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2.01k reviews by:
ninetalevixen
content warnings: anxiety, mentioned panic attacks, mental health crises, ableism & ableist language, underage drinking, alcohol poisoning, hospitalization, sexual harassment, perceived infidelity
Each reread just really drives home how ahead of its time this book was: unapologetic centering of fandom and fanfic, anxiety rep, (a small amount of) casual diversity, college setting ... the list goes on. Over seven years after I first read it, I am impressed by how well it holds up; admittedly some of the draw is nostalgia, and there are some attitudes and language that wouldn't fly in a 2021 release. (I'm also not a general fan of Rowell's, for a lot of reasons including E&P and the fact that I didn't especially enjoy any of her other books, but I do keep coming back to this one, time and again.)
I've wanted to document how my relationship with this book changes alongside my relationship with college and with fandom; since I graduate this coming May and have recently been getting back into fandom, the timing seemed perfect for a reread. And I'm so glad I did it.
There are still pop-culture references and one-liners that I don't quite get, but the interpersonal relationships at the heart of this story are still solid. My appreciation for Levi has only increased over the years; the quiet slow burn is much more compelling than the obligatory-but-underdeveloped romantic subplot in so many YA/NA novels. I still relate strongly to Cath's neuroses and insecurities. Overall, this was a nice soft read to ease into a new year.
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CONVERSION: 12.5 / 15 = 4.5 stars
Prose: 6 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 9 / 10
Emotional Impact: 8 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: 5 / 5
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2019: Buddy read with Jill and Barbara! ❤
new rating: 4.5 stars (-0.5 from original)
I'm rereading this as a newly-single college student who jumps ships/fandoms every few years and no longer has much time to write fanfic or original fiction. It still holds up pretty well, especially the romantic storylines that I used to think were too subtle; I've become a huge fan of quieter, more realistic romance progressions, so it's kind of like I've grown into parts of this while outgrowing other parts. I think this was actually one of my first New Adult books, though that genre wasn't popular — or maybe even existent? — at the time.
Though I'm noticing some little things that bug me. UNL: I don't know how closely Cath's college is based on a real school, but we don't have dining halls in each dorm — it's one building for the whole campus — and while professors have a lot of leeway with grades, Professor Piper's offer is almost unbelievably generous. On straight girls writing M/M fic: there's been some controversy about this, and it's pretty well-documented on Tumblr if you dare to go looking (but even if you don't, hopefully the line "I don't think I can read this with actual gay people in the house" will give you pause); if this book was being published now I'd hope that it would be addressed beyond a few throwaway comments about "deviancy," but since at the time of publication it was revolutionary just to talk about fandom, I'm inclined to let it slide. The diversity is maybe half a step above nonexistent — Cath's Mexican ex-boyfriend Abel, Wren's Mexican boyfriend Jandro, the Averys being "the only white family in their neighborhood; the juxtaposition of Levi growing up on a ranch as one of eleven students in his graduation class and Cath in Omaha with lots of friends and things to do and taco trucks; one, maybe two, "real-life" (as opposed to SnowBaz) gay relationships mentioned in passing — but again, it seems about par for when it was published. (Which was 6 years ago, both a long time and not at all. Wow.)
So all things considered, Fangirl is definitely keeping its place near the top of my Favorites shelf, and its role as a go-to comfort read.
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original review (2013)
Of course I loved this book - it centers around fandom, and fanfiction in particular. I adore Levi, and Cath was so easy to relate to. I can't wait for college, and I really hope I'll be lucky enough to get a professor like Prof Piper.
Each reread just really drives home how ahead of its time this book was: unapologetic centering of fandom and fanfic, anxiety rep, (a small amount of) casual diversity, college setting ... the list goes on. Over seven years after I first read it, I am impressed by how well it holds up; admittedly some of the draw is nostalgia, and there are some attitudes and language that wouldn't fly in a 2021 release. (I'm also not a general fan of Rowell's, for a lot of reasons including E&P and the fact that I didn't especially enjoy any of her other books, but I do keep coming back to this one, time and again.)
I've wanted to document how my relationship with this book changes alongside my relationship with college and with fandom; since I graduate this coming May and have recently been getting back into fandom, the timing seemed perfect for a reread. And I'm so glad I did it.
