Posted by Brian on Friday, Aug 9, 2013
Rainbow Rowell, author of the great "Eleanor & Park," has created another irresistible, Young Adult, coming-of-age book: "Fangirl" Cath is starting her freshman year of college, and she's more than a bit anxious. Her twin sister Wren doesn't want to room together. Their sometimes manic dad has never been alone, and that worries Cath. Instead of making friends, Cath would rather disappear into the world of Simon Snow (think Harry Potter), where she's very active and well known in the fan fiction community.
College also means boys: Lanky and smiley Levi, one her roommate's numerous boyfriends, is a constant fixture in her room, and Nick is her good-looking, fiction-writing class partner. On top of this, she has to confront her mom issues (she left when Cath and Wren were eight) and her sister's increasingly out-of-control drinking and behavior.
Funny and real, "Fangirl" is an excellent alternative to the glut of paranormal and dystopian options on the YA shelf. If you read "Eleanor & Park" by Rowell earlier in the year, "Fangirl" should be at the top of your "to-read" list. I cannot recommend this title enough.
Review based on an uncorrected digital galley.
About the Author
Brian works as the Senior Adult Services Librarian at the Iowa City Public Library.
After a series of novellas, we have our first full-length Murderbot novel, and it is fantastic. The novellas were always over too soon, so I'm pleased to say that a novel is a perfect fit for my favorite anti-social cyborg. If you haven't read any of these, I'd suggest starting with "All Systems Red." This is one of those series that just keeps getting better. This is great Sci-Fi! -Brian