“You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can’t carry on at all.”
-Rainbow Rowell, Carry On
When I started this book, I wasn’t expecting it to suck me into that black hole that sucks you in when you’ve found a truly amazing story. I’ve loved every single thing that I’ve read by Rainbow Rowell, and this book was no exception. The moment I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. Simon and Baz and the magical world that Rowell created and fully captured my attention.
Carry On is a spin-off novel from Rowell’s last book, Fangirl, giving readers the context to the fanfiction that Cath writes in that book (also a phenomenal book, highly recommend). However, this book completely works as a stand alone book as well. Though this way Rowell’s first foray into fantasy, and you can see the influence of Harry Potter (I mean, she used to write Harry Potter fanfiction, and who doesn’t love Harry Potter anyway?), but I think it’s different enough that you can’t say that she completely copied her world from Rowling. The way magic is used in Simon and Baz’s world is completely different than Harry’s world.
And oh my god, the characters. The dialogue. The descriptions. If there’s anything that Rowell does uniquely well, it’s these three things. Definitely had a book hangover after this book, because I just didn’t want to stop reading about Simon, Baz, and Penny. Rowell slowly draws you into the story at the beginning, and once Baz enters the picture, you’ve lost all hope. The chemistry between Baz and Simon was magnificent, adorable, and shows Rowell’s ability to write romantic relationships.
All in all, I absolutely loved this book, and it’s been awhile since I’ve read a book that I fell completely head over heels for. So go! Read it! And then go and read all of Rowell’s other books too, because they are just as good.
5/5 stars.