Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Release date: October 6, 2015
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 522
Goodreads || Book Depository
Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One 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: The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow is a ghost story, a love story, and a mystery. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story – but far, far more monsters.
MY THOUGHTS
I wanted to try to collect my thoughts before writing up this review but then we might be waiting weeks because I don’t think I’ll be able to calm down for another month at least. I honestly have no idea why I loved this book so much but it had so many great elements that I loved, including a swoon-worthy romance. MY HEART. BE STILL. This will probably just be a fangirly rant more than a review, but we have an exciting Carry On post planned over at Happy Indulgence, where Jeann, Aila and I will all discuss our feelings!
Carry On is Rainbow Rowell’s take on the Simon Snow series that was introduced in Fangirl. It’s important to note that this isn’t Cath’s Simon Snow fanfiction and it’s also not the ‘canon’ Simon Snow either, so you absolutely don’t need to read Fangirl before reading Carry On! I have to admit that the Simon Snow sections in Fangirl were actually my least favourite bits in that novel and I only skimmed quickly through those parts, because I wanted to get back to Cath and Levi’s story. But even though I didn’t love Simon and Baz (or didn’t read enough to love them) in Fangirl, I’m a total convert and they might even be my OTP of the year (big call, I know, considering I’ve read 175 books so far this year). And I’m probably now going to reread Cath’s SnowBaz fanfiction because I need more!
This is a fantasy story that almost reads like a contemporary. It’s set in our modern world and there are lots of pop culture references and things that I could relate to. It just felt like a very contemporary and fresh take on fantasy. There are lots of great messages about diversity right from the beginning and I really appreciated that.
Other girls I’d met who looked like her were named Saanvi or Aditi – and they definitely weren’t ginger. “Saanvi?”
“Someone like me can be named anything,” Penelope said.
“Oh,” I said. “Right, sorry.”
“And we can do whatever we want with our hair.”
I absolutely loved the world in this book. Initially, I drew lots of Harry Potter parallels but I soon started forgetting about Harry Potter because the Simon Snow world is so different and fascinating. I also didn’t mind its similarities to Harry Potter either, because it gave me something to latch on to at the beginning when the story was a little bit slow. Most of the world building happens during the first section of the book and even though nothing much happens plotwise, I had a great time learning about the world and the magic system. I thought the concept behind the magic system was wonderful – that the words they use are so important. I absolutely loved the magic spells that they used and that they can create new spells by putting conviction and magic into random phrases.
Down in the winding tunnels of the Catacombs, I use every revealing spell I know, and every finding spell. (“Come out, come out, wherever you are! It’s show time! Scooby-Dooby-Doo, where are you!“)
Magic words are tricky. Sometimes to reveal something hidden, you have to use the language of the time it was stashed away. And sometimes an old phrase stops working when the rest of the world is sick of saying it.
My favourite aspect of Carry On were definitely the characters. I’ve read all of Rainbow’s books, except Eleanor and Park, and I’m always astounded by how wonderful and relatable her characters are. I was obsessed with Baz from pretty much the very first mention of him. It’s no secret that Draco Malfoy is my favourite Harry Potter character and Tyrannus Basilton Grimm-Pitch is the rich, snobby, sneering Simon Snow equivalent. I loved him so, so much and he didn’t even make an appearance until Part 2 of the novel! I feel like I spent the first part of the book waiting for Baz and when he did finally appear, it was glorious.
I also loved Simon and his voice really carried through and affected me a lot. He was so sassy and snarky. I loved him! He’s been given this massive burden and he just wants to help, but most of the time he just ends up destroying everything in his vicinity. He’s a bit of a disaster but he’s the most adorable and funny disaster ever. I loved his relationship with Baz (of course) and I wish we’d gotten to see them together a lot sooner because I need so much more SnowBaz T_T. Every single moment they were together, my heart was being squeezed in my chest and I was flailing around on my bed. I felt like I was falling in love right there with them. I also really enjoyed Simon’s relationship with his best friend, Penny. She was very supportive of him and always had his back and I loved reading about their friendship. The only character that I did not like at all was Agatha and I wished that she wasn’t in the book at all. But we can’t always have what we want, and we’ve been given so much SnowBaz that I really can’t complain. Except I want another SnowBaz novel… it doesn’t even need to have a plot. I just want to fangirl over them a little bit more.
I thought the plot of the book was amazing. Carry On kept me theorising about what was going to happen next throughout the whole book. There are definitely some things that we’ve seen before in fantasy novels but everything worked so well together that I didn’t mind at all. Plus there were so many surprising and hilarious moments and I loved every single one of those. This book just blew my mind and exceeded all of my expectations. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
Don’t forget to check out Happy Indulgence on Friday for more thoughts on Carry On! And if you want to discuss SnowBaz or anything spoilery, hit me up on Twitter because I could talk about this book all day!
Yesss this book was so sweet and special *clutches to chest* I love all the characters and how heartwarming it is. Simon’s ending broke my heart a little but so utterly fitting. I also adored the magic system in this one, eff yes to the power of words! I wish there were seven more of these books because I would likely read them all. Rainbow Rowell captures the uncertainty of adolescence so well, whether it be a fantasy or a real life setting. I am so happy you like it! Looking forward to your joint post on Happy Indulgence!
