Carry On Book Review

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Published: By St Martin’s Griffith on 6th October 2015

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fiction

Synopsis: 

Simon Snow is the worst chosen on 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 with 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.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you expect from a Rainbow Rowell story - but far, far more monsters.

(From the Blurb on the physical copy of the book) But here is the link to the Goodreads blurb as well.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23734628-carry-on

My Review:

I have been a fan of Rainbow Rowell’s books for a while now and having already read Eleanor and Park and Fangirl, I just couldn't wait to read this book. I am such a fangirl for Fangirl (hehe) that I was so excited to find out that she was writing the fan fiction that is mentioned multiple times in Fangirl. I was so excited when reading Fangirl to have these little snips it’s of the fan fiction that I always wondered if she would ever write a full story of it and what do you know about 2 years later that story came out and my dreams came true. 

Carry On is a great story that is different to what Rainbow Rowell normally writes but it was fantastically written with a great mix of fantasy characters. I love the take on the Chosen One character and how the Harry Potter book series influences it, which is actually one of my favourite movies and books. Simon Snow is such a laid back character for a Chosen One, someone who makes lists for things that he doesn’t want to think about and really doesn’t put a label on things or people. It is actually interesting to read a different version of chosen one compared to the many ones out there that are all very similar. Baz is the mysterious roommate who is believed to be Simon Snow’s nemesis but he has a secret when it comes to Simon that not even Simon will notice until it hits him in the face. You will know what I mean when you read it!!

This story has a lot of twists and turns that leave you gripping the book until the end. It has a lot of beautiful and cute moments as many of us fangirls would call would fangirl over.  I believe that this book also brings across an amazing messages to do with people who are gay or are coming to terms with the fact that they might be gay. So Baz has always known that he is gay and he is open about it with his family but not at school. Which I believe that most people during school do when trying to fit in but Simon is someone who eventually helps bring that side of him out to the world. Simon is someone who liked a girl and now he likes a boy but the process of him getting to that point was intriguing because his ways on finding out that he likes a boy is a slow process. That he didn’t even know what being gay means or didn't even know care when he realises it. The only thing that matters is Baz’s opinion and how does Baz feel about it. But the biggest thing that I believe was a great concept that was introduced into this books was that Simon doesn't uses labels on either relationships status or who he is. He doesn’t care what people think or even what the world will say about them, all that matters is what they think about themselves. I believe that the message in this book is incredible insightful and beautiful, someone that everyone can connect to in one way or another. That you can be who you want to be and you don’t have to put a label on it if you don’t want to whether you are gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or anything you want to label yourself, just be who you are and don’t let the world tell you, you can’t.

Lets start a conversation about these issues and this book down below in the comments as well as about anything else you wish to discuss.