Loved it – in fact, loved it so much I went back and re-read it and also bought all the graphic novel versions (it was turned into a 4-part graphic novel series) eagerly! I’d heard of Rainbow Rowell before, thanks to the success of her book Eleanor & Park, but, as I did with Solitaire, I didn’t connect the dots. I picked this book up because of the fanfiction angle. With fanfiction being a core component of my WIP Fandom, I figured it would be a good way to see how it’s handled in fiction like this.
Rainbow did an amazing job of dropping in occasional snippets from the different fanfictions Cath (Fangirl’s main character) is writing, which were fun to read. And apparently, Rainbow has also written the books the fanfiction is based on, or the fanfiction itself, as novels. Not sure which one it is, but I will eventually pick up Rainbow’s other books, like Carry On, to see more of that story.
Back to Fangirl, well, there is so much relatability in there as someone who was also an awkward teen that loved reading and writing in high school, I truly related to Cath. I didn’t, however, grow up with an identical twin sister (Wren) who was my soul sister, then decided to become a typical college party girl and leave me behind, so I can’t relate to that part, although I did enjoy the emotional journey between the sisters – especially when the absent mother reappears.
The part of this book that made it so addictive for me was the love story between shy, awkward Cath and Levi, the slightly older, seemingly cooler ex and friend of her dorm roommate, Reagan. At first, Cath ignores the interest Levi obviously has in her (I can relate to that; I never believe the men I’m interested in are into me) because she thinks he and Reagan are still a couple. When he makes a proper move, and Reagan confirms they’re no longer together and he’s fair game, well, that leaves Cath with no more excuses not to get together with Levi.
I love how sweet this love story is, and it really is what keeps me coming back to this book and also diving into the graphic novel series. There is some more emotional upheaval first when her dad has a bipolar episode that triggers Cath’s caretaker mode, and she thinks of leaving school to stay home and care for him. Thankfully, her father is a good dad and won’t let her. Then her sister Wren’s partying finally catches up to her, and she ends up in the hospital, causing an awkward interaction for Cath with her long-absent mother, whom she has no interest in getting to know. But this episode does reconnect Wren and Cath and also helps their father realise that Wren needs proper help and that the rebellion she was going through was harming her.
Add in some stress with schoolwork, including Cath struggling to write original fiction because she’s so used to writing fanfiction, and some betrayals, and you’ve got a good angsty young adult novel. A story that explores love, complicated family dynamics, new relationships and being away from home for the first time whilst developing your own unique identity – especially as a twin – that will make you fall in love with Cath (and Simon Snow IYKYK).