January 2025 Not First in a Series BOTM - Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell

[Jamie]

The story is supposed to be over.

Simon Snow did everything he was supposed to do. He beat the villain. He won the war. He even fell in love. Now comes the good part, right? Now comes the happily ever after…

So why can’t Simon Snow get off the couch?

What he needs, according to his best friend, is a change of scenery. He just needs to see himself in a new light…

That’s how Simon and Penny and Baz end up in a vintage convertible, tearing across the American West.

They find trouble, of course. (Dragons, vampires, skunk-headed things with shotguns.) And they get lost. They get so lost, they start to wonder whether they ever knew where they were headed in the first place…

With Wayward Son, Rainbow Rowell has written a book for everyone who ever wondered what happened to the Chosen One after he saved the day. And a book for everyone who was ever more curious about the second kiss than the first. It’s another helping of sour cherry scones with an absolutely decadent amount of butter.

Come on, Simon Snow. Your hero’s journey might be over – but your life has just begun.

**This BOTM thread will be open until February 5th @ Midnight (in your time zone)**

[Celia]

Chapter 17 - 22%
(view spoiler)[This is starting off as great as the first book. I had thought it would be right after the events of Carry On, so I'm glad it's about a year after. This is what I need right now, the "what happens after" novel that takes place not too far from the end, but far enough.

I'm honestly not surprised by what happened with Penny and Micah. It hurts but it makes sense. Agatha on the other hand - how has she found herself in a cult? Also, am I the only one really hoping for Penny/Agatha along with Simon/Baz by the end of this? (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

Chapter 30 - 43%
(view spoiler)[I loved the Renaissance fair - they're so innocent thinking they'd be the only magic users there. (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

Chapter 37 - 56%
(view spoiler)[Is Simon really a dragon that he made himself into? I've read the kitten turning into a dragon mythology before. (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

Chapter 50 - 75%
(view spoiler)[So this is actually turning very Percy Jackson-esque in a lot of ways. Also, I don't know if I'm Penny/Agatha or Penny/Shepard. And are we ever going to find out more about Simon's mom? (hide spoiler)]

[Celia]

FINISHED
(view spoiler)[OMG that ending WTF!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Celia wrote: "Chapter 17 - 22%..."

Chapters -19 (view spoiler)[Im also hoping for both of those couple pairings at the end too! I haven’t read the first book in so long, so I’m actually surprised with how much I remember jumping into this one. So far I’m liking it and find it definitely interesting. I like that Simon seems to actually be struggling and we get to see that. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 20-31 (view spoiler)[ The Renaissance fair was super fun. I love how they found the vampires and there was a big scene. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Chapters 32-51 (view spoiler)[Getting a little bored of this one at the moment so hopefully it picks up again. The whole Agatha thing isn’t the most interesting to me. Also I feel like it’s very repetitive with how often they are saying that others can’t learn about magic. (hide spoiler)]

[Ashlyn]

Finished (view spoiler)[Well this picked up with the whole vampire thing and Simon almost dying. But that ending. Like what kind of ending was that? (hide spoiler)]

[Jessica]

Listened to this one over the weekend. It was fun.

Chapters 1-14
(view spoiler)[ Poor Penelope, but I'm not surprised. I don't know how she thought it was still working out. I'm glad Simon is having fun and the contrast with Baz’s grumbles is a fun time.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 15-31
(view spoiler)[ Okay, I love Shepard. What a gem. And also omg these idiots maybe don't go off roading when you don't know where you are. And also the idiocy of not looking up where this is. Agatha's situation seems to be okay so far, but it seems very sketchy.
(hide spoiler)]

Chapters 32-50
(view spoiler)[ okay I am loving this vampire history and that Baz is getting some answers. This is a very interesting set up they have in Vegas, but it makes sense. Why murder when you take from consenting adults. I wonder if this will lead to Baz drinking Simon's blood. Jealous Simon was kind of humorous. I hate jealousy but they are kids so I can accept it. Also Agatha's situation got real creepy real fast and I'm glad they are going to rescue her. (hide spoiler)]

Finished
(view spoiler)[ I love that Baz has a vampire mentor, even though it didn't work out how they wanted. I hope he continues to explore that and eventually be more settled in his life as a vampire. I'm team Penelope and Shepard and hope that works out next time. Also lol at his I'm a little bit cursed. That actual ending was bullshit though. Especially since I've now read the next one and it doesn't even lead into that. It starts like that hadn't happened. Overall though this was a fun read.
(hide spoiler)]