Content Warnings

Mental Health, Bi-polar, Alcoholism, relationships, social anxiety

Summary

Cather Avery and her twin sister Wren have arrived at The University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL). Their perspectives couldn’t be more different. Wren is charging into the co-ed culture with a roommate in a different dorm and her sights set on parties! Cath is struggling. Not only is this the first time that her sister isn’t her roommate, but that her sister doesn’t seem to want to be her sister anymore. Gripped by social anxiety, she hides in her room focused on the one thing that still makes sense: fanfiction.

Despite her deepest desires to hermit her way through, her roommate Reagan and Reagan’s boyfriend – or at least one of her boyfriends- Levi prod her into a routine. One thing leads to another and Cath finds herself with a writing partner, Nick, who helps to pull her into original storytelling, and Levi walking her home. It’s all settling into a confused, but reliable situation.

Things go downhill and they go fast. Not only is her sister partying too much, but her father is falling apart. A manic phase swamps his careful balancing act as he tries to self-manage his bipolar condition. Luckily for Cath, she has friends she can rely on… and some she just might kiss.

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Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

One, if you’ve ever read fanfiction, you know the joy of extending your time in a world. Two, if you’ve ever written fanfiction, you will undoubtedly relate to Cath. She is you. You are her. She has fans that number in the thousands (some of us are lucky to have a handful, but they’re still precious), and she’s dedicated to pleasing them. Just this aspect of the story is so endearing and legitimately honest that I can now stop explaining why I love and write fanfiction and just hand over a copy of this book!

Outside of the fandom culture, this book is one huge mirror being placed in front of every reader and challenging them not to find someone in this story to relate to. Are you anxious? Do you avoid new people? Do you or your family ride the waves of mania or depression that come with a bi-polar condition? Have you been abandoned? Betrayed? Cheated on? Have you been led-on and let-down? Have your ethics been challenged? Have you been angry at something that you have no justification to be angry about? This book has something for you without actually venturing into obvious trigger territory (but you know yourselves best).

And let’s not forget the romance aspect of this book (which is as much a plot as the fanfiction) and all of it’s swoony ups and downs. Cath is such a romance-novice you’ll certainly see yourself in her whether it was you at 10, 15, or 35. I can’t heap enough praise on the respect on display as the romance blossoms.

Now, one criticism I’ve read and discussed with fellow readers (this was a bookclub pick, after all) was that the ending was too open. I may not agree with this, but it’s a point for readers to know going in. The conclusion may not satisfy readers that want everything wrapped up and assurances on what happens next. It certainly leaves several things on the table. There’s no doubt that while not abrupt, you’re left with a lot of ‘what-ifs’ at the end of this story. In my perspective, and I have no idea if this was the intention, but what this book gives is a launching pad for fanfiction. What better gift in a book about fandoms?