Suicide Reviews: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

  

Synopsis: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white-striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Reves, and it is open only at night. 

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Amidst the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone from the performers to the patrons hanging in the balance. 

Date Published: September 13, 2011

Published By: Anchor

Number of Pages: 512

Rating: 4/5

Fantasy and romance fans have been raving about The Night Circus ever since it was first published so I'm surprised it took me so long to pick it up. It has everything that could attract me as a reader: magic, dueling magicians, magic, a mysterious circus, magic, romance, and, oh yeah, magic!

Based on reviews I had a certain idea of what the plot would be and how the story would unfold. However, my preconceived notions were completely blown away. I had the notion that it would be a lot like The Prestige (you know, that movie where Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman try to kill each other with magic tricks) but with maybe more of a romantic flavor. Sure, both of these stories have the dueling magicians plotline in common but the similarities end there. 

First of all, Celia and Marco are hardly ever together. Celia works her magic within the circus, while Marco works from outside. So they don't get a lot of face time. Yes, they have a few stolen romantic moments, which are quite nice, but I found the love story felt sort of stifled because of the distance between the two characters. The romance simmers beneath the surface almost the entire book until it boils over in the climactic ending. So readers wanting a fast-paced, passionate romance won't find it here. Still, I think it worked in the story overall. 

Speaking of slow pacing, the entire story doesn't really get off the ground until about 200 pages in. I feel the author was taking her time fleshing out the characters and the plot to achieve a more dramatic effect at the end but there were times when I really wanted the action to pick up. I suppose I expected dueling magicians in the sense of like, wizard duels in Harry Potter but instead, Celia and Marco compete by building more and more extravagant exhibits for the circus. So, it's pretty light on action, too.

Okay, this is beginning to sound like I didn't enjoy the book at all. I actually really did like it (hence the 4/5 rating.) It was just different from what I expected.

The thing I enjoyed most about the book was the lyrical, vivid writing. Erin Morgenstern is a magician with words, weaving enchanting images that play out in the reader's mind like a movie. I could smell the popcorn, feel the canvas tents, see the incredible illusions being performed. Her imagination is truly staggering and, with descriptions like that, I don't begrudge her the 500 page count at all. 

The Night Circus is a magical reading experience and I'm so glad I finally got around to reading it. Some people want there to be a sequel but I think it works perfectly as a stand-alone novel. I would kill to see a film version, though. 

Suicide Reviews: The Winner's Curse (The Winner's Trilogy #1) by Marie Rutkoski

  

Synopsis: As a general's daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. 

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin's eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him - with unexpected consequences. It's not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner's Curse is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Date Published: March 4, 2014

Published By: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Number of Pages: 355

Rating: 5/5

I am completely in awe of this book. It is everything I'm looking for in a romantic historical fantasy. The world-building is incredible, the characters are well-rounded and complex, and the writing is beautiful and lush.

Marie Rutkoski has managed to create a realistic fantasy world of astonishing complexity and depth. The two warring nations, the Valorians and the Herrani, each have their own separate cultures, histories, and languages. The world is so incredibly imaginative that I can feel the history lurking beneath the surface even if it isn't spelled out on the page. This is the kind of world-building that sucks you in and immerses you until you feel as if the story can't possibly be fiction - it must be based on fact. I think that's what every fantasy author strives to do and Marie Rutkoski has mastered it brilliantly - she even makes it look easy.

Kestrel might just be my new favorite heroine in YA fantasy literature. What I love most about her is that, unlike some YA heroines, she is unskilled with using weapons. She's not totally inadequate - she does know how to defend herself. But let's just say Katniss Everdeen could teach her a thing or two about how to use a bow and arrow.

Kestrel has different strengths- for one, she is incredibly smart and tactical. She assesses situations, analyzes her enemies, and uses her wits to gain the upper hand. She's not particularly romantic - which makes it so much more satisfying when she realizes that she has feelings for Arin.

