Carry on
Page turning
Charming
Comforting

Carry on the rise and fall of Simon Snow

Rainbow Rowell — 2015
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 starts 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.
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Reviews

Photo of Em Thomas
Em Thomas@emth00mas
3.5 stars
Dec 16, 2024

one of the first books to truly move me. the writing can feel amateur at times, but the story is moving and enjoyable.

+2
Photo of ang
ang @angslibraryy
4 stars
Jul 29, 2024

my mind is blowing i don't know what to think baz 💋💋 icon !!

Photo of Megan Parrott
Megan Parrott@meganparrott
4 stars
Jul 5, 2024

What a weirdly beautiful/beautifully weird book! I felt obligated (I mean that in the nicest way possible) to read Carry On after finishing Fangirl. Having read all of Rainbow Rowell's catalog, I was pretty leery of the genre. The beginning felt a little slow to me, but whoa, when the story got going, I was enchanted. Carry On is classic Rowell – cutesy love story, clever dialogue and unexpected rule-breaking. I loved the Baz/Simon relationship, but my favorite bit was all the spells. Such fun wordplay.

Photo of Ryan Mateyk
Ryan Mateyk@the_rybrary
3 stars
Jul 4, 2024

I enjoyed it but I didn't really understand Simon and Baz's relationship (because it doesn't really make any sense to me)... hatred is actually masking unrequited love that turns out not to be so unrequited? I don't. .. get it?

Photo of Andrea Morales
Andrea Morales@matchandrea
3 stars
Jun 28, 2024

I will proceed to go look up fan art to fill the void that this book has left in me thank you I loved it edit. it’s been a few months since finishing it, changing my rating to 3 stars. idk it’s kinda forgettable?? not a very good story, not very good characters and had like 100 pages that could’ve easily been cut. controversial i know

Photo of a
a@literaury
4 stars
May 21, 2024

This books is screamin' gaeeee, i mean i ain't complaining.

Photo of Nova
Nova@clandestine
4 stars
Apr 28, 2024

tell basilton pitch i love him

Photo of Sarah Sammis
Sarah Sammis@pussreboots
4 stars
Apr 4, 2024

Really more of a three and a half.

Photo of yel
yel@ashuulinksu
4 stars
Feb 24, 2024

★★★★☆ 4.00.STARS The first few pages were quite confusing for me. Actually, I can pinpoint some other parts of the story other than the first few pages that made me re-read it for a couple of times to actually understand it. Personally, it also didn't have a very established magic system or whatsoever for this kind of magical/fantasy story. BUT, looking passed that certain flaw, I definitely love this book. It has a kind of humor that fits me so well. The bickering and insulting between Simon and Baz is just so adorable. I just felt from the get go that there's probably something that might happen between these two with that sort of intense connection. I just so love their interactions so much I barely noticed the flaws I mentioned. I am definitely waiting for the next book to come out because I want more of Simon and Baz 💞💞

Photo of chloe rae
chloe rae@heychloerae
3 stars
Feb 14, 2024

3.5* This book wasn't what I was expecting. I'm not sure what expectations I originally had but this book surprised me, both in a good way and a bad way. I thought I was going to absolutely LOVE this book, and while I really liked it and enjoyed it, it didn't quite have the effect I imagined. And I have a couple reasons why: -The beginning of this book was pretty awful. It was super long and pretty boring and I just kept asking, "When is something going to happen? Is ANYTHING going to happen?!" It didn't get good until a certain main character finally joined the party. From then on I was hooked but it took a while to get there. -Agatha felt very unnecessary and I don't really understand why she was there. Also, she was annoying. -I hated their spells. This might seem like a weird issue to have but for some reason I found their way of casting spells to be ridiculous and I had a hard time taking their magic seriously because of it. -The multiple perspectives were unnecessary at times. Those are a few problems I had with this book. Now, things I LOVED: -SIMON AND BAZ -Penny -MORESIMONANDBAZ Baz was honestly the best character in this whole book. Simon could be pretty annoying but Baz is just PRECIOUS. I'm still not totally sure how to rate this book because I really liked and enjoyed it, but it definitely wasn't my favorite Rainbow Rowell read. I'm glad I read it though, and oh man, I just ship Baz and Simon. Can we just talk about how cute they are? Forever? K, thanks.

