Cath Avery enters her freshman year at the University of Nebraska clinging to the online world of Simon Snow fanfiction. While her twin sister, Wren, chooses to party and distance herself from their shared childhood obsessions, Cath retreats into writing her epic story, Carry On. She navigates a prickly roommate named Reagan, a persistent classmate named Levi, and a fiction writing professor who views fanworks as plagiarism. Cath must balance her anxiety about her father’s mental health and her sister’s rebellion while finishing her story before the official series finale.
This book serves readers who feel more comfortable in digital communities than physical social settings. It appeals to those transitioning into adulthood who worry about leaving their hobbies behind or losing touch with siblings. Readers find a realistic portrayal of social anxiety and the specific mechanics of internet fandom. The story provides a perspective on how creative writing functions as a coping mechanism and concludes with a clearer understanding of how to bridge the gap between fictional fixations and real-world responsibilities.
Inward-looking; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
Insights from Fangirl
“In new situations, all the trickiest parts of her character seemed to create a circle around her.”
Cath hides in her room with protein bars because the dining hall feels impossible. Sometimes social anxiety is just a quiet, physical weight that makes you feel invisible.
“I don't want to be we. I want to be me.”
Wren wanting a separate life at college feels like a betrayal to Cath. It shows how growing up can mean losing your best friend to their own independence.
“To really be a fan, you have to be a little bit obsessed.”
Writing fanfiction isn't just a hobby for Cath. It is a way to survive when the real world gets too loud and messy to handle.
“He was just a boy who was always there.”
Levi waiting outside the library every night is such a subtle act of love. He meets Cath exactly where she is without asking her to change.
- Published
- 2013
- Publisher
- St. Martin's Griffin
- ISBN
- 9781974738878
- Language
- EN
