Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am a fan of Rainbow Rowell- her characters, her plot, her dialog and all the dysfunction in families, with friends, etc. I LOVED Eleanor and Park and I Loved Fangirl!!! They both have an insecure main character in Eleanor and Cather. They both have an adorable male protagonist in Park and Levi. But Rowell has crafted a totally different story and gratifyingly absorbed me the whole time I read this engaging, humorous, and ultimately GREAT, GREAT, GREAT story of growing pains, tremendous insecurities, and fearsome love (for family and friends and boyfriends). Cather is a freshman in college and her twin, Wren (who has been her staunchest ally up to freshman year)is not her roommate and out partying hard and drinking and not returning Cath's calls. Cath has a scary roommate, Reagan (I loved her- she totally grows on you)and with Reagan comes her boyfriend, Levi. Cath has so many hangups and they are even more pronounced since Wren has ditched her and Cath isolates herself in her room, writes fan fiction about Simon and Baz (and has a huge readership). Rowell reveals all of Cath's insecurities in her dealings (or not) with her roommate and Levi, not eating in the cafeteria, and not going to parties. But the reader likes and roots for Cath- that she will throw off the blanket of fears and anxieties she has cocooned herself in and participate in life, college, and love. I love how characters don't give up on Cather, how Levi and her Professor work with Cath at her halting pace and how, in Cath's own crippling way- she achingly blooms. Please read this book; it is great writing, dialog, and characters trough and through. If you have not read her other book, Eleanor and Park - then read that after- I promise, you will not be disappointed. Her books and characters ring true (she gets family dysfuction, teens, and best of all romance)

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To Be Perfectly Honest by Sonya Sones

To Be Perfectly Honest: A Novel Based on an Untrue Story by Sonya Sones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am rally not a fan of unreliable narrators and in this novel in verse, Colette is an unreliable narrator, liar, fibber; it is just a part of her personality. She can't help it, and when you are the daughter of a famous movie star, well, many people just want to be your friend because your mom is famous, good looking, funny, etc. As Colette look forward to spending her summer in France with her friends, her hopes (and friendships) are dashed when her mom takes her on the set of her latest movie and makes her babysit her little brother, Will. She meets Connor and falls for him especially when he really seems to be interested in her....only problem, she has to babysit Will often. Colette (who is only 15) does have problems with consummating her relationship with Connor and it is only when "illness" becomes involved that Colette "almost" changes her mind. I love Sonya Sones; her characters are real and the games Colette plays may just catch up to her...Read this book and see what you think of Collette's problem with telling truth- she really does have an imagination!

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