The love between Arin and Kestrel is nowhere near instantaneous - Arin hates Kestrel at first, and everything she represents. Kestrel has her own prejudices about the Herrani but gradually overcomes them as she gets to know Arin. Both Arin and Kestrel are loyal to their respective tribes which makes the love between them even more devastating - they must choose between their love for each other and their loyalty to their people.

The ending is spectacular, wrapping up the first book perfectly but still leaving things open-ended enough for the sequel. I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book.

The Winner's Curse is perfect for fans of romantic fantasy - it's a complex, heartbreaking story that will leave you wanting more. If you loved Kristin Cashore's Graceling series, you'll love The Winner's Curse.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Bookish Resolutions for 2016

 

1.) I resolve to read at least 100 books this year. I'll be keeping track on Goodreads. 

2.) I resolve to get caught up on Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass series. I loved A Court of Thorns and Roses and want to read all of her books so I can read them as they are released. 

 

3.) I resolve to attend more bookish events in my community this year. (Poetry readings, philosopher cafes, book festivals, etc.) I'd really like to meet more bookish people and get out of the house more.

4.) I resolve to support my local independent bookstores by purchasing from one of them at least once every two months.

5.) I resolve to spend less time on social media and more time reading. (No more mindlessly scrolling through Pinterest!)

6.) I resolve to join a REAL-LIFE book club this year. (Not just online ones!)

7.) I resolve to ALWAYS read the book before seeing the movie.

8.) I resolve to return to writing fiction and send at least one piece of writing out for publication.

9.) I resolve to tell an author if I love their book (through Twitter, Instagram, etc.) Also, to write a hand-written letter to my favorite author, J.K. Rowling.

10.) I resolve not to be personally offended if someone doesn't like one of my favorite books. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly tag originally created by The Broke and the Bookish.

Suicide Reviews: The Miniarturist by Jessie Burton

  

Synopsis: On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office - leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marian.

But Nella's life changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist - an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways...

Johannes's gift helps Nella pierce the closed world of the Brandt household. But as she uncovers its unusual secrets, she begins to understand - and fear - the escalating dangers that await them all. In this repressively pious society where gold is worshiped second only to God, to be different is a threat to the moral fabric of society, and not even a man as rich as Johannes is safe. Only one person seems to see the fate that awaits them. Is the miniaturist the key to their salvation...or the architect of their destruction? 

Enchanting, beautifully written and exquisitely suspenseful, The Miniaturist is a magnificent story of love and obsession, betrayal and retribution, appearance and truth.

Date Published: August 26, 2014

Published By: Ecco

Number of Pages: 400

Rating: 4/5

The Miniaturist is one of those books where I ended up reading a completely different story from what I was expecting. This seems to be happening a lot lately. (For my review of another unexpected story, see here.)

I was under the impression that Nella, a newly-married woman would end up having an affair with the Miniaturist, an artist who specializes in crafting miniature replicas.

Nope. Not even close.

Instead, The Miniaturist is a story of family secrets, gold, God, and betrayal. It's all very intriguing, actually, and I was pleased by the unique storyline. It has a bit of magical realism feel to it as well which makes the story all the more fascinating. Just who is the elusive Miniaturist? And just how much power does this mysterious figure have over Nella's life?

The Miniaturist seems to be well-researched and gives us a glimpse into 17th-century Dutch society. I loved how the author incorporated the infamous Dutch East India Company into her storyline. You might think the parts about trading and gold and guilds would be a bit dull but they're not. This is what I love about historical fiction - being able to travel back in time and get an idea about the way things were - and marvel at how much things have remained the same.

Jessie Burton writes beautifully, every sentence a polished gem. Her words flow like poetry, making every scene richer and more atmospheric. The vividness of her images helps to transport the reader even deeper into her world. Sights, sounds, smells, tastes - all are rendered so convincingly that I could almost feel the bitter wind of winter or taste the sugared marzipan.

If you're a historical fiction fan, or just have an appreciation for lyrical writing, I strongly urge you to give The Miniaturist a try.

