Carry On

Simon Snow returns for his final year at Watford School of Magicks as the prophesied "Chosen One" who must defeat a destructive force known as the Insidious Humdrum. His world consists of magic users, magical creatures, and "Normals" (non-magical humans) in modern-day England, where mysterious dead spots have been draining magic from various locations. The story alternates between multiple perspectives, including Simon, his vampire roommate/nemesis Baz, his powerful best friend Penelope, and his ex-girlfriend Agatha. At the center is Simon's struggle with his overwhelming magical powers and his complex relationship with Baz, which shifts between antagonism and something deeper as they face shared dangers. The novel originated as a spin-off from Rowell's previous book Fangirl, where Simon Snow existed as a fictional character within that story. However, Carry On stands as its own independent work, reimagining familiar fantasy tropes through a contemporary lens. The book explores themes of identity, destiny, and the weight of expectations, questioning what it means to be "chosen" and examining how relationships evolve when enemies are forced to become allies.

Readers praise Carry On as both a Harry Potter satire and original story that stands on its own merits. Many highlight the slow-burn romance, witty dialogue, and subversion of chosen one tropes. Fans connect with the authentic LGBTQ+ representation and character development. Positive reviews focus on: - Natural progression of Simon and Baz's relationship - British humor and magical worldbuilding - Fresh take on fantasy school tropes Common criticisms: - Pacing issues in first third of book - Too derivative of Harry Potter - Confusion for readers unfamiliar with Fangirl Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (197,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (2,800+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.6/5 (900+ ratings) "The enemies-to-lovers arc hits all the right notes" - Goodreads reviewer "Takes 150 pages to find its footing" - Amazon reviewer "Perfect balance of romance and magic" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

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★ The book began as fan fiction of fictional fan fiction - it's based on a story written by a character in Rowell's novel "Fangirl" who was writing fan fiction about a Harry Potter-like series. ★ The spell system in "Carry On" is uniquely based on the power of language and popular phrases - the more a phrase is used in common speech, the more magical power it holds. ★ Rainbow Rowell wrote "Carry On" without planning a sequel, but its success led to two more books: "Wayward Son" (2019) and "Any Way the Wind Blows" (2021), forming the Simon Snow trilogy. ★ The novel deliberately subverts many traditional chosen-one tropes found in young adult fantasy, including questioning whether being "chosen" is actually a blessing or a curse. ★ The book's title comes from the Queen song "Bohemian Rhapsody," which plays a significant role in the story's themes about carrying on despite destiny's expectations.