Fangirl

Rowell, Rainbow. Fangirl. 2013. 438p. ISBN 978-1-250-03095-5. FIC ROW on the library shelves. This book has been nominated for a Flume Award in 2015.

Cather and Wren have spent all of their lives together. Inseparable as twins, they have followed the adventures of Simon Snow, one of the most popular book series in the world, and have become famous fanfiction writers in their own right, creating several alternate novels involving Simon and Baz, the evil character.

But as they head to college, Cat will not be Wren’s roommate. Wren feels like she needs her own life and needs some distance from Cat. Miserable, Cat moves in a dorm with Reagan, an intimidating junior. She also meets Levi, whom she supposes to be Reagan’s boyfriend. Still writing fan fiction, Cat participates in her classes but has a rocky relationship with Wren and her own roommate, Courtney. She connects with Nick, a fellow writer in her Fiction class.

As the semester advances, however, Cat’s life becomes complicated. Her father’s mental health begins to break; Wren is ignoring Cat and is out drinking just about every night; her writing relationship with Nick is complicated; she’s scared of Reagan; and she doesn’t know how she feels about Levi.

Cat and Wren’s mother ran away when they were eight, and now Cat has abandonment issues. Her only true friends are Simon and Baz, and now that she’s been abandoned by all, Cat must make a difficult decision. Will she live her life and explore what Levi has to offer, or will she remain in her Simon Snow fantasy world?