Fangirl

Hands down, this is my favorite coming-of-age novel, written by Rainbow Rowell. Protagonist Cath copes with anxiety, family problems, and being away from home at college for the first time, but I loved this book because it plays with Harry Potter tropes, another book that appeals to adults as well as teens. 

Cath is obsessed with a Harry Potter-like series called Simon Snow. Like Harry, Simon attends a school for magic and fights against evil, but he’s also in love with his roommate, a thinly veiled version of Draco Malfoy. 

Cath not only reads all the Simon Snow… show more.

First of all, any author by the name of Rainbow is already fantastic in my book. The story is engaging and well-written. Cath is the author of a ridiculously popular fanfiction and, on top of that, she’s heading to college. This book is popular for a reason, as the author depicts a strong main character who not only struggles to navigate the choppy waters of college life, but family life too by worrying about her dad. I sure love a main character with a big heart.

Fangirl hit really close to home: I’m a twin and I struggled with anxiety when I went to college while my sister seemed to thrive, just like Cath and her sister Wren. I related to Cath’s love of reading, writing, as well as to her social awkwardness and avoidance strategies as the best way to deal with anxiety. I was rooting for Cath to succeed in school and to grow as a person. In so many novels, the anxious person is portrayed negatively, as weak or crazy. Fangirl challenges that with a delightful story of success. It asks, why shouldn’t… show more.

Cath, a socially awkward fangirl who had always depended upon Wren, her outgoing twin sister, is unexpectedly on her own when Wren leaves her behind for solo college adventures. That forces Cath out of her comfort zone to interact with her larger-than-life roommate and, ultimately, the perfectly imperfect yet inexhaustibly patient love interest, Levi.

The unilateral disruption of sibling dependence propels Cath’s coming-of-age story. This witty, lighthearted character-driven story will leave you smiling.