January 2016 Reading Wishlist

 January 5

Passenger (Passenger #1) by Alexandra Bracken

  

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

A time travel romance that sounds like the YA version of Outlander. 

Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1) by Susan Dennard

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

In the Witchlands, certain people are born with a 'witchery' a magical skill that sets them apart from others. This sounds similar to the Graceling series and with a blurb from Sarah J. Maas, I am really looking forward to this one. 

Endure (Defy #3) by Sara B. Larson

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

The third book in Sara B. Larson's Defy series. 

Thief of Lies (Library Jumpers #1) by Brenda Drake

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

A book about a girl who discovers the ability to jump to the world's most beautiful libraries. Throw in a love triangle and a wizard and this one is definitely going on my TBR list. 

Cruel Crown (Red Queen 0.1-0.2)

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Collects the two novellas in the Red Queen series. 

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Told from four different perspectives over the course of 54 minutes, this book chronicles the devastation of a school shooting.

The Children's Home by Charles Lambert

Genre: Horror

A mysterious group of children appear to a disfigured recluse and his county doctor and make bizarre discoveries in his crumbling mansion.

January 12

Bookishly Ever After (Ever After #1) by Isabel Bandeira

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Phoebe, who prefers fictional boys to real ones, attempts to emulate her favorite YA heroines when she discovers that Dev, a very real hot guy, might have a crush on her. 

This Census-Taker by China Mieville

Genre: Fantasy

A new novella from the master of New Weird fiction. 

The Invitation-Only Zone: The True Story of North Korea's Abduction Project by Robert S. Boynton

Genre: Non Fiction

Boynton explores the history of North Korean spies kidnapping Japanese citizens in the 1970s and '80s.

January 19

Sword and Verse (Sword and Verse #1) by Kathy MacMillan

 

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
In an oppressive kingdom where literacy is forbidden to everyone except royalty, Raisa, sold into slavery at a young age, is taught by her father to read and write in order to become a Learned One.

Shade Me (Nikki Kill #1) by Jennifer Brown


Genre: Young Adult Mystery
Nikki Kill can see the colors of emotions and certain situations thanks to a rare condition called synesthesia. When a popular girl from Nikki's high school is brutally attacked, Nikki must use her unique senses to unravel the mystery behind what happened.

January 26

The Love That Split the World by Emily Henry


Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Natalie Cleary must risk her future and leap blindly into a vast unknown for the chance to build a new world with the boy she loves.

Front Lines (Soldier Girl #1) by Michael Grant


Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction
An alternate history that re-imagines World War II with girl soldiers fighting on the front lines.

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders


Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction
A love story that combines fantasy, science fiction and the end of the world.

Scarlet Women: The Scandalous Lives of Courtesans, Concubines, and Royal Mistresses by Ian Graham


Genre: Non Fiction
I love sexy non fiction books like this!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases for the First Half of 2016

 

There are so many good books coming out in 2016, it's hard to narrow it down to just ten but I did my best! Tell me what books you're most looking forward to in 2016!

1.) Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

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Release Date: February 2

I fell in love with the Lunar Chronicles this year and was so sad to see it end. That's why I am so excited for this collection of short stories! 

2.) Glass Sword (Red Queen #2) by Victoria Aveyard

Release Date: February 9

I've yet to read Red Queen but this is a series I definitely want to be caught up on. I've heard a lot of good things about it so I hope it lives up to the hype!

3.) The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire #1) by C.J. Redwine

Release Date: February 16

All I know about this book is that it is a Snow White retelling and that there is some sort of dragon huntsman(!) in it. I cannot wait for this one!

4.) Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1) by Cassandra Clare

Release Date: March 8

I've only read City of Bones and that was a few years ago so I know I have a lot of reading to catch up on when it comes to Cassandra Clare but I always collect her books as they are released. Lady Midnight will be no exception. That cover is exquisite!

5.) The Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Trilogy #3) by Marie Rutkoski

Release Date: March 29

Another series I haven't started yet but will definitely be catching up on before the third and final book is released. So many people have been raving about this series and I'm dying to know what all of the fuss is about. (I'm really glad they settled that whole kerfuffle about the cover changes and I'll be able to have a matching set!)