There are still pop-culture references and one-liners that I don't quite get, but the interpersonal relationships at the heart of this story are still solid. My appreciation for Levi has only increased over the years; the quiet slow burn is much more compelling than the obligatory-but-underdeveloped romantic subplot in so many YA/NA novels. I still relate strongly to Cath's neuroses and insecurities. Overall, this was a nice soft read to ease into a new year.
-----------
CONVERSION: 12.5 / 15 = 4.5 stars
Prose: 6 / 10
Characters & Relationships: 9 / 10
Emotional Impact: 8 / 10
Development / Flow: 8 / 10
Setting: 9 / 10
Originality / Trope Execution: 4 / 5
Rereadability: 5 / 5
----------------------------------------
2019: Buddy read with Jill and Barbara! ❤
new rating: 4.5 stars (-0.5 from original)
I'm rereading this as a newly-single college student who jumps ships/fandoms every few years and no longer has much time to write fanfic or original fiction. It still holds up pretty well, especially the romantic storylines that I used to think were too subtle; I've become a huge fan of quieter, more realistic romance progressions, so it's kind of like I've grown into parts of this while outgrowing other parts. I think this was actually one of my first New Adult books, though that genre wasn't popular — or maybe even existent? — at the time.
Though I'm noticing some little things that bug me. UNL: I don't know how closely Cath's college is based on a real school, but we don't have dining halls in each dorm — it's one building for the whole campus — and while professors have a lot of leeway with grades, Professor Piper's offer is almost unbelievably generous. On straight girls writing M/M fic: there's been some controversy about this, and it's pretty well-documented on Tumblr if you dare to go looking (but even if you don't, hopefully the line
So all things considered, Fangirl is definitely keeping its place near the top of my Favorites shelf, and its role as a go-to comfort read.
----------------------------------------
original review (2013)
Of course I loved this book - it centers around fandom, and fanfiction in particular. I adore Levi, and Cath was so easy to relate to. I can't wait for college, and I really hope I'll be lucky enough to get a professor like Prof Piper.
Series buddy read with ✨Skye✨ & some others! ❤
3.5 stars.
I can see why this book is so popular, with its lush setting and all the magical elements. It's well-written, engaging, descriptive, drawing on old stories that may or may not be familiar to readers; but it didn't blow me away, perhaps simply because I've been reading a lot of fantasy and retellings lately.
That said, I'm a little concerned about deliberate inconsistencies with regards to transliteration (e.g., certain spellings "to retain a bit of [certain words'] exotic flavor") and historical accuracy (such as the incorporation of the sarafan "slightly before its time because of how strongly this manner of dress evokes fairy-tale Russia to the Western reader"). Artistic license is one thing, but the very purposeful decision to misrepresent a culture for the purpose of portraying a story a certain way leaves me uncomfortable.
3.5 stars.
I can see why this book is so popular, with its lush setting and all the magical elements. It's well-written, engaging, descriptive, drawing on old stories that may or may not be familiar to readers; but it didn't blow me away, perhaps simply because I've been reading a lot of fantasy and retellings lately.
That said, I'm a little concerned about deliberate inconsistencies with regards to transliteration (e.g., certain spellings "to retain a bit of [certain words'] exotic flavor") and historical accuracy (such as the incorporation of the sarafan "slightly before its time because of how strongly this manner of dress evokes fairy-tale Russia to the Western reader"). Artistic license is one thing, but the very purposeful decision to misrepresent a culture for the purpose of portraying a story a certain way leaves me uncomfortable.
Buddy read with ✨Skye✨, Lisa & izzy! ❤
Holy fuck what the fuck.
This is a hard one to review, because I agree with many others that it's so much better to go into this with as few expectations and preconceptions as possible — though the plot is so intricately woven that it may not help you solve the mystery, it'll definitely help you empathize with Aiden's lack of information and struggle to piece the puzzle together.
I will say that it starts off a bit slow, then rapidly picks up pace and tension as the conspiracies and interpersonal tangles start to become clearer, though it wasn't until at least the 80% mark that I felt this book earned a 5-star rating. (It was already a solid 4 stars though!) The premise is tantalizingly appetizing and the successive reveals deliciously satisfying, and while I don't think my emotions could survive rereading this book, it's just fascinating.
Holy fuck what the fuck.
