Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Published: September 10th, 2013
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 438
Format: Hardback
Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan.... But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she's really good at it. She and her twin, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fanfiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go. She doesn't want to.

Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend; a fiction-writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world; a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words...and she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

First off I want to start by saying that: I liked this book enough to give it four hearts (or stars, whichever you prefer), but not enough to give it five. While a lot of people often place this at the top of their Rainbow Rowell favorite list, it is not on mine, because I had a few problems with this book. Here are the things I didn´t enjoy that much: First of all, I found that I was kind of bored by all the fanfiction and to be completely honest I often skipped over the longer parts of fanfiction simply because I cared more about the actual story. Secondly, I thought that Cath was a little bit annoying at times, but I still did really enjoy her as a character.

Now on to the positives, I found the read to be very enjoyable despite the things I mentioned above. I loved Levi, I thought he was so sweet and lovable and I also really liked Reagan. The plot was enjoyable and I found Cath to be quite relatable in some ways (while in others not so much). The relationship between Levi and Cath is really sweet and I loved reading about them, they are just so good together. I also found that the more serious side to the story with Cath and Wren´s homelife was very interesting and Rainbow Rowell delivered once again. I like her books because they are so true. Just like Eleanor and Park, this book has a serious and very interesting element and I thoroughly enjoyed that.

Overall I found it to be a good read, just not the best and that is totally fine.

“Underneath this veneer of slightly crazy and mildly socially retarded, I'm a complete disaster.” 

“Happily ever after, or even just together ever after, is not cheesy,” Wren said. “It’s the noblest, like, the most courageous thing two people can shoot for.” 

“And sometimes you held somebody’s hand just to prove that you were still alive, and that another human being was there to testify to that fact.” 

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Published: July 9th, 2013

Publisher: Speak

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 338

Format: Paperback

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Lola Nolan is a budding costume designer, and for her, the more outrageous, sparkly, and fun the outfit, the better. And everything is pretty perfect in her life (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the negihborhood. When Cricket, a gifted inventor, steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

If there is one thing I love reading when I´m having a bad day - it is Stephanie Perkins´ books. The pages of Lola and the Boy Next Door were filled with sweet words and wonderful characters. I loved every minute of reading this book, it´s just too bad it isn´t longer because I would love love love to read more about these two lovebirds. I loved how original and completely herself Lola is, her style and her personality. I also enjoyed the fact that none of Stephanie Perkins´ characters are perfect, they are all beautifully flawed in their own way and it is wonderful.

Now. Let´s talk Cricket. Because he might just be perfect. I loved Cricket and I still think about him sometimes, even though it´s been quite a while since I actually finished the book. He is just a sweetheart and you have to love him.

Another aspect of the book that warmed my heart was seeing Anna and St.Clair again, they are still as cute as they were in Anna and the French Kiss, and I can´t wait to see them again in Isla and the Happily Ever After. All in all yet another wonderful read from the mind of Stephanie Perkins.