When I heard that Rowell was writing it, I figured that it was a bit too meta – a book based on the fan fiction series of another series loosely based on a set of books within another book by the author.

I have to admit, I did have a few reservations about this one. There are some lengthy scenes in Fangirl, from Cath’s fanfiction work which enabled readers to piece together a lot of the Simon and Baz story and it seems those characters stayed in Rainbow Rowell’s mind because in her latest novel, Carry On, we get the final chapter of the Simon and Baz story.

Although I’ve never read Harry Potter, the series of novels Cath had been reading seemed quite similar but Cath and many others in the fandom were rather devoted to a romance between the series’ protagonist Simon Snow and his sort of nemesis/the antagonist, Simon’s room mate Baz. If you’ve read Rainbow Rowell’s novel Fangirl then you might remember that main character Cath was writing fan fiction whilst awaiting the final novel in a fantasy series that she and her sister had been reading since they were children. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story-but far, far more monsters. 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.Ĭarry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right. Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen.

Carry on simon and baz