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nancyboy's review against another edition
2.0
2 or 2.5 stars
If you like YA romances you will like this book, probably love this book, as most people do, this book just isn’t for me. I don’t like YA romances anymore, or at least most of them
The novel is essentially about a girl, Cath, who loves to write fanfiction and she falls in love with a guy.
This used to be one my favourite novels when I was younger and used to like YA romances. Now I just think its mediocre. I love books that have philosophical meaning and intent behind them or they try to do something interesting on top of having an amazing world, characters, and/or plot. I just don’t like YA anymore, if the book has no unique meaning or looks at YA life from a different angle, then the story and characters alone just don’t cut it for me anymore. I just don’t like how YA books are written, structured, and how characters and plot a presented/developed.
The only thing this book argued was that fanfiction is literature (I actually agree), everything else about the book was typical of a YA romance.
The book is just cliché and the target audience of the novel want it to be cliché and predictable. This book didn’t disappoint me, it did what it is supposed to, have two people fall in love and that’s it. It’s just not for me
If you like YA romances you will like this book, probably love this book, as most people do, this book just isn’t for me. I don’t like YA romances anymore, or at least most of them
The novel is essentially about a girl, Cath, who loves to write fanfiction and she falls in love with a guy.
This used to be one my favourite novels when I was younger and used to like YA romances. Now I just think its mediocre. I love books that have philosophical meaning and intent behind them or they try to do something interesting on top of having an amazing world, characters, and/or plot. I just don’t like YA anymore, if the book has no unique meaning or looks at YA life from a different angle, then the story and characters alone just don’t cut it for me anymore. I just don’t like how YA books are written, structured, and how characters and plot a presented/developed.
The only thing this book argued was that fanfiction is literature (I actually agree), everything else about the book was typical of a YA romance.
The book is just cliché and the target audience of the novel want it to be cliché and predictable. This book didn’t disappoint me, it did what it is supposed to, have two people fall in love and that’s it. It’s just not for me
nancyboy56's review against another edition
2.0
2 or 2.5 stars
If you like YA romances you will like this book, probably love this book, as most people do, this book just isn’t for me. I don’t like YA romances anymore, or at least most of them
The novel is essentially about a girl, Cath, who loves to write fanfiction and she falls in love with a guy.
This used to be one my favourite novels when I was younger and used to like YA romances. Now I just think its mediocre. I love books that have philosophical meaning and intent behind them or they try to do something interesting on top of having an amazing world, characters, and/or plot. I just don’t like YA anymore, if the book has no unique meaning or looks at YA life from a different angle, then the story and characters alone just don’t cut it for me anymore. I just don’t like how YA books are written, structured, and how characters and plot a presented/developed.
The only thing this book argued was that fanfiction is literature (I actually agree), everything else about the book was typical of a YA romance.
The book is just cliché and the target audience of the novel want it to be cliché and predictable. This book didn’t disappoint me, it did what it is supposed to, have two people fall in love and that’s it. It’s just not for me
If you like YA romances you will like this book, probably love this book, as most people do, this book just isn’t for me. I don’t like YA romances anymore, or at least most of them
The novel is essentially about a girl, Cath, who loves to write fanfiction and she falls in love with a guy.
This used to be one my favourite novels when I was younger and used to like YA romances. Now I just think its mediocre. I love books that have philosophical meaning and intent behind them or they try to do something interesting on top of having an amazing world, characters, and/or plot. I just don’t like YA anymore, if the book has no unique meaning or looks at YA life from a different angle, then the story and characters alone just don’t cut it for me anymore. I just don’t like how YA books are written, structured, and how characters and plot a presented/developed.
The only thing this book argued was that fanfiction is literature (I actually agree), everything else about the book was typical of a YA romance.
The book is just cliché and the target audience of the novel want it to be cliché and predictable. This book didn’t disappoint me, it did what it is supposed to, have two people fall in love and that’s it. It’s just not for me
chrys_marin's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars.
This book tells the coming of age story of Cath, an 18-year old who is just starting her first year of college. Her twin sister, Wren, who is also (or so Cath thought) her best friend, decided that she does not want to room with Cath and that they both should learn how to be more independent of each other. Cath, and introvert, is not pleased with Wren's decision. Moreover, Cath has a secret: she is the famous author of one of the most famous fanfictions of all times, Carry On, based on the popular fictional series "Simon Snow." But Cath will learn that there can be better things than just hiding in a fantasy world when he meets the charismatic and lovable Levi, a 21-year-old who is determined to make Cath notice him.
This story was lovable. I liked how the characters developed and subtlety changed throughout the story. And the relationship between Levi and Cath felt very real, it was a pleasure reading about how they went falling in love for each other.
The reason why I do not give this story 4 stars is because I was so tired and exasperated by all the fanfiction insertions throughout the story. I do not have anything against people who like or write fanfiction, but the problem is that the fanfiction Cath was obsessed with (a rip off of Harry Potter, if I may add) was of no interest to me, so I hated it when the story was interrupted to have long insertions of a chapter of a fanfiction that I couldn't have cared less about. It is not like we as readers had anything invested in the story of Baz and Simon. The book could have done without many of the extracts from that story. I ended up skimming those parts in the end.
That aside, it was a nice story and perfect for teenagers.
This book tells the coming of age story of Cath, an 18-year old who is just starting her first year of college. Her twin sister, Wren, who is also (or so Cath thought) her best friend, decided that she does not want to room with Cath and that they both should learn how to be more independent of each other. Cath, and introvert, is not pleased with Wren's decision. Moreover, Cath has a secret: she is the famous author of one of the most famous fanfictions of all times, Carry On, based on the popular fictional series "Simon Snow." But Cath will learn that there can be better things than just hiding in a fantasy world when he meets the charismatic and lovable Levi, a 21-year-old who is determined to make Cath notice him.
