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, 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 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?
Thoughts
This one is for the fanfic girls, the gamer girls, the introverted girls, and the book nerd girls. It’s for anyone who needs a reminder that we’re all works in progress. If there ever was a character that I wanted to give a hug to throughout the entire story, it’s Cath. This sweet soul was weighed down with family drama and the added burden of trying to find her stride as a young adult and talented writer. I found her story so relatable.
Rowell’s writing style made me feel invested in Cath’s journey. I truly cared about how things would turn out for Cath. I enjoyed the Simon Snow interruptions, which were such a presence in Cath’s world. And in the end, I was satisfied with some personal growth and small wins. I’m so happy I circled back to this story, which was first published in 2013.
Question
Do you read YA books?