Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

If three's a charm, then Rainbow Rowell has charmed herself into an auto-read for me, because I have loved every word she has ever written (well, I could do without the swearing, I suppose). But seriously -- she has yet to disappoint me. Fangirl is a fitting title for the book I'm about to rave about.

Cath and her twin sister, Wren, have always been a package deal. But when they go to college, Wren wants to room with someone else and assert her independence. She no longer shows an interest in spending time with Cath or working on fanfiction with her (if you're unaware: fanfiction is basically spinoffs of published works, unpublished but posted on fanfiction sites). As Wren explores her new life, Cath retreats further and further into her own fanfiction world -- but her new life just might manage to pull her out.

So here's what I love about Rainbow Rowell's books: Everything. But seriously, her writing is incredible. She is able to convey emotions in a uniquely-colored but totally relatable way, making her language both delightful and clear. Also, she has a good balance of humor and real life. It's kind of funny that Cath took a popular series (similar to Harry Potter) and made the two main characters fall in love with each other, and it's really funny the way she wears t-shirts all the time and has commemorative busts of them in her dorm room (much to the chagrin of her edgy roommate). However, she also deals with severe social anxiety (think eating nothing but protein bars for a month to avoid going into the cafeteria alone) and has some family issues that require her to act like much more of an adult than she is.

Rainbow Rowell also writes the most irresistible of leading men. Every one she's written about has been a "nice guy" that has warmed my heart, and Levi is no exception. Don't get me wrong -- none of them are perfect -- in fact, they all commit some actions that made me cringe -- but they are all redeemable.

Another element of Fangirl that I really enjoyed was that it was set in college. Over the last few years, there has been an outcry in the blogosphere for "New Adult" books -- books written about young adults in their late teens and early twenties, navigating the choices that come with college and early career. I've noticed that NetGalley has recently added a New Adult section, but every book I've seen there has basically been about sex. While sex is an important issue during those years, I don't think it is the complete focus of most young adults' lives -- there is more to write about. Fangirl deals with it, but it isn't what the book is about. I liked that it was a realistic book about a person in college.

Well, I think I've made my point. Excuse me while I go off to write fanfiction about Cath and Levi now. Ahem. (Oh, and one more side point -- I wish that I could read the Simon Snow books in real life. Even though they are basically making fun of the Harry Potter books with perhaps a smidge of Twilight thrown in -- I would enjoy them. Any fanfic writers want to put that together for me? Shoot me an email. :) )

5 stars

Warnings: Language, thematic issues (mental health, drinking)

The Slammed Trilogy by Colleen Hoover

The Slammed trilogy by Colleen Hoover is a chronicle of the relationship between Will and Layken, neighbors who share tragic similarities in their family situations and who also experience quite a bit of turmoil in their relationship. The series is pretty unique and I don't want to give too much away, so just know these things:

* Will and Layken's relationship is forbidden, which makes them crazy
* A lot of their relationship develops around poetry slams
* Their families will break your heart
* If you don't listen to the Avett Brothers, you will.

There are several things that I really loved about this series as a whole. First of all, I think Hoover did an excellent job of conveying the emotion that each character felt in a very true way. They didn't always handle difficult situations with grace; in fact, for the most part each character was a complete mess when disaster struck. However, to me that is very real, and made the books much more relatable. While I'm on the subject of the characters relatability, let me also mention that the books are filled with inside jokes that develop throughout the series, which makes the characters and their lives seem so real. They have funny little terms for situations and experiences (an example would be "basagna," otherwise known as lasagna as pronounced by a little kid, and a portent for evil). While these books are in no way fantasy, the closest approximation I can come up with that describes what Colleen Hoover does is "world-building." These characters exist in their little universe in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and she brings the reader in effortlessly. We know what they are thinking, how they will react to certain situations. I found myself bracing for certain tense situations as if it was my own life. These books definitely wrap the reader up in their world, and definitely elicit tears along the way.

My list of complaints is short. First of all, it is a little bit unbelievable that Will and Layken's personal situations were so similar. While I appreciated how it brought them closer, it was a little hard for me to suspend disbelief at that one aspect of their lives. It wasn't enough to turn me off the book, but it did niggle a bit. Secondly, you could almost skip the last book. There is some new information in it, but for the most part it is a rehashing of Slammed, only from Will's point of view. The last scene brought me to tears, and there were a few choice bits of information that had been left out of Slammed, but for the most part the book was not very satisfying. However, overall this series was moving and an excellent reading experience.

Slammed: 4 stars

Point of Retreat: 3.5 stars

This Girl: 3 stars

Warnings (for the series as a whole): Detailed makeout scenes, language