6.) Half Lost (The Half Bad Trilogy #3) by Sally Green

Release Date: March 29

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN NATHAN AND GABRIEL!

7.) In the Labyrinth of Drakes (Memoir by Lady Trent #4) by Marie Brennan

Release Date: April 5

This series is about dragons and has some of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen. But I haven't read the other books in the series yet! I'm hoping to get around to it this year. 

8.) Soldier (Talon #3) by Julie Kagawa

Release Date: April 26

Yet another series about dragons that I haven't started. WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH ME?

9.) A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses #2) by Sarah J. Maas

Release Date: May 3

A Court of Thorns and Roses was one of my favorite reads of 2015 and quickly became one of my favorite books of all time. Right after I finished it, I staggered around the house shouting 'NEED MORE! MUST HAVE MORE BOOK! Needless to say, this is my MOST ANTICIPATED book of 2016. 

10.) The Last Star (The 5th Wave #3) by Rick Yancey

Release Date: May 24

I have a feeling this already-popular series will gain even more attention with the upcoming release of the film adaptation. The first one is still on my TBR list but I will definitely be reading it before I go see the movie.

Top Ten Tuesday is an original tag created by The Broke and the Bookish. Go check them out!

Suicide Reviews: Edge (Josh Cumberland #1) by Thomas Blackthorne

 

Synopsis: Britain, tomorrow. The Tyndall Corporation has sold the country to hell. They've countered escalating knife crime by legalizing dueling and made daily life into a reality TV show. The streets are red with blood. The skies are black with polluted horror. High walls have been built around Britain and endless winter is coming. 

There are only two people who can save us. This is their story.

Date Published: March 1, 2010

Published By: Angry Robot

Number of Pages: 380 

Rating: 3/5

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book. A futuristic dystopian society where knife fighting is legal?Count me in! I was expecting it to be a kind of Hunger Games style book, where the dystopian world was explored through the POV of a professional knife-fighter who has to kill people on live TV. 

That is not what I got. 

This book is about an ex-soldier, Josh Cumberland, who is hired by a rich guy to track down his missing kid, Richard. Richard is 'hoplophobic' which means he's afraid of knives, which is not very helpful if you're living in a society where people can challenge you to a duel at any given moment. He goes missing after his first therapy session with Suzanne, who was hired by Richard's father to rid him of his phobia. Suzanne and Josh team up to find Richard, end up falling in love and then decide to take down the government because they find out that the government is doing illegal, corrupt things. 

So the book wasn't what I was expecting it to be but it was still a pretty interesting read. I thought that the dystopian society was chilling and incredibly believable. In this society, people are monitored 24/7, lightning storms and floods are frequent due to global warming, and people are allowed to kill each other. So it's pretty scary and not at all far-fetched. What I liked was how the author snuck in little details that told you more about the society as a whole. For example, it's mentioned a couple of times that there are food stalls selling bugs to eat, along with regular food. This tells me that insects have become an accepted source of food in this world, most likely due to climate change. There are nutritionists today that say eating insects as an alternative source of protein is looking more and more likely in the near future. Thomas Blackthorne does a really great job of building a realistic future world based on our current society. 

While I loved the world-building, the plot itself left something to be desired. I kind of felt like it was all over the place and didn't have a specific focus. The climax really isn't climactic because it doesn't feel like the book has been building towards it. I think the story might have been more successful if the author had explored just one aspect of his dystopian society in depth, instead of trying to encompass all of it. 

Despite a few quibbles, Edge is an interesting take on the dystopian novel and I am interested enough to check out the sequel. 

Book Review: Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Yes, I did it. I read the infamous Fifty Shades of Grey, the first book in E.L. James' erotic trilogy. To be perfectly honest I did attempt to read this book when it first debuted in 2011. But I just couldn't do it. I got maybe halfway through before I gave up.

