Book Review: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Saturday 14 May 2016





At the end of 2015, I finally got around to reading Fangirl and it very quickly turned into one of my all-time favorite books. The characters and writing is just amazing. Plus everything about the main character Cath is so relatable, especially the love she has for her fandom: Simon Snow. I was really intrigued by the short inserts of Cath's fan-fiction we got throughout the book and wanted to read more. Which is exactly what got me to buy Carry On and dig into it as soon as I could. I had heard a few mixed reviews about the book, but I always figure that everyone's taste is different and I wanted to give it a go anyway




What I loved
 Being a Harry Potter-like story I found the whole plot to be really comfortable and easy to get into. The castle that becomes home, magic everywhere, even breakfast in a great hall, it brings back that feeling of being at Hogwarts. It wasn't a push to understand a magical world, yet it's different enough from Harry Potter to be interesting.

The writing is quite fun and playful with Simon stopping to make little remarks every now and again. I also loved the separate chapters for the different characters and to see their view of Simon. It's like if we got to read Harry Potter from Hermione and Ron's perspective (how cool would that have been!?)

It really does have that fanfiction feel to it, where the characters can swear and say what they want. The chapters can feel a bit pieced together, but it makes sense when you remember that Cath is writing it a chapter a time.

Baz was by far my favorite character. He's sarcastic, confident, and even though he has his issues, I still love how he handles situations. Him and Simon make such a great duo, and the team meeting scenes with Penny are always chatty and hilarious with their three strong personalities.




What I didn't like so much 
 One of the only things I didn't like was that Simon was a pretty whiny guy at the start. He complained about A LOT which got annoying, but when Penny called him out on it a few times, I knew it wasn't just me. Some of his comebacks are quite funny, so he grew on me by the first half of the book. He got better in the second half as things got more serious and the different relationships changed. I can see how some people might find him annoying, but he made up for it in the end.

Agatha wasn't a character I particularly enjoyed, to be honest. She's kinda like the Lavender Brown from Harry Potter in this story. In saying that, even she questioned her place in Simon's story a few times (I always appreciate breaking the fourth wall.) She did make me like and appreciate the other characters a lot more for their humor and courage. I feel like that was her role all along.



 I definitely got  more addicted to this book as I got further through it. The characters really grow on you and I really wish we had the actual books to this series. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't mind reading another fantasy series like Harry Potter!

I would give it 3 & 1/2 stars out of 5.
It's definitely worth reading if you loved Fangirl and want a bit of light fantasy to read. I'm really glad that I picked it up and I'm really excited to go back and re-read Fangirl and understand more about the Simon Snow series that Cath always talks about in the book. I feel like I know the characters a lot more now, so it would be fun to see how my opinion matches hers.


Have you read Fangirl or Carry On? What did you think?
Steph x.

12 comments :

  1. I haven't read any of these, however they have been on my list for a while. Your post made me want to pick them for my next read.

    Love,
    JULIE || cuteiinstgram.blogspot.com

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    1. You will LOVE Fangirl! I could read it again and again. Let me know if you decide to pick them up : )

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  2. I read this too and liked it! I thought it was way too similar to HP, but, like you said, it made me comfortable with the setting. Baz was my favorite character too! I started liking the book a lot more once he appeared.

    Amelie | A Wanderer's Adventures

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    1. Awesome! I had heard some bad reviews, so I'm happy to hear you liked it : ) Yes! The first 1/4 of the book I was like "Where is BAZ!?" I loved him too.
      Steph x.

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  3. I actually think I would enjoy this because it sounds like a book you can really escape to! Also, I can't help but notice how awesome your book shelf is :) xxx

    Sam // What I Know Now

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    1. You would like it, I'm sure. It's great for zoning out with some quirky characters. Aw thank you so much! I'm never happy with how it looks, but thanks! : )

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  4. This was a great review. The minute you said it's comparable to Harry Potter, I immediately knew I had to get this one. I'm a big fan of "Eleanor & Park"

    www.wildfirecharm.com

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    1. Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. Haha yeah it has that comfy Harry Potter feel to it, so you can just jump right it. It's great! I need to read Eleanor & Park, I've heard great things about it.
      Steph x

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  5. I read Fangirl & absolutely loved it! :) Carry On has been on my list of books to read for a while now, I definitely want to get it soon cause it sounds like a story I'll enjoy x

    Sara / AboutLittleThiings

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    1. Fangirl is amazing, right? One of my all-time favs. Let me know if you like it : )
      Steph x.

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  6. I adore Fangirl! One of my all time favourite books. I am so scared to read Carry On because I don't want it to ruin one of my favourite authors. Have you read her other books? Is Carry On a let down compared to them? -Jess/ http://readbyjess.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Agreed! It's so good. Fair enough, I had the same anxiety. I think I would find it hard to ruin Fangirl. I haven't read any of her other books, but really want to because I've heard great things. Sorry I can't compare them for you! If you really enjoyed Simon & Baz in inserts, then you should give it a go : )
      Steph x.

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