BOOK REVIEW: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

I mainly read books on my iPad these days, but I make exceptions for exceptional books. Carry On is one such book to get in hardback. Now, I'll be honest, I fell in love with the characters of Simon and Baz in Fangirl, which is probably my favorite Rainbow Rowell book (although I constantly go between Fangirl and Eleanor and Park). And, I wanted to read their story--I wanted it to be good, and it was.

While the book took me a few months to finish, it wasn't because of the plot or characters, but because I have an ocular disease that makes reading a paper book hard at night. With that being said, the characters and plot were so intriguing that it hadn't felt like I took any time off between reads. The details were crisp, and there was just enough backstory in each section that I never had to go back and reread parts of the book.

Plus, Rowell has an prolific talent for creating distinct character voices that each character seemed to come alive on the page. That makes my desire to read and follow a plot stronger.

WHAT I LIKED: I came in thinking Simon would be my favorite character, but really, it was Baz, with Penny a close second. Baz's character had so much passion for everything in life, although he would probably disagree with me, that I felt compelled to root for him. And Penny, well, she's a nerdy girl without some social skills--of course I would relate to her!

Plot wise, I liked how well the story tied up. Yes, there were some Harry Potteresque moments, but Rowell made the story her own through Simon and Baz's attraction to one another.

The twist with the Mage and Lucy was a surprise, and I'm left wondering if the main characters ever learned the truth, or if it's just dramatic irony. Rowell is known for leaving the audience to think about how they want a book to end (those three words in Eleanor and Park anyone?!), and I like it. That plot move leaves me to make a decision about the characters, and allows them to stay alive after I'm done reading.

With that, the moral of the story needs to be inferred, and can be in a multitude of ways, which always makes for a compelling read.

WHAT I DISLIKED: Not much. There were a few slow parts in the beginning, but they were needed backstory. I would also have liked to have learned more about Baz's mother, and the love for her son.

RATED: 5 Stars

If there was another book, either a sequel or prequel, I would definitely read it. The world Rowell created was done with such detail that I was able to make connections with the characters, and even learned a lesson about myself along the way.

NOTE: This is also posted on Goodreads. Additionally, I bought and paid for the book on my own, and did not receive any compensation for this review.