Reading And Coffee: Fangirl

Showing posts with label Fangirl. Show all posts

25.12.13

Top Ten of 2013: Best Couples

From December 23rd through 27th, we celebrate our favourite books of 2013 and look ahead to those of 2014. Be sure to check back each day, and check out our gracious hosts (Rachel from [Fikt]shun, Mindy from Magical Urban Fantasy Reads & Jamie from Two Chicks on Books)!

Rules: Must be from a book read in 2013

Blay & Qhuinn

Lover At Last by J.R. Ward

because it's about freakin' time!

Hector & Elisa

The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

because they would stand by each other through anything!

Cam & Avery

Wait For You by J. Lynn

because these two stood out as a pair I was actually rooting for, among the NA club!

Cath & Levi

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

because they're cute, okay?

Addie & Trevor

Pivot Point by Kasie West

because the ending of Pivot Point broke my heart!

Sybella & Beast

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers

because they battled their demons together!

Aiden & Alex

Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout

because they broke a few rules for love (yes, this was corny but I don't care)!

Anna & St. Clair

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

because love at a french boarding school!

Tod & Kaylee

With All My Soul by Rachel Vincent

because they got their happy ending!

Cate & Finn

Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood

because I'm still rooting for them!

Let's share! Who was your favourite bookish couple this year? Leave me comment and tell me what your list was about today!

And to those that are celebrating, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, from my family to yours!

If you're not celebrating, have a Happy Wednesday!

24.12.13

Top Ten of 2013: Best Covers

Rules: Must have been released in 2013, should have been read in 2013 as well

These are all books that I had to have on my shelf. These are the ones that I want to "show off". So tell me, what was your favourite cover of 2013? Share in the comments below!

23.12.13

Top Ten of 2013: Best Books

Rules: has to be read in 2013, does not have to be published in 2013

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (review)

Why it is the best: Etienne St.Clair. Enough said. This book transports the reader to a beautiful Paris and a lovely romance. I had a serious case of wanderlust after this read.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (review)

Why it is the best: It's original and honest and awesome. I may not write fanfic, but I truly connected with Cate and her transition to college life.

Wait for You by J. Lynn

Why it is the best: OMG J. Lynn writes sexual tension like no other. Cam and Avery had me from the first page, and the companion novel Trust In Me could just as easily made this list!

The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson (review)

Why it is the best: The world needs a few more Hector-types. On top of that, the evolution of Elisa is beyond amazing and I just love the whole world and story!

Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout (review)

Why it is the best: I dub thee the most painful and heart-wrenching conclusion of the year. I cannot wait for Seth's turn in the spotlight in 2015 (which, btw, is too far away...).

Dark Triumph by Robin LaFevers (review)

Why it is the best: I cried, like, six times. My copy is seriously tear-stained. Beast and Sybella get a slow clap from me. Historical isn't my thing, but this book had me from start to finish.

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi (review)

Why it is the best: Tahereh is a downright amazing author. This story is spectacular. The conclusion will likely destroy me (haha) in 2014, but I remain 100% Team Adam!

Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood (review)

Why it is the best: It's original and engaging and heartbreaking. Best worst ending ever.

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi (review)

Why it is the best: You can't not love these characters. When the secondary characters steal your heart as much as these ones do, you have a winner. TTEN also stands out in a genre where everything is starting to feel the same.

Unbreakable by Kami Garcia (review)

Why it is the best: The world building. The praise from Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson (you've never watched Ghost Hunters?!?!) backs this up. I'm not an expert by any means, but I know a fair bit about the paranormal and much of this book is solid. Unbreakable also had one of my favourite beginnings to a book this year!

And I leave you with a question: What was your favourite read of 2013? If I had to choose one of these, I don't think I could! I just can't commit.

3.10.13

Review: Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Published September 10th, 2013
St. Martin's Griffin
434 pages (Hardcover)

In Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl, Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind? (From Goodreads)

There was a lot of hype surrounding Fangirl, which always makes me a little weary. Fangirl did not disappoint. It felt so real and intense and I absolutely loved Cath's journey.

I love the originality of the story. I mean, fan-fiction? That's an interesting idea. I liked that Cath was in her first year of college. It's a crazy time in anybody's life. Her experience felt very real. There are the Caths and there are the Wrens. Rainbow Rowell hits many of the issues people encounter when beginning college, from the loneliness to plagiarism. I think the realistic feeling has a huge impact.

The characters were fantastic. It was so easy to relate to Cath and feel like you were in her head. I had a really rough first year of university. Cath's story validated many feelings that I had. Most books I have read featuring characters at this age present them in a completely different way, where they have problems but have no issues adapting to post-secondary life. I just say this because not everyone just walks onto campus and makes friends and has a great time. Okay, enough about that. All of the other characters felt just as real. It's hard to describe, beyond the ability to relate to them. I loved Levi and the slow-building chemistry between them. Again, it felt real.

This is one of those books that I honestly don't know how to even review. I felt such a connection to the story and the words written. The best way to describe it is as a slow burn. I didn't just plow through Fangirl. It read slower and I savored it. I wanted to read it again the moment I finished. I really don't know how to describe this feeling.

In conclusion, read this. *throws down on bed**walks away*

28.8.13

"Waiting On" Fangirl

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating!

This week I am excited for...

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan . . .

But for Cath, being a fan is her life — and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind? (From Goodreads)

I LIKE HOW THIS SOUNDS! A good ol' coming-of-age story with undertones that many can relate to, Fangirl is bound to be a hit! I'm not saying I've ever been a serious fangirl, but I can get a little attached to my characters. I cannot wait to read Fangirl, which hits shelves September 10th, 2013.