This story was lovable. I liked how the characters developed and subtlety changed throughout the story. And the relationship between Levi and Cath felt very real, it was a pleasure reading about how they went falling in love for each other.
The reason why I do not give this story 4 stars is because I was so tired and exasperated by all the fanfiction insertions throughout the story. I do not have anything against people who like or write fanfiction, but the problem is that the fanfiction Cath was obsessed with (a rip off of Harry Potter, if I may add) was of no interest to me, so I hated it when the story was interrupted to have long insertions of a chapter of a fanfiction that I couldn't have cared less about. It is not like we as readers had anything invested in the story of Baz and Simon. The book could have done without many of the extracts from that story. I ended up skimming those parts in the end.
That aside, it was a nice story and perfect for teenagers.
john_the_captain's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book and the whole Simon Snow universe.
It's a fun read and Cath's story as she matures and allows other people into her life (after years of being a recluse) is interesting.
Available free in all Irish Libraries
It's a fun read and Cath's story as she matures and allows other people into her life (after years of being a recluse) is interesting.
Available free in all Irish Libraries
kim_j_dare's review against another edition
5.0
Now that I've met Cath, I don't want to say goodbye to her. I can understand her reluctance to turn from Simon and Baz and take up her own life in the "real" world, because Rainbow Rowell has managed to hook me in to Cath's world and her family and friends in much the same way. I absolutely hated reaching the final page this afternoon. A beautiful story of sisters and parents and relationships and fanfiction and [b:Harry Potter Boxset|862041|Harry Potter Boxset (Harry Potter, #1-7)|J.K. Rowling|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1392579059s/862041.jpg|2962492]-esque stories and facing fears and finding wonderful things out about yourself. Highly, highly recommended.
soleilreads's review against another edition
5.0
Read multiple times:
1. June 2013
2. 2014
3. June 2016
1. June 2013
2. 2014
3. June 2016
mooonreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
onlyjessica's review against another edition
4.0
I honestly went back and forth so many times between 4 and 5 stars, not sure how to rate this book. It's probably closer to a 4.5 for me, but I absolutely loved it. At times it was almost too awkward to read, but that only made it easier to relate to. I also liked that fanfiction wasn't something Cath grew out of or was ashamed of; not only did her sister come around, she also got the boy she liked without compromising who she is as a person once.
kerameia's review against another edition
5.0
While I don't have the time that I'd need right now to post a full review of this book, I wanted to share some of my post-reading thoughts.
I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story--due largely, I think, to its characters. While the setting is average (freshman year of college in Nebraska) and the plot relatively relaxed, the very real, down-to-earth characters are what drives the story. Aside from that of the two main characters (Cather and Wren--by the way, say their names one after the other slowly. It took me a second to get it), there actually isn't much character development. However, that doesn't make the rest of the characters any less real. I empathized with Cather, my heart warms to Levi, I'm intrigued by and secretly want to be friends with Reagan, I roll my eyes and dismiss Courtenay...all in the context of dorm life. I felt/feel as though I got to know these characters throughout their experiences of getting to know each other, so that towards the end of the book I felt very reluctant to say goodbye.
One other thing: I read some opinions that this book would have been more successful had it developed the fandom aspect more deeply. Personally, I think that the book captures the spirit of fandom and its loyalty (with which I am partially familiar given my teeny-bopper days of writing boy band fanfiction. Cather's recollection of the different directions of "Simon Snow" fanfiction, her drive to finish her story before the last book is published, her and Wren's references to the online fandom, etc. are all details that painted a clear picture of what it means to belong to a hardcore, passion-driven, internet-based fangroup. There is one scene in particular, during which (DON'T WORRY, no spoilers!) Cather meets a fan of her (Cather) fanfiction and they gush together over the details of "Simon Snow etc," which felt so intimate and real.
I'd highly recommend this book. While it doesn't take itself too seriously, at the same time it does balance humour with some heavy concepts and a sprinkling of good ol' thematic substance (sister-sister relationships, family relationships, discovering/developing self-confidence, discovering/appreciating one's talents & abilities, etc.).
I have to say, I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story--due largely, I think, to its characters. While the setting is average (freshman year of college in Nebraska) and the plot relatively relaxed, the very real, down-to-earth characters are what drives the story. Aside from that of the two main characters (Cather and Wren--by the way, say their names one after the other slowly. It took me a second to get it), there actually isn't much character development. However, that doesn't make the rest of the characters any less real. I empathized with Cather, my heart warms to Levi, I'm intrigued by and secretly want to be friends with Reagan, I roll my eyes and dismiss Courtenay...all in the context of dorm life. I felt/feel as though I got to know these characters throughout their experiences of getting to know each other, so that towards the end of the book I felt very reluctant to say goodbye.
One other thing: I read some opinions that this book would have been more successful had it developed the fandom aspect more deeply. Personally, I think that the book captures the spirit of fandom and its loyalty (with which I am partially familiar given my teeny-bopper days of writing boy band fanfiction. Cather's recollection of the different directions of "Simon Snow" fanfiction, her drive to finish her story before the last book is published, her and Wren's references to the online fandom, etc. are all details that painted a clear picture of what it means to belong to a hardcore, passion-driven, internet-based fangroup. There is one scene in particular, during which (DON'T WORRY, no spoilers!) Cather meets a fan of her (Cather) fanfiction and they gush together over the details of "Simon Snow etc," which felt so intimate and real.
I'd highly recommend this book. While it doesn't take itself too seriously, at the same time it does balance humour with some heavy concepts and a sprinkling of good ol' thematic substance (sister-sister relationships, family relationships, discovering/developing self-confidence, discovering/appreciating one's talents & abilities, etc.).