“Sometimes she writes about adults. Sometimes she writes about teenagers. But she always writes about people who talk a lot. And people who feel like they’re screwing up. And people who fall in love.“ – Rainbow Rowell’s Author Bio
For me, reading is an escape from reality. Whenever I feel like I need to hit the pause button I pick up a book and listen to music. Even if the story I am reading is telling one that could easily be about me or my friends, it still is a safe haven. But when you read a story and feel understood you shelve them in your heart as special. An author with an enchanted “pen of understanding” and magic wand is the amazing Rainbow Rowell.
Rowell, who lives with her husband and two sons in Nebraska, is an author you cannot put into a box. She writes for young adults, adults, and comic fans, but what they all have in common, they are written by a nerd for nerds.
You’ve read the same books that I’ve read. You love the same stories. Let’s talk about them. Let’s think about them. Let’s take them apart and see what’s inside. – Via an interview with The Guardian
With such a unique name as Rainbow, her books do feel quite magical. She writes from the heart and her characters feel real as they often struggle with the same problems as the people who read about them. You can relate to the woman gossiping with her friend as well as to the girls and boys who do not feel like they fit into society no matter how hard they try.
Nerd, fangirl, fanboy, and so forth are all terms which have been considered offensive at some point to make one feel uncomfortable. Thankfully, times have changed because what would life be without having a smile on your face while talking to others about the latest news about your favourite something or someone? If you want to admit it or not, there is a little nerd in everyone, even in you!
And the thing about nerd culture mainstream culture now means that there’s no place to just be a nerd among other nerds – without being reminded that you’re the nerd. – Kindred Spirits
Adult Novels:
Attachments (2011)
The story follows Lincoln whose job it is to read email correspondence written by the employees of his company, to make sure they are not using them for private conversations. Beth and Jennifer trade gossip over emails and Lincoln is the invisible third wheel.
Landline (2014)
37-year-old Georgie McCool discovers that she is able to call her 22-year-old version of her husband through her landline. The career-driven Georgie has the chance to fix her marriage before it even started to break.
Young Adult Novels:
Eleanor & Park (2013)
The dual narrative book follows the two misfits Eleanor and Park who live in Omaha from 1986 to 1987. Eleanor, a chubby 16-year-old girl with curly red hair, and Park, a half-Korean 16-year-old boy, meet on a school bus on Eleanor’s first day at the school and gradually connect through comic books and mix tapes of ’80s music, sparking a love story.
Fangirl (2013)
The twins Cath and Wren are freshmen at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While Wren has no problem to connect with people, Cath is struggling to fit in due to her social anxiety disorder. So Cath spends her free time mostly writing fan fiction about her favourite book series about the magician called Simon Snow.
Carry On (2015)
The Rise and Fall of Simon Snow is the spin-off to Fangirl as Cath loves the protagonist Simon Snow. It follows the final year of Simon Snow, who has to fight a greater evil while also cope with his roommate Baz. It is a standalone novel which is not one of Cath’s fan fictions.
Other Works:
Midnights (2014)
First published in the short story book My True Love Gave To Me edited by Stephanie Perkins, Noel and Mags met the first time at a New Year’s Eve party and become friends. They continue spending NYE together and fall in love a bit more each time. Also available in Almost Midnight.
Kindred Spirits (2016) – World Book Day Edition
Elena cannot wait to see the new Star Wars movie and decided to camp for a week before the premiere in front of the cinema, and meets Gabe. Also available in Almost Midnight.
Runaways (2017)
First published in 2003, Rowell and Kris Anka had the honour to new create the team of six teenagers who discovers that their parents are part of an evil crime organisation known as “The Pride”. They run away and make it their goal to stop them.
What’s To Come?
Rowell will publish two books in 2019. Wayward Son is the much-anticipated sequel to Carry On and the graphic novel, Pumpkinheads. The graphic novel follows Deja and Josiah who are seasonal best friends. Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1.
“I think young adult books are wonderful for teenagers because they make you feel less alone. When you’re a teenager, you worry that maybe you’re the only person feeling this weird or scary or perverted thing. And YA books tell you, “Nope. Your weird stuff is pretty normal, and you’re not the only one who’s scared.” – via interview with The Guardian
If you happen to read all of Rainbow Rowell’s book and you’re looking to read something else, then maybe the following books could be of interest to you!
Geekerella by Ashley Poston
Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic science-fiction series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck and her dad’s old costume, Elle’s determined to win – unless her stepsisters get there first.
Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde
Three friends, two love stories, one convention: this fun, feminist love letter to geek culture is all about fandom, friendship, and finding the courage to be yourself.
Anna and The French Kiss Trilogy by Stephanie Perkins
Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris–until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all…including a serious girlfriend. The exciting thing about this trilogy? Each book is a new story with new characters!
