Book Review | Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

As usual, Rainbow Rowell never fails to impress me. I can't believe this book took me so long to read, but I finally did it! I finished Carry On by Rainbow Rowell.

Summary (from Goodreads):
Simon Snow just wants to relax and savor his last year at the Watford School of Magicks, but no one will let him. His girlfriend broke up with him, his best friend is a pest, and his mentor keeps trying to hide him away in the mountains where maybe he’ll be safe. Simon can’t even enjoy the fact that his roommate and longtime nemesis is missing, because he can’t stop worrying about the evil git. Plus there are ghosts. And vampires. And actual evil things trying to shut Simon down. When you’re the most powerful magician the world has ever known, you never get to relax and savor anything.

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

Honestly, I was not expecting to connect with the characters as much. I also was not expecting to find this story as appealing as much since it is technically a fanfiction. However, I did really like this book. It took me awhile to get through this book, especially since the magic system took some getting used to. The fact that Rainbow Rowell is a contemporary author who was writing a fantasy novel was also quite apparent. The book did not have the same magical feel, but rather a contemporary novel with some magicky (I know that's not a real word I apologize but my vocabulary is lacking) vibes.

Prior to reading this, I was a little scared that the story would resemble Harry Potter too much, a rational fear of course. But I was pleasantly surprised that the story had striking differences. For example, the Humdrum was such a cool concept.

I found the characters really fun. Penelope was such a great character. And then of course, Simon and Baz were fantastic. I liked Simon okay, but Baz is probably my favorite character. He was witty, snarky, and clever.

Unsurprisingly, the romance was my favorite part. Rainbow Rowell writes a wonderful romance story. I adored every second of the Simon/Baz romance.

I rated this book a 4.5/5 stars. I absolutely loved Carry On, and the fact that this is technically a fanfaction always messed with my mind. Like so in the actual (fictional) Simon Snow books, Simon and Baz don't get together? I refuse to accept that!