This is a hard one to review, because I agree with many others that it's so much better to go into this with as few expectations and preconceptions as possible — though the plot is so intricately woven that it may not help you solve the mystery, it'll definitely help you empathize with Aiden's lack of information and struggle to piece the puzzle together.
I will say that it starts off a bit slow, then rapidly picks up pace and tension as the conspiracies and interpersonal tangles start to become clearer, though it wasn't until at least the 80% mark that I felt this book earned a 5-star rating. (It was already a solid 4 stars though!) The premise is tantalizingly appetizing and the successive reveals deliciously satisfying, and while I don't think my emotions could survive rereading this book, it's just fascinating.
1. [b:Every Heart a Doorway|25526296|Every Heart a Doorway (Wayward Children, #1)|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1431438555s/25526296.jpg|45313140] | 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
This book was far too short. It’s unflinchingly honest, and as dark as the truth of reality. The narration is vivid and insightful, a perfect balance of worldbuilding and chatacter development; the extensive parallel structure is delightful and used sparingly enough to remain effective. My heart’s been broken before by wonderful books, and this one was an especially spectacular experience.
Yes, I’ve always loved stories within stories; this series, as well as the Inkheart trilogy, have really nurtured that preference.
This book was far too short. It’s unflinchingly honest, and as dark as the truth of reality. The narration is vivid and insightful, a perfect balance of worldbuilding and chatacter development; the extensive parallel structure is delightful and used sparingly enough to remain effective. My heart’s been broken before by wonderful books, and this one was an especially spectacular experience.
Yes, I’ve always loved stories within stories; this series, as well as the Inkheart trilogy, have really nurtured that preference.
”You know, I read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland when I was a kid, and I never thought about what it would be like for Alice when she went back to where she’d started.”
Brilliantly conceived and fantastically executed. Premise, characters (the LGBTQ rep! Be still my heart), plot progression, setting — everything was developed enough to be immersive but not so much that you felt there was nothing left to discover: perfectly balanced world-building. I’ve always enjoyed stories where we’re thrown into what feels like the middle of the plot, if done well (which this definitely was), but this one in particular left me desperately wanting to know more about the parts we missed.
Nancy’s story is concluded satisfyingly enough here, but I can’t wait to dig deeper into the multitude of worlds contained in this universe.
Brilliantly conceived and fantastically executed. Premise, characters (the LGBTQ rep! Be still my heart), plot progression, setting — everything was developed enough to be immersive but not so much that you felt there was nothing left to discover: perfectly balanced world-building. I’ve always enjoyed stories where we’re thrown into what feels like the middle of the plot, if done well (which this definitely was), but this one in particular left me desperately wanting to know more about the parts we missed.
Nancy’s story is concluded satisfyingly enough here, but I can’t wait to dig deeper into the multitude of worlds contained in this universe.
Once again, great diversity of characters and worlds — from Mexican-American Christopher, Beloved of the Skeletal Girl to transmasculine Kade, Goblin Prince to Japanese-American Sumi and Rini of Confectionary to the new protagonist: Cora, mermaid and fat. The best part is that these are all significant parts of their identity, but first and foremost they’re people. (Well, Cora’s thoughts lay on this side of obsession regarding her size, which is admittedly a little annoying.)
Each installment of this series manages to impress me with its original plot, though this one felt like it all worked out a little too smoothly. The vivid storytelling made up for it, however, so while it isn’t quite as outstanding as the previous two books it’s still pretty extraordinary.
Each installment of this series manages to impress me with its original plot, though this one felt like it all worked out a little too smoothly. The vivid storytelling made up for it, however, so while it isn’t quite as outstanding as the previous two books it’s still pretty extraordinary.
(I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)
3.5 stars.
The premise is fascinating: time travel as a career and institution, run by women. And there's fantastic diversity, with mental health/psychological concerns (the title doesn't just sound cool! It actually represents a major concern in the novel), POC, explicitly gay/bisexual characters. Mascarenhas' approach to laying out the murder mystery clearly respects the reader's intelligence — we get to peek at scenes from various points of the timeline and through various characters' eyes, and it's up to you to put the pieces together if you don't want to just sit around and wait for the Big Reveal; at the same time, there are lots of academic and ethical questions to consider.