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I just need like an Adventures of Simon and Baz collection!! I NEEEEEEEEDDDD. Omg the epilogue was so cute though T_________T *endless stream of happy tears* and hahahahaha his tail. *continues to flail on my bed*
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This is such a sweet review ! I still need to buy the book, but I can’t wait to get my hands on it !
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BUY IT NOW! GO! AND DO NOT COME BACK UNTIL YOU OWN IT (JUST KIDDING, PLEASE COME BACK)!! ❤ I have the UK hardcover and omg it's the most beautiful thing! The naked cover has a special surprise 😀
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Haha ! I think I’ll get it for Christmas 😉
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This book sounds absolutely gorgeous. ;_; Four of my bookish friends have reviewed it in the last week, so it sounds like it’s a must-read now! Hgnhhhh, I’ve been in the mood for books that get me super emotionally invested and involved… so I suppose this is a good choice? :3
ALSO MAGIC. I need more magic in my life.
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Omg Chooi… you need this. YOU NEED THIS. I’m still in a state of cannot-do-anything-but-lie-here-and-die-from-the-feels. I think you’ll really like the magic system. It’s a lot of fun and it’s FUNNY. Also, SnowBaz ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
I have to admit, the first part of the book is a little bit slow…but I still really enjoyed learning about the world while waiting for Baz. And omg his entrance is AMAZING.
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NOTED. SNOWBAZ. I shall read this and perhaps cry to you. :’D
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Greaaaat review! This is definitely going to be my next buy this month. Can’t wait to read it! 🙂
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YASSSSS!! I really don’t know why I love this book so much but it was just… AMAZING. Everything just works. It’s funny and crazy and omg. Just omg.
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Yes! I wholeheartedly agree with your review. Except probably about Agatha. I didn’t like her at the beginning, but she grew on me near the end because she kept her priorities straight (i.e., staying alive :p ).
Baz though. Baz has my heart the moment he open sesame’d that door.
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Hmmm I can see her role in the book but I still didn’t really like her. I respect her choices though. But everybody else in the book was perfect!! Baz forever has my heart, even though he’s a vampire and he’s evil sometimes ❤ When he Open Sesame'd that door I was like ALL THAT WAITING WAS WORTH IT. And when we found out what happened to him… HAHAHAHAHAHA
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I can totally see why you don’t like her. She can be selfish and annoying.
Baz is just perfect. I love how he was like no one could kill Simon Snow which is okay because FEELS.
Ohmygosh the reason why he was missing school was HILARIOUS. And his aunt was so funny.
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I NEED MORE *gets on knees and begs*
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ME TOO! I need this to be a series.
*begs*
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I’ve had this book for a while but I haven’t yet had time to read it. Your review just convinced me to pick it back up again! Like you, I also skipped the Simon Snow parts when reading Fangirl. 😛
YOUR EXCITEMENT, JENNA. IT’S CONTAGIOUS. *dances* ❤
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YES YES YES, READ IT!! *dances like a crazy person (or like Simon)* This book… THIS BOOK ❤
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THIS BOOK!!!
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Rainbow Rowell is one of my favorite authors because of the unique and realness of her characters! I loved Fangirl and I can’t wait to read this. I can already tell I’m going to want more than one book of Simon and Baz. Great review!
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This might be my favourite Rainbow Rowell! It’s so, so good and SnowBaz is wonderful!!
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I need to read this so badly! I saw it in Target today but I have to exercise self control due to being poor at the moment *cries*
From the moment I started reading Carry On snippets in Fangirl, I knew I wanted to read it!
Great review 💕
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Oh no! I can tell you that it’s worth being poor for XD I need to go back and read all the SnowBaz fanfiction from Fangirl! I skimmed really quickly through them and now I NEED more SnowBaz!! I think Carry On has a slightly different feel though since it’s Rainbow Rowell’s take on it and not Cath’s. But as long as it’s SnowBaz, I WILL READ ANYTHING.
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Love your review! 😀
I really can’t wait to read this! I keep staring at it on my bookshelf and I can’t wait until I get to pick it up!
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It’s so beautiful inside and out!! I ordered mine online and thought I’d bought the US hardcover… turns out it was the UK hardcover but it was a pleasant surprise because it has an AMAZING naked cover and a built in bookmark!! I keep stroking it and taking the dust jacket off XD
I HOPE YOU GET TO IT SOON!!
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I seen pictures of the UK hardcover and it looks so amazing. I am kind of jealous, haha! The built in bookmark is awesome! Mine doesn’t have it though, sadly. 😦
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For once, the UK edition wins!
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I was not going to read carry on. Because I really disliked the pieces of Simon in fangirl. But now I read all these raving reviews and well…. they are convincing me to pick it up anyway.
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I didn’t really like the Simon Snow stuff in Fangirl either but Carry On feels completely different! It’s also in a different voice and I thought it was wonderful! Please give it a go!!! 😀
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Wonderful review Jenna, it was so much fun reading and discussing and flailing over this book with you and Aila! Yeah, I wouldn’t have missed Agatha if she wasn’t in it, and man having another sequel would be the best! I love how you described darling Simon and the wonderful Baz as well ❤
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I want to reread this sooooo badly! But I also want to reread all of The Lunar Chronicles too… TOO MANY BOOKS, SO LITTLE TIME
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I think you know my feelings on this –
*CLUTCHES HEART AND WAILS* SNOWBAZZZZZ ❤ ❤ ❤
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