Is Rainbow Rowell’s “Fangirl” Worth Becoming A Fan?

Fangirl is one of those books that I have seen on almost every booktuber and bookstagrammer’s bookcase. So many people recommended this book that I finally gave in and got myself a copy of the book. Now, I am a huge fan of Rainbow Rowell. And her book Eleanor and Park is one of the most special books that I have ever read in my life. So, I was somewhat sure that I am going to love this book as well. Also, I must confess I found the book cover really attractive. 

Fangirl (Review)

The protagonist of the book is a girl named Cath, who is a huge Simon Snow fan. And for her, being a Simon Snow fan is everything. That’s pretty much her entire life. She is quite an introvert and likes to be by herself in her Simon Snow world. Her twin sister, Wren, on the other hand, is just the opposite. She is a full extrovert and likes to socialize, party, and meet new people. When they were kids, both the sisters read the Simon Snow series over and over again, and that helped them to deal with their mother leaving them. They found refuge in reading the Simon Snow books. But eventually, with time, Wren grew away from the fandom, whereas Cath stayed committed. 

"For all those teenagers who are about to leave home to pursue higher studies, this book will prove to be not only relatable but also highly helpful, as it will give you perspective." Share on X

And now that it’s time for them to say goodbye to their home in order to begin a new life at their college, Wren decides to do it on her own and not with Cath. This leaves Cath pretty heartbroken since she has never been independent. She has always looked up to Wren in every area of her life. And now suddenly, she has to start living with some stranger as her roommate. I could completely feel Cath’s anxieties. And Rainbow Rowell did a stunning job at describing Cath’s mental space. For all those teenagers who are about to leave home to pursue higher studies, this book will prove to be not only relatable but also highly helpful, as it will give you perspective. 

Now, there’s not just one single theme in this book. Fangirl is about a lot of things. It’s about caring for your family, handling your freedom in a more responsible fashion, being emotionally independent, making new friends, trusting people, and so much more. Fangirl is a book that every teenager should read. It will give you perspective and make you feel like you are understood. I loved Rainbow Rowell’s approach in this book. She has incorporated so many different angles and elements so you can explore different perspectives of a teenager’s mind. 

However, there were some things that I didn’t like in this book. The most important thing that one needs to keep in mind is that if you are not a Simon Snow fan, this book will feel dragged for you as it felt to me. I had no idea about Simon Snow, and I was just so freaking clueless. Well, reading Rainbow Rowell’s previous book ‘Carry on’ which was all about Simon Snow is not at all a requirement to read Fangirl. But you know, when the protagonist keeps talking about these characters that you have no idea about, you feel a bit stupid. 

I also felt that this book lacks a soul. You know, sometimes, you read a book, and you connect with the characters on such a more profound level because there is this connection of souls. But while I was reading Fangirl, I just couldn’t create that bond with the book. I won’t call this book boring. In fact, this book is anything but boring. And Rainbow Rowell’s writing style is so interactive that you can easily visualize the entire story as if you are watching a movie. And yet, I found the characters so alien to me. There is this character Levi, who is Cath’s roommate’s boyfriend. And his character graph is so strange that I can’t even describe it. I couldn’t understand what was up with that guy. Anyway, I have mixed feelings when it comes to this book. Maybe, if I were a Simon Snow fan, then I would have enjoyed this book.

Anyway, I really liked Rainbow Rowell’s writing style. It’s really simple and perfect for beginners. I think Fangirl is a nice and fresh book. It’s not too intense. You can pick it up when you want to read something light. I recommend this book to teenagers. Teenagers will relate to the characters so much. And for fellow Rainbow Rowell fans, if you are expecting this book to be as good as Eleanor and Park, then you will be disappointed. This is definitely not Rainbow Rowell’s best! You can get the book here! 📖