Crowley, Snowdont break it again!, I let go of his nose. But thats not relationships. Rowells writing style and her distinct voice are what immediately drew me in to this series in the first place, but she really cracked into an entirely new narrative plane of wonder this time around. Of all my lives. Simon and Baz, Penny and Shepard, and Agatha and Niamh all began their relationships as enemies of a sort before they experience an I didnt know kissing could feel like this moment. Simon and Baz both feel so wonderfully fleshed out and characterized after all that weve seen them through. The clothes and the witty put-downs are still important, but hes also kind, thoughtful, and self-reflective. All content Strange Horizons unless noted, the first rule of writing for the big romance publishing house, Toasty Stats for all pairings on AO3 as of 2019, The Miraculous Account of Khaja Bairaq, Pennant-Saint of Zabel, How to make contact with a lost star system, Redundant by Bitan Chakraborty, translated from the original Bengali by Malati Mukherjee, Short Fiction Treasures: Quarterly Fiction Roundup, Kalpavigyan, or Bengali SFF: An Interview with Dip Ghosh, How to Get to Apocalypse and Other Disasters by Erica L. Satifka, Fund Drive Update and Call for Editorial Volunteers, Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century by Kim Fu, On a dreamscape where my father is a spaceship pirate, Apocalyptic Visions in the Anthropocene and the Rise of Climate Fiction edited by Kbra Baysal, Maps, Worldbuilding, and the Journey in Fantasy, The Galaxy That Swallowed Me From the Inside Out, The Anomaly by Herv Le Tellier translated by Adriana Hunter, Saint Deaths Daughter by C. S. E. Cooney, The Crimson Cage by John Lees, Alex Cormack, Ashley Cormack and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, The Myriad Drumbeats of Afrofuturism: Decolonizing Stargate (Part Two), Someone in Time: Tales of Time-Crossed Romance edited by Jonathan Strahan, To Climates Unknown: An Alternate History of a World Without America by Arturo Serrano. RELATED: Fantasy Books That Are Perfect for Pride. That means their narratives are almost entirely unconnected to the Simon and Baz A-plot. I lean forward and bite his nose, right at the crooked part. Thankfully, Penny and Shepherd finally found their footing with one another after an immensely enjoyable journey to free the Normal of his impending demonic nupitals. Any Way the Wind Blows is a thick book in comparison to its middle predecessor, Wayward Son, and thats for good reason. I was all of a sudden a full-time author, and I was writing this book for people like me. Metafictionally, I also find it interesting that heres yet another version of the same people and Rowell asks us to understand that all of them are true at the same time. 2022 Geek Girl Authority. But you cant get enough of it. But, it was healing. best-seller list, follow the adventures of Simon Snow (a British boy with magical powers, which might sound familiar) and his wizarding-school roommate, rival, and eventual boyfriend, Baz. From a narrative perspective, if anything should have brought us to this point, it ought to have been the events of Wayward Son rather than a break-up that lasted less than twenty-four hours. In Simon and Bazs world, magic is found in repeating common phrases or lyricshence the familiar-sounding book titles. wayward rowell simon blows ebookscart Its not impossible to write outside of your personal experience, and its notinherentlyproblematic to do so, in my opinion, at least. What is going on, Rainbow? Part of me wants a neat, satisfying ending: for the good to end happily, the bad unhappily. But not as though nothing really mattersas though eating biscuits in bed with someone you love matters, just as much as saving the world. Ive tried to express how muchSimon SnowandAny Way the Wind Blowsmean to me and nearly 2,000 words hasnt even scratched the surface. (I always have feelings) (Im a feelings monster). Shes also the woman who brought home a demon-cursedNormal(someone without magic) as a souvenir from America. Rainbow Rowell: My original plan was to have both of these books written and be like, Boom, boom. That did not happen. Is this too easy? The rest we either dont know or specifically dont feel a label fits. What began as a small story within a story eventually took on a life of its own, and thus the Simon Snow series came to life with Carry On in 2015. Whereas Wayward Son was very much a cross-country adventure that feelings had to take a back seat to, emotions are entirely at the forefront of Any Way the Wind Blows. (Carry On), Incidentally, Open Sesame is a spell in this universe, where that magic system is based on well-known phrases