‘Fangirl’: Author pens fun coming-of-age tale of fan fiction, family, love

It's not surprising that with the rise in interest in fan fiction in recent years, an author would explore the idea of pop culture obsession and fan fiction culture in a novel for young adults.

Author Rainbow Rowell has done just that with her 2013 novel 'Fangirl.” It's a story of young love, family drama, finding one's own identity, and a fantastical fan fiction that any fan of Harry Potter will be intrigued by.

Recently released in a special collector's edition (in three different cover colors), 'Fangirl” follows the story of Cather 'Cath” Avery as she starts her freshman year at the University of Nebraska.

Cath is a pretty serious introvert who finds her most successful self in writing fan fiction about Simon Snow, a character from the fictional series by Gemma T. Leslie.

Everyone loves Simon Snow, but Cath feels like all is right with the world when she is creating her own versions of his stories.

Of course the story is about more than dreaming up alternate plot lines and diving deep in fan fiction culture. Cath has a twin sister, Wren, who has been by her side her entire life, until they arrive at college and Wren decides to go her own way and not live in the same dorm room with Cath. Then there's the cute upperclassman who becomes Cath's writing partner. They write well as a team, but Cath can't figure out how to share her feelings with him.

And Cath also must learn to deal with Reagan - her new, often cranky roommate - and Levi, Reagan's friend who seems to always be hanging around. Mix in a dad having mental breakdowns and an estranged mother who all of the sudden wants to have a relationship with her daughters and you have a big mess that dealing with, for Cath, seems an impossible task.

As one might expect, the story is an emotional roller coaster of self discovery during a time when Cath is dealing with big changes in her life.

But, throughout the story, Rowell also inserts excerpts of Magicath's fan fiction and excerpts from the Simon Snow novels to create a fascinating story within a story. While Cath is able to easily write sense into the lives of her fictitious characters, she herself finds her life to be untidy and more challenging than she can write her way out of.

'Fangirl” is Rowell's second novel for young adults, and it's clear that she has a knack for creating believable teen characters that readers can connect with. Plus, Rowell's writing style and expert use of dialogue and main character self-talk pull readers right into the story - or stories for that matter. Her story also demonstrates that Rowell has a firm understanding of, and respect for, fandom culture.

Lucky for fans of 'Fangirl” and Rowell alike, her next novel, 'Carry On,” comes out in October.

It picks up the Simon and Baz story that readers are teased with throughout 'Fangirl” and returns Rowell to writing a highly imaginative story, albeit still focusing on characters sorting out their feelings in times of transition and change.