Photo of Deepika Ramesh
Deepika Ramesh@theboookdog
4 stars
Jan 25, 2024

I loved 'Carry On'. My thoughts on the book here: http://worncorners.com/2016/01/28/car...

Photo of Archiell
Archiell@archielll
4 stars
Jan 19, 2024

4.75⭐ SĂł pela a existĂȘncia da Aghata

Photo of Archiell
Archiell@archielll
4 stars
Jan 19, 2024

** spoiler alert ** 4.75⭐ SĂł pela a existĂȘncia da Aghata

Photo of Catarina Lopes
Catarina Lopes @caat_reads
5 stars
Jan 19, 2024

I finished it so fast, it's definitely one of my favorites, it's not perfect by any means but it's kinda comforting, I was able to understand the story a bit better now that I've re-read it

Photo of shru
shru@nyang
3 stars
Jan 14, 2024

look i don't love the atmosphere of harry potter, so i didn't like this atmosphere either, hmm so there were a few parts of the book that were fun and enjoyable but the majority of it was, okay, not that great ngl. i found a lot of the plot very predictable and not that appealing to me. i totally understand why so many people love this book, but it just isn't for me. with that being said, there were a few things i liked a lot. baz and simon of course, but the transition from enemies to lovers was sketchy, simon and penelope are great friends (but it could have been better?), also agatha is a mood ssksjdkl

Photo of Ally
Ally@allygatr
4 stars
Jan 10, 2024

yeah yeah ok ok ok got some really nice moments in here but some spots felt a little lacking also the part where simon says (not direct quote) ~"I put my hand up because I feel like he needs to be stopped, but I don't know why he is letting me"

Photo of Janka
Janka@blue_jay
5 stars
Jan 9, 2024

I just loved this book so much! I read it two times now and plan to read it a third time just so I can enjoy the fantastic world Rainbow Rowell created again. I'm reeeally looking forward to the sequel and what Rowell does to the characters! Would 100% recommend, especially if you liked Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and/or Harry Potter.

Photo of ꕀ *đŸ«–
ꕀ *đŸ«–@tokiberry
2.5 stars
Jan 9, 2024

it was okay. i need another book of the events prior to the beginning of this book.

Photo of Vivi
Vivi@valecarol
4 stars
Jan 7, 2024

★★★★☆ (4) “You were the centre of my universe and everything else spun around you.” i read one book in march bc i'm going through a reading slump. but i love baz simping over simon so much that i still enjoyed it. i'm not sure yet if i will be reading the next two books, because they don't have really good reviews so...

Photo of jm
jm@toffeecoast
4.5 stars
Jan 7, 2024

(first time writing a legit review please do not hatecrime me thanx) I think this review may be a little biased but holy shit did I enjoy the heck out of Carry On! The full impact of this reading experience has carried on (ahem ahem) for several days since I'd finished the book, and I'm crafting a spotify playlist for Simon and Baz as I speak. I feel a lot of emotions/unlocked some new ones for this book because it brought me out of my 5-year reading slump.  Onto the book: it's a 4.5/5 for me (=âœȘ㉹âœȘ=) Maybe I was initially warded off(?) because I kept comparing it to the Potterverse but I knew it was different when Simon could not shut up about Baz lol. And the number of clichĂ©d tropes done right!! The world building just felt very vivid to me and I could feel the characters' emotions too. It's true what other reviews are saying, this is one of those books that make you take a pause from reading to just squeal because of scenes that smash into you like a cement truck that's really like a TARDIS and contains even more cement trucks on the inside. I'm super excited to read the rest of the trilogy but, as always, am also slightly devastated that I'll eventually finish it. But for now, I'm going to cherish the mystery of the future that lies ahead.

