From the Bookshelf of Addicted to YA…

Carry On (Simon Snow, #1)

Rainbow Rowell,

Jim Tierney (Illustrator)

Start date: November 1, 2015

Finish date: November 30, 2015

Discussion: Stand Alone

Why we're reading this: Won the poll for the stand alone BOTM
[close] Won the poll for the stand alone BOTM

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Stand Alone

* Stand Alone- Maybe Meant to Be
By Bailey · 3 posts · 30 views

last updated Aug 18, 2025 12:04PM

* Stand Alone- The Summer of Broken Rules
By Bailey · 4 posts · 49 views

last updated Jul 08, 2025 08:57AM

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What Members Thought

Oct 10, 2015 Bernadette rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy-magic, theme-coming-of-age, ya-fiction, fantasy-vampires-and-creatures, theme-boarding-school

Harry Potter-esque Simon Snow is the savior of the World of Mages, but he is also a bit of an idiot. A loveable idiot, but an idiot nonetheless. Thankfully, saving the world isn't left up to him alone; his very own Hermione (Penny), Ginny/Ron (Agatha), and even his own Draco (Baz) are there to help him.

While I really appreciated all of the allusions to Harry Potter, it took me a little while to reconcile the fact that this book wasn't trying to be the next Harry Potter series. Once I overcame th Harry Potter-esque Simon Snow is the savior of the World of Mages, but he is also a bit of an idiot. A loveable idiot, but an idiot nonetheless. Thankfully, saving the world isn't left up to him alone; his very own Hermione (Penny), Ginny/Ron (Agatha), and even his own Draco (Baz) are there to help him.

While I really appreciated all of the allusions to Harry Potter, it took me a little while to reconcile the fact that this book wasn't trying to be the next Harry Potter series. Once I overcame that, the book was very enjoyable. Simon was my favorite, but Baz obviously comes in a close second. I didn't like Penny or Agatha at all, but I do like how their stories ended, especially Agatha. (view spoiler).

As for the romance... while I can see the attraction from Baz's point of view, Simon's interest in Baz kind of came out of no where, at least his romantic interest did. Once it was there it was great, but I was a little confused (and so was Simon) as to where the sudden romantic feelings for Baz had come from. He had apparently been feeling this way for some time, but there wan't really any evidence of this in his narrative.

The magic system was a little strange for me, but definitely cool. (view spoiler)

(view spoiler) ...more

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Dec 07, 2015 Jackie Lane rated it liked it

Okay, so I'm in the minority on this book. I have loved other books written by this author, but for some reason this book dragged on for me. It took me until almost half way through the book to get interested it in and then it was okay.

I did love the characters, but for some reason did not connect to this particular story.

It will not deter me from reading future books by this author, I'm guess it was just not for me.

3-3.5 stars ...more

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Jul 17, 2016 Susan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wow, this book...I honestly didn't go into it thinking I would like it at all, I mean to many things looking like Harry Potter or close to it BUT OMWord, I love this book so much and never wanted to stop reading it. I really loved the character so much and the twists were amazing. I guessed a small bit of it but it wasn't much and not until I was nearing the end did a certain thing click in my head. Great book, I recommend it to everyone. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 03, 2019 Eva rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Great read, magically filled.

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 05, 2019 Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Damn I really didn’t expect to love this as much as I did! I had a little trouble getting into the mythology of the world and It didn’t really pick up for me until Baz showed up in the story around page 125ish, but I loved the characters and their relationships so I was able to look past my others issues. Now I can’t wait for Wayward Son!

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