Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (2016)

Title: Carry On

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Pages: 528

Published: Feb 25th 2016

Publisher: Macmillan

After reading Fangirl I was very excited to read Carry On as I wanted to know more about Simon. Simon is a fictional character whom Cath writes fan fiction about on the book Fangirl. During uni she writes the fan fiction "Carry On Simon" as if though it was the eighth book in the Simon Snow series (yet to be published). In Cath's version, Simon and Bas (his least favourite friend and room mate) have a romantic relationship, so naturally there are some Simon and Bas love scenes in Carry On and it's so so good!

I felt like Carry On was a bit of a parody of Harry Potter and Twilight. Simon is the chosen one and he attends a magic boarding school but it's much more relaxed and funny. It's absolutely hilarious. It's kind of a light hearted version.

I suggest you read Fangirl first, to get the background story of this book. If feel like it would be more appreciated that way. Even though the book is obviously by Rainbow Rowell, I felt like I was reading fan fiction by Cath and it was an amazing feeling.

Plot Summary:

Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who's ever been chosen
That's what his roommate, Baz says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he's probably right.
Half the time Simon can't even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor's avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there's a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon's face. Baz would be having a field day wit all this, if he were here - it's their last year at the Watford School of Magicks, and Simon's infuriating nemesis didn't even bother to show up.
- back of book

Favourite Quote:

'I didn't care if magic was real at that moment. Because roast beef and Yorkshire pudding are fucking real as rain.' - Simon

My Rating:

9/10

Other Books by Rainbow Rowell:

Fangirl
Carry On
Eleanor & Park
Landline
Attachments
Kindred Spirits
My True Love Gave To Me
Almost Midnight

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (2013)

Title: Fangirl

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Pages: 481

Published: Sep 10th 2013

Publisher: St. Martin's Press


The title itself got me hooked and after pointing it out in WHSmith I got it for Christmas. This book understands me! I've never felt so extremely okay with myself or generally understood by a book, author and character. When you're on your last year of school and preparing for uni all these fears and uncomfortable situations that Cath feels start haunting you. It's exciting and absolutely terrifying. I can say now, that after a year of uni, it really isn't that bad - it's awesome. But that doesn't stop those initial feelings, and if anyone understood those awkward thoughts that you feel like only you are feeling, it was Cath. That's apart from all the fangirling that is also totally relatable. I don't write or read fan fiction, but this book made you want to - I especially wanted some Cath and Levi fan fiction.

And don't even get me started on Levi. He is pure heaven. I always considered my favourite romantic hero to be Will Herondale from the Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare. I have officially decided to share that title with Levi. His new name is 'All-Time-Favourite-Young-Adult-Contemporary-Romantic-Hero-That-I-Wish-Was-Mine.' Not that I wan't him to break up with Cath. I totally ship them. I'm just saying I'd like a piece of that. And their first romantic scene is the best and cutest romantic  scene there ever was!

There is so much dialogue which is great cause I'm more of a dialogue person than a description person. They chat plenty, and it's funny to read. Why did this book end!? I read this while on holiday in Florida and I brought it along to everything. And I was laughing constantly - it's highly entertaining - to the point that my brother took it to read it after I had finished. I don't think he enjoyed the Simon Snow extracts as much as me though. Those extracts made me really desperate to know what was happening with Simon and you'll be pleased to know I've read 'Carry On' as well. I do recommend reading this book before 'Carry On', just because you will understand the nature of 'Carry On' better and appreciate it more I think.

Plot Summary:

Cath and Wren are identical twins and until recently they did absolutely everything together. Now they're off to university and Wren's decided she doesn't want to be one half of a pair any more - she wants to dance, meet boys, go to parties and let loose. It's not so easy for Cath. She would rather bury herself in the fan fiction she writes where there's womanise far more intense than anything she's experienced in real life.
Now Cath has to decide whether she's ready to open her heart to people and new experiences, and she's realising that there's more to learn about love than she ever thought possible...
A tale of fan fiction, family and first love
-back of book

Favourite Quote:

'In new situations, all the trickiest rules are the ones none bothers to explain to you, (and the ones you can't google).'

My Rating:

10/10
One of the best Young Adult Contemporaries out there

Other Books by Rainbow Rowell:

Fangirl
Carry On
Eleanor & Park
Landline
Attachments
Kindred Spirits
My True Love Gave To Me
Almost Midnight

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare - video review

Video review of Lost Souls, such a good read!

This video is also available on my YouTube channel WickedIdeas here.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (2005)

Title: Twilight

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Series: The Twilight Saga #1

Pages: 498

Published: Oct 5th 2005 

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

So when I was 10 Twilight came out as a film. I watched and decided to go straight to the book store to get it. Yes I know, I was probably fat too young to be reading about sexy, blood thirst vampires, but there you go. My mum decided to read them as well so we had our own little fandom together.

Nowadays I feel a little embarrassed to say that I was crazy about the books. Because people loved them and then they hated them and for some reason my class mates loved to hate them. I read them anyways. I did read the first books in Swedish because 1) I was 10 and 2) when I went tot buy it they only had the Swedish version in stock (which for some reason is translated to "If I Could Dream"). I do have the books in both languages as well however, and I've read the first one in English so please don't judge my 10-year-old me.

Although I hate to say that I was head over heals for the books, it's the truth. I look back remembering my poset covered room and all the things I bought that had any relationship with the books or films. The book's are that good I like to think. But then, they were. They were bloody amazing at the time, or I wouldn't have covered my room in posters and bought every magazine that featured gossip about it.

I guess I don't like to admit that I had a vampire period growing up. Yes, I read the Vampire Diaries as well and watched (have to catch up by the way).

Plot Summary:

About three things I was absolutely positive.

First, Edward was a vampire.

Second, there was a part of him - and I didn't know how dominant that part of him might be - that thirsted for my blood.

And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.

Favourite Quote:

It was such a long time ago that I don't remember one that stood out to be honest.

My Rating:

7/10

It has lost it spark and I'm not sure if I was sane or not at the time. It was definitely good at the time though. 

Other Books In These Series:
New Moon (The Twilight Saga #2)
Eclipse (The Twilight Saga #3)
Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga #4)

This review is also available on YouTube here.