Photo of erin
erin@urn
3 stars
Nov 5, 2023

The magic system was interesting but underdeveloped. It played with Harry Potter tropes in a somewhat interesting way. But when it comes right down to it, I've read better written novel-length fanfic, and that didn't require me to suffer through rotating 1st person POVs.

Photo of Denaiir
Denaiir@denaiir
5 stars
Oct 3, 2023

This is a re-read and it's even better the 2nd time around! I had expectations the first time and since it as not exactly what I had pictured in my head I was a tiny bit disappointed, but this time I knew what I was getting into and it was AMAZING. The world-building is perfect, Rowell makes you feel like you've read all the previous books and are just getting back in the story. The characters are all complex and I feel like I've known them for ages, I want to be in their group. Baz is my ultimate favorite but I love so many of them! The magic system is quite original, the plot is fun and it was w wild ride. And of course the narration by Euan Morton is top-notch as usual, I was really excited when I saw that he was the narrator on this one, and it was just as good as his other works!

Photo of gav
gav@gavesha
1 star
Aug 1, 2023

Started reading and got bored ....

Photo of Amb
Amb@ambortly
4 stars
Jul 4, 2023

A comforting re read, but I don't love it as much as I once did

Highlights

Photo of Nina May
Nina May@moonyspancake

I wish I knew what he was thinking. . . .

BAZ

Idon't know what I'm thinking to kiss.

Photo of Romi
Romi@sberlo

"I look at the three of them again. They look so happy - it's hard to believe none of them are on speaking terms now"

Page 318
Photo of Romi
Romi@sberlo

"You were born with it, but it doesn't have to be your destiny"

Page 285
Photo of Nina May
Nina May@moonyspancake

"Just the time of the year", she says.

"Autumn?"

"Back to school. Reminds me of my own school days. You can't go back, Simon, you can never go back. . . ."

dramatic. Autumn. Yes.

Photo of Shannon Leigh Williams
Shannon Leigh Williams@lifeinmybook

I walk to the bus station by myself.

Page 1

I swear this book has an addictive quality... so for comfort, I'm picking it up for the fifth or sixth time đŸ€Ș I've seriously lost count.

Photo of min
min@666gumi

“He shakes his head, and he’s saying something, and I think I might kiss him. Because I’ve never kissed anyone before. (I was afraid I might bite.) And I’ve never wanted to kiss anyone but him. (I won’t bite. I won’t hurt him.) I just want to kiss him, then go. “Simon
,” I say. And then he kisses me.”

Page 342
Photo of Moonie
Moonie@sherlockess

I know it's distasteful, but imagine— you're a pixie, and you have a daughter, and you name her Trixie, Trixie the pixie.

Baz yet again making me laugh loud

Photo of Moonie
Moonie@sherlockess

And I'm hopelessly in love with him.

Page 176

Baz a few pages later making me cry.

This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of Moonie
Moonie@sherlockess

(Though it's been centuries, at least, since the Pitches ate fairies.) (You can't even find fairies anymore.) (And it isn't because we ate them all.)

Page 173

Baz making me laugh once again

Photo of LhaĂ­s
LhaĂ­s @venuz

When I felt myself slipping too far, I held on to the one thing I'm always sure of- Blue eyes. Bronze curls. The fact that Simon Snow is the most powerful magician alive. That nothing can hurt him, not even me. That Simon Snow is alive. And I'm hopelessly in love with him.

Page 176
This highlight contains a spoiler
Photo of LhaĂ­s
LhaĂ­s @venuz

Baz plays for our school. He's the same on the field as he is everywhere. Strong. Graceful. Fucking ruthless.

Page 14

Reading again and enjoying everytime Simon says something about Baz

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