Standalone Sunday: Carry On

~ Beth (Reading Every Night)

standalone-sunday

Standalone Sunday is a weekly feature created by Megan at Bookslayer Reads which aims to showcase standalone books which you loved or would recommend.

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Carry On

Simon Snow is the worst chosen one who’s ever been chosen.

That’s what his roommate, Baz, says. And Baz might be evil and a vampire and a complete git, but he’s probably right.

Half the time, Simon can’t even make his wand work, and the other half, he sets something on fire. His mentor’s avoiding him, his girlfriend broke up with him, and there’s a magic-eating monster running around wearing Simon’s face. 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.

Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama. It has just as much kissing and talking as you’d expect from a Rainbow Rowell story—but far, far more monsters.

I know the point of this weekly feature is to highlight books that maybe aren’t as well known, but I can’t believe this is the ninth week I’ve published a Standalone Sunday post and not yet chosen what is probably one of my favourite books to date. The whole reason I started reading Rainbow Rowell’s books was so I could pick up Carry On myself. Before its release everyone was raving about how excited they were for this book, and then after its release everyone was raving about how amazing it was. Of course I read Fangirl first, but even having loved that book I was prepared for how much I would love this one.

He’s still looking in my eyes. Staring me down like he did that dragon, chin tilted and locked. “I’m not the Chosen One,” he says.

I meet his gaze and sneer. My arm is a steel band around his waist. “I choose you,” I say. “Simon Snow, I choose you.”

You can check out my review for Carry On here.

What did you think of Carry On? Have you read it yet or is it still on your to-read list? Let me know in the comments and let me know if you took part in this week’s Standalone Sunday as well.

 

39 thoughts on “Standalone Sunday: Carry On”

  2. *Internal squeal of delight* I love that quote! It makes me want to read it all the more! I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while. I haven’t read any of Rowell’s books just yet and I was going to start with Eleanor & Park or Fangirl, but this one’s been calling to me recently. So I just ordered it off Amazon and I’m so excited to begin reading it after Caraval or after A List of Cages 😀 Thanks for showcasing this one, Beth! ❤

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    1. It’s a brilliant quote, and honestly there are even better ones in the book I could have picked but didn’t because of potential spoilers. Trust me if you loved that quote you’ll love Carry On.
      Oh my god that’s amazing, so far I’ve only read Fangirl and Carry On but Carry On is my favourite Rainbow Rowell book and one of my favourite standalones as well. I can’t wait to see what you think of this book Azia.
      That’s all right. 😀 ❤

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  3. I’m in the minority with this book but I’m so glad you liked it! I’m planning to reread Fangirl again sometime soon and I hope I’ll find a renewed sense of appreciation for it. To be honest, though, while I love “fandom books” I almost always feel very indifferent to those fictional fandoms themselves. 😛

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    1. Oh that is a shame, but I know a few other people who didn’t enjoy this book so although you may be the minority you’re not the first person I’ve spoken to who has that opinion. We can’t like all the books we pick up can we? 🙂
      I hope you enjoy Fangirl the second time around, there are books that seem to get better the more you pick them up maybe that will be the case with Fangirl for you.

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  4. I have literally never read the blurb of this book before because the cover always puts me off of wanting to read it – I don’t even know why! But the blurb sounds really good… I don’t understand why it has to have a cover like that though 😂😂😂

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      3. Rites of Passage was like that for me as well, I would never have picked it up if I hadn’t seen a pretty glowing review of it and I absolutely loved it!! It was amazing 🙂

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  5. I didn’t like Fangirl, the first Rainbow Rowell book I read. I read Carry On as a bookclub book and adored it. Would recommend it to anyone. Great pick!

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  6. Great choice! I loved FanGirl, and to be honest I didn’t care for the snippets in that book, but when I read Carry On I loved it. Explain to be how that one works I don’t know. I just know it was a good book, even if it felt a little too Harry Potter for me!

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    1. Thanks so much Meghan. I really enjoyed Fangirl as well, and I actually liked the Simon Snow snippets so jumping straight into Carry On afterwards was amazing! It’s a brilliant book, I guess maybe it was easier getting into a whole story than just parts included in Fangirl. 🙂

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  9. Given that Fangirl is one of my all time favorites book you would think I would have picked this one up already but I still haven’t. This is definitely another one that I need to bump up my list for this year. I’ve heard so many great things about it. And I can tell from that quote there is a good chance I’ll end up loving it. Great pick for this week, Beth!! 💕😊

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    1. Oh my god I can’t believe you haven’t gotten around to this one yet Melissa, especially considering you loved Fangirl. You definitely need to bump it up your to-read list; Carry On is one of my favourite standalone books and I’m sure it will be one of yours as well. There’s plenty more quotes like the one I picked in the book itself. 🙂
      Thanks Melissa! 😀 ❤

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      1. I know, I know. I feel like I’m behind on so many releases lol. I remember telling myself I would pick this one up right when it was released but I never did. I’ll definitely be trying to get around to it at some point this year. You’re welcome, Beth!! 😊♥

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      3. Same. There’s just too many books released and not enough time to get to them all. But yeah the important ones I have to have and read asap. I can’t wait until you read TSR. I’m reading it this month but one you do we’re going to have freak out over it together lol. 😊

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      4. As soon as I get my hands on The Song Rising I will literally drop everything and start reading. I’m even thinking about changing my delivery address to my work address so when the package arrives during the day I won’t have to wait until I get home to finally have it! 😀

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  10. Pingback: Standalone Sunday || 1/29/17 | :: bookslayerReads ::

  11. This one is still on my TBR, and I can’t believe that, honestly! I’ve wanted to read it since before it was released, but have been distracted by so many other reads, I guess. I’ve seen some mixed reviews on it, but mainly good ones, so I definitely think it’s worth a shot! Thanks for the rec, Beth!

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    1. Oh well in that case hopefully you’ll be able to get around to it soon. It’s an amazing book in my opinion so it will probably be well worth the wait when you do get around to it. I hope you end up enjoying it Megan, despite all the mixed reviews you may have seen, and that’s all right! 😀

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