Now that the movie version has just been released, I resolved to read the entire book before I saw the film. And my review can be summed up in a single sentence:

This book woudn't be so bad if everything about it was completely different.

Don't get me wrong: I love erotica. I've been reading it since I was a teenager. For me, good erotica should be fun, sexy, and titillating. Unfortunately, Fifty Shades is not any of those things.

Let's start with the two main characters: Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. Ana is the most naive character I have ever come across. She doesn't seem to know anything about sex. She's never kissed anyone, touched herself, touched anyone else, or even had a wet dream. I'm not against innocent, virginal characters but this is just ridiculous. In the 21st century, even if you're a virgin, it is almost impossible to go through puberty without at least thinking about sex. Sex is everywhere in our culture. The only explanation for Ana's innocence is that she time-traveled from an earlier era. Like the Victorian era. 

But of course, that all changes once she meets billionaire bad boy Christian Grey. Now I know that there are a lot of women (and I'm sure some men too) who think Mr. Grey is the epitome of the tortured, romantic male hero. I just don't get it. He's misogynistic, abusive, controlling, and emotionally unavailable. Everything is about him and his needs. Ana spends the entire book trying to please him, trying to figure out how to give him what he wants and he never seems to consider her needs at all. She protests the expensive gifts that he's giving her; he tells her she's overthinking things and should just be appreciative. She wants to have a serious discussion; he shuts down or distracts her by fucking her brains out instead. 

I'd like to point out that I have nothing against the BDSM community or people who like to experiment with their sexuality and express themselves in different ways. But this book is not about that. A sexual relationship between two (or more) adults should always be consensual. In Fifty Shades, Ana is unsure about the kind of lifestyle that Christian is into but she tries it because she wants to be with him and she's decided that it's the only way she can be with him. She's not doing it because she wants to. It seems Christian always has to coerce her into it. He says that she can walk away at anytime, but when she thinks she might leave (or even jokes about leaving) he immediately shows up and fucks her into submission. 

As far as plot goes, there really isn't one. It's basically Ana trying to decide what kind of relationship she wants to have with Christian and crying a lot because Christian doesn't care what she wants or needs. Oh, and there are a lot of repetitive sex scenes that aren't sexy. There was maybe one that I liked. 

The only thing that kept me reading was Ana's laughably bad inner monologue (or should I say dialogue since it consisted of her, Ana's 'subconscious', and her inner goddess.) But even the entertainment factor of the bad writing isn't enough to cover up the fact that this is a book about a woman being emotionally and physically abused by an emotionally stunted asshole. After a while it stops being funny and just becomes depressing. 

I will go see the movie because I am intrigued to see how this story will translate onto the big screen. And I will probably read the other two books in the series out of curiosity. Love it or hate it, Fifty Shades has become a cultural phenomenon and I think it's important to explore the message that this book sends out to readers. 

Book Review: And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

 

Synopsis: It begins in 1952. Ten-year-old Abdullah and his younger sister, Pari, are everything to each other. What happens to them, at the despairing hand of their father, will test the unshakable bonds of family and irrevocably change not just their own lives, but those of multiple generations.

     In this tale revolving around not just parents and children but brothers and sisters, cousins and caretakers, Khaled Hosseini explores the many ways in which families nurture, wound, betray, honor, and sacrifice for one another; and how often we are surprised by the actions of those closest to us, at the times that matter most. Following its characters and the ramifications of their lives and choices and loves around the globe - from Kabul to Paris to San Francisco to the Greek island of Tinos - the story expands gradually outward, becoming more emotionally complex and powerful with each turning page.

I loved this book even though it broke my heart. Every chapter was so beautiful and moving and incredibly sad. But there was still a thread of hopefulness running throughout the entire story and it all ties together so beautifully at the end.

The book opens with a father telling a story to his son. The story is about a father sacrificing his own happiness so that his most beloved son could live in a land of paradise. I loved how the novel's plot drew parallels from the fairy tale and resonated throughout the book. Hosseini writes such lyrical sentences that at times, the book reads like poetry. There were several sentences where I had to stop and marvel at the way he put an idea into words. 

