Recent Reads: Fangirl, Vol. 1: The Manga by Sam Maggs & Rainbow Rowell

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review. 

Fangirl, Vol. 1: The Manga by Sam Maggs, Rainbow Rowell, Illustrated by Gabi Nam 

Series: Fangirl: The Manga #1
Publisher:  VIZ Media LLC
Publication Date: October 13, 2020

 

Format: Ebook


Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

The manga adaptation of the beloved novel by #1 Bestselling author Rainbow Rowell!

New York Journal of Books

Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, everybody is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life. Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath just can't let go. Now that they’re in college, Cath must decide if she’s ready to start living her own life. But does she even want to if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?

Cath doesn’t need friends IRL. She has her twin sister, Wren, and she’s a popular fanfic writer in the Simon Snow community with thousands of fans online.  But now that she’s in college, Cath is completely outside of her comfort zone. There are suddenly all these new people in her life. She's got a surly roommate with a charming boyfriend, a writing professor who thinks fanfiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome new writing partner ... And she's barely heard from Wren all semester! 

Review: 

Excited to finally get the opportunity to read this Manga adaptation of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. I loved this novel and the Manga does not disappoint. In this first volume we get a good way through the story with visuals that wonderfully matched with the visuals that were in my head when I read it the first time. 

If you don't already know this book, it follows a very introverted girl named Cath, who is starting college and going through too many changes at once for her liking. She has a twin that wants to branch out, a dad that is on his own, and she doesn't do well in social situations, so college is a hard process thus far. Her only solace is to writer her beloved fan fiction following the lead characters of a popular middle grade fantasy called Simon Snow. 

Cath is trying to adapt and not doing well. She is reserved and finding it hard to make friends and step anywhere outside of her comfort zone. This really resonates with me, and it a very similar experience to what I had in my first year of college. Cath is introverted, nerdy, and strong willed in her own way and so the story is very character-driven and I liked that. 

If you enjoyed the novel, you will also enjoy the Manga. Sam Maggs is wonderful and the adaptation does this book justice. The illustrations are fun and full of movement and emotion and there is the perfect amount of dialogue and thought throughout to keep with the storyline. 

I really enjoyed this one and hope that you will too! If you aren't a 'reader' but like Manga and Graphic Novels this would be a great way to read this book, it is adapted so well!