Cath is about to start her first year of university without her usual partner in crime. Wren, Cath’s identical twin sister, has decided to spread her wings and room with someone other than Cath for the first time in their lives. Cath now has to navigate the intimidating world of college and roommates and the dining hall, as well as classes that leave her feeling out of her depth. It feels natural to Cath to stay in her room where it is safe and work on the thing she loves the most – Simon Snow fanfiction.
Simon Snow is as big as Harry Potter in this universe, and the eighth and the final book is due out soon. Cath has loved all things Snow since she was a kid and doesn’t feel like she should give it up now. Even if Wren seems to have. Even if her roommate thinks it’s weird.
As the year goes on, she finds that she can cope with university after all. And her writing. And her family’s dramas. And there’s an even greater surprise waiting at her door – Levi.
I have read this a bunch of times and I think I enjoy it more each time. The last few re-reads I have skipped all the Simon Snow stuff as it didn’t interest me as much, but I’ve come around on that since reading (and loving) Carry On. It’s nice to see where it all began and how each of those interpretations of that world play off of each other.
And I just really relate to Cath. I wasn’t quite the shut in she is at uni, but I wasn’t far off. And probably only because I didn’t know fanfiction existed back then. I understand her anxiety and her reluctance to let people in, especially in romantic ways. The way she reacts to Levi is how I would/did react in similar circumstances. When she says “I don’t just kiss people. Kisses aren’t…just with me.” I feel it. I’ve lived it. And it makes me feel protective of her and the cautious little nerd I was back then. I want to tell Cath (and myself) that it really won’t be all that bad to just let down your defenses a little bit. It might even be wonderful. Thankfully Cath has Rainbow Rowell writing her utterly delightful leading man in Levi. I got a couple of duds before I found mine.
I will probably re-read this again in a year or so and love it even more.