Ultimately, this book is about family and what we are willing - and sometimes, not willing - to do for the ones we love. It reminds us that we don't know how much time we will have with the ones we care most about and, even if we are apart from them, we will still love them and carry them in our hearts.

On the Nature of True Love: Inspired by The Fault in Our Stars

A bit spoilery. Maybe read TFIOS before reading this.

I recently reread The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. It is one of the most popular YA novels in recent years and is destined to become a classic. It is funny and heartbreaking and it is one of my favorite books of all time. But there is one part in the book that bothers me. It is when Isaac has just been dumped by his girlfriend and is talking to Hazel about true love:

' "I kept saying 'always' to her today, 'always always always,' and she just kept talking over me and not saying it back. It was like I was already gone, you know? 'Always' was a promise! How can you just break the promise?"

     "Sometimes people don't understand the promise they're making when they make them," I said.

     Isaac shot me a look. "Right, of course. But you keep the promise anyway. That's what love is. Love is keeping the promise anyway. Don't you believe in true love?"

     I didn't answer. I didn't have an answer. But I thought that if true love did exist, that was a pretty good definition of it. ' p. 60-61

'Love is keeping the promise anyway.'

When I read this part, I always think to myself, 'Um, no. No. Not even close.'

I can understand that some young people might think that this is a good definition of true love but when you think about it, it's actually a pretty poor one. 

Isaac's definition of true love isn't really about love at all. Isaac only says this because he wants his ex-girlfriend to have kept her promise to him. He feels that she owes it to him. I believe that true, unconditional love isn't about wanting anything from the other person. It isn't about holding them hostage because they made promises that they are unable to keep. Love is about accepting someone for who they are; it's about letting them go if they decide to walk away. Real love is nonjudgmental and contains no selfish wanting and no expectations. 

It is very clear that neither Isaac nor Monica know what true love is. Hazel's relationship with Augustus is closer to what true love really is. She's there for him until the very end, no matter how sick he gets. I suppose that's the point of the book. Isaac tries to define what true love is with words, while Hazel and Gus actually demonstrate it. 

So here's my definition of true love: 'Love is loving the person no matter what, even when they break their promise to you.'

So what do you think, my fellow bookworms? Do you agree with Isaac's definition? With mine? Totally disagree with both and have your own definition of true love? Let me know in the comments! 

Book Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

 

Synopsis: 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 sister, 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 it 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?

This book is for every fangirl (and boy) who has ever walked the earth. It is for everyone who has read or written fanfiction and one point in their life. It is for the people who ship their favorite characters together in a book or on a TV show. (Sherlock/John all the way). It is for anyone who has had to explain what shipping is to their less nerdy peers. I am guilty of all of the above. 

I loved this book. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it even made me swoon at certain points. I can really relate with Cath; she's bookish and shy and terrified of the future. But what really makes her standout is her love of Simon Snow. (The Simon Snow series is fictional and a reference to the Harry Potter series.) Cath's enthusiasm is so infectious that you almost wish the Simon Snow series was real. There are little snippets of the books and Cath's fanfiction throughout the book and Rainbow Rowell just makes it seem so real. 

Fangirls are often a derided group. We are portrayed as hysterical, obsessive, screaming nutcases with no life outside of our particular fandom. In some cases I suppose that's true. I, personally, would never want one fandom to completely take over my life. Besides I belong to too many fandoms to completely immerse myself in just one: I'm a Potterhead, a Fannibal, a Sherlockian (and a Cumberbitch), as well as a fan of the Hunger Games. (Do Hunger Games fans have a name for themselves? Tributes? That doesn't seem right...)

The point is that enthusiasm for something, especially a girl's enthusiasm for something is regarded as trivial. Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl says the opposite. Fangirls should be proud of what they enjoy in whatever form they enjoy it in whether that's reading or writing fanfiction, cosplaying, making fan art, etc. But it also carries the important message that there is life outside of the fandom and we fangirls should try to enjoy it, too.