friend to so many.
I love the cover of this book, I know this is irrelevant, but I really do love a good looking book cover. It's nice to have a pretty cover, I've read some brilliant books that just have awful cover. But this book is adorable, I love the colours and how well the work together, also inside the book covers are little illustrations which is just the cutest and actually helps you picture the characters a lot more. There's also one in the back, which you shouldn't look at until the end or near the end.
I was pretty scared for the ending, I had previously read Eleanor and Park and worried this would have a similar ending. Not that Eleanor and Park had a terrible ending, there was just no closure with it and I understand that's in case Rainbow Rowell ever wants to continue their stories. But I was so thrilled with this books ending, it took me about three hours to compose myself because I was so thrilled with this ending. I want more of their story. I want more of Cath, Levi, Reagan and Wren. I really loved this book, it's such a wonderful, brilliant, coming of age book and I recommend it to anyone out there in search of a book that will make you laugh, cry and smile, because this book did all of that.