All that said, I had some trouble connecting with the characters and getting really invested in the plot, because this is a very concept-driven novel, which I don't think I've actually encountered before. (I actually took a few days' break from this book, during which I retained enough of the previous information to keep up but not enough to want to jump right back into it.)
This is such a unique read, so if you're even a little bit interested in sci-fi and mystery I'd give it a try.
3.5 stars.
The premise is fascinating: time travel as a career and institution, run by women. And there's fantastic diversity, with mental health/psychological concerns (the title doesn't just sound cool! It actually represents a major concern in the novel), POC, explicitly gay/bisexual characters. Mascarenhas' approach to laying out the murder mystery clearly respects the reader's intelligence — we get to peek at scenes from various points of the timeline and through various characters' eyes, and it's up to you to put the pieces together if you don't want to just sit around and wait for the Big Reveal; at the same time, there are lots of academic and ethical questions to consider.
All that said, I had some trouble connecting with the characters and getting really invested in the plot, because this is a very concept-driven novel, which I don't think I've actually encountered before. (I actually took a few days' break from this book, during which I retained enough of the previous information to keep up but not enough to want to jump right back into it.)
This is such a unique read, so if you're even a little bit interested in sci-fi and mystery I'd give it a try.
3.5 stars.
The sense of characters and setting is much less immersive than in SoC, which is perhaps ironic since most of the book is written from Alina’s first-person POV. (Also, the countries’ real-life counterparts are pretty transparent based on the culture and language; this is often the case in fantasy with multiple separately-ruled regions, whatever they’re being called, but I’ve always found it a little disappointing.) It feels businesslike, even militant, in its descriptions of place and plot, but the major twist is well-executed and unexpected, if not wholly original, and at least partly makes up for the love triangle.
The sense of characters and setting is much less immersive than in SoC, which is perhaps ironic since most of the book is written from Alina’s first-person POV. (Also, the countries’ real-life counterparts are pretty transparent based on the culture and language; this is often the case in fantasy with multiple separately-ruled regions, whatever they’re being called, but I’ve always found it a little disappointing.) It feels businesslike, even militant, in its descriptions of place and plot, but the major twist is well-executed and unexpected, if not wholly original, and at least partly makes up for the love triangle.
2.5 stars, maybe.
Honestly, I was just so bored trying to get through this book. It may be a truth universally acknowledged that important things come in threes, but I really don’t think that should apply to love interests — which seemed to be Alina’s primary focus, followed by continued resentment of Zoya for being beautiful and charismatic towards Mal and the Darkling (“even though she realized this shouldn’t be her priority right now, but she couldn’t help it”), and I guess figuring out the limits of her special power and struggling with her new status in the eyes of the people. With Mal it’s nonstop miscommunication and apparent inability/unwillingness (?) to meet each other halfway, which was also tiresome; their growing apart is a valid obstacle, but it’s just so dragged out and upstages the actual plot.
Lots of repetition from the first book; there were really only two new developments — — neither of which really seemed to change the general trajectory of the narrative. (The superficial plot, yes; the tone and Alina’s endgame of stopping the Darkling, not at all.) Nikolai was a definite highlight, though, and possibly the only element I genuinely enjoyed.
As a fan of SoC it pains me not to finish all the Grisha books, so maybe I’ll come back to read the last installment after a break. Maybe after a reread of CK to remember what I love about this ‘verse.
Honestly, I was just so bored trying to get through this book. It may be a truth universally acknowledged that important things come in threes, but I really don’t think that should apply to love interests — which seemed to be Alina’s primary focus, followed by continued resentment of Zoya for being beautiful and charismatic towards Mal and the Darkling (“even though she realized this shouldn’t be her priority right now, but she couldn’t help it”), and I guess figuring out the limits of her special power and struggling with her new status in the eyes of the people. With Mal it’s nonstop miscommunication and apparent inability/unwillingness (?) to meet each other halfway, which was also tiresome; their growing apart is a valid obstacle, but it’s just so dragged out and upstages the actual plot.
Lots of repetition from the first book; there were really only two new developments —
Spoiler
Nikolai/Sturmhond and the firebirdAs a fan of SoC it pains me not to finish all the Grisha books, so maybe I’ll come back to read the last installment after a break. Maybe after a reread of CK to remember what I love about this ‘verse.