rather than cod-Latin. Simons classmate, Gareth, for example, is unfortunate enough to have a belt buckle as a magical implement instead of a wand. What is acceptable to ask of your children? But no one in the novels seems to know what we should do about that, except presumably stop voting for them. In Carry On, Rowell used her meta-textual interaction with the popular Rowling series to dissect and upend Chosen One tropes all the while whipping up a yearning gay teen romance for the ages. Ive often lovingly referred to the Simon Snowseries as Gay Harry Potter.Thats partly becauseCarry On, the first book in Rainbow Rowells trilogy, intentionally satirizes the traditional Chosen One narrative. But not only did this book meet all of them, it simply blew them all out of the water. I feel like at the end of Wayward Son, and you can tell me what you thought, but I feel like its obviously a middle book. To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Penny accepts this, believing that she no longer has a right to tell Simon what to do; Baz doesnt. Muskrat maidens are notoriously thin skinned Its because they only steal the human epidermis.. It goes without saying that anyone thats read the previous two books has uttered aloud, Please, talk about your feelings. He seems to think its cheeky, but no one else does.. Its also potentially an issue that, in order to give the new romances time to bloom, the two new couples spend most of the book with, and only with, each other. Sex takes work. I love your take on a magical America in Wayward Son, with its treaties and territories and individualism. What are we looking at here? Baz himself is depressed, dramatic, actively identifies as gay, and has been secretly in love with Simon for years. He is facing whats coming. That was not the plan for Wayward Son, and it is definitely not the plan for Any Way the Wind Blows. He looks confused. She doesnt overwrite and trusts her audience to read between the literal lines. Discussions and depictions of sex are franker than I expected in such a mainstream YA book. And look in his normal-sized eyes. And, as with the first two books, Any Way the Wind Blows doesnt end neat and tidy. Its so lovely. Unlike Fangirl, the Simon Snow trilogy is written in the first person, with sections told from the perspective of even very minor characters. Also, Rowell can squeeze the narrative juice out of punctuation like nobodys business. (And they did a lot of other new things, too, actually.) They were there trying to help Simon get his groove back after more than a year spent lying on the sofa and feeling useless because he doesnt have a purpose anymore and hes failing at real life. There are moments I felt I was reading a play, not a novel. In the Simon Snow trilogy, Simon the hero, Baz the vampire roommate, Penny the best friend, and Agatha the ex-girlfriend are much richer than they were in the canon Leslie novels from Fangirl or Caths fanfiction, while also being (particularly in Carry On) active critiques of the roles they ought to be playing. Physical intimacy occupies a lot of page time inAny Way the Wind Blows. Just in this story. But I dont care. When they kiss, its a surprise, but its also entirely earned. One thats welcomed him with lovingly open arms and endless sandwiches and cake. The it being his vampirism and gayness. Or, maybe its a queer thing. However, Rowell may also now be glad to be able to distance herself from Rowling, given how outspoken the latter has been recently on the transgender community. blows rowell okian macmillan tome heftet thalia lobo taschenbuch farrells livraddict hobbyklubben whsmith homo sapiens In fourth year., He laughs. The third and final Very Potter Musical does astonishing things with this theme (no, really). We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Pennys mother may re-evaluate her priorities, and Baz reaches out to his stepmother, realising that despite her lack of magical worth shes been more of a mother to him than the woman hes been mourning for fifteen years. 
Sometimes you dont get catharsis or closure, but you still need to move on anyway. AO3 skews heavily towards male/male pairings, in comparison to other archives, but hopefully still gives some idea of scale. I did research on what would be the most powerful spells in the U.K. and I looked updo you want to guess what the most popular songs of all time in England are? Even Pennywho has always been certain shes right about everythingis miserable and confused. Did I get that right? All spells are taken from clichs and sayings, memes, songs, whatever is used byNormals. Penelope Bunce is Simons best friend. Id open up a vein. A year and a half after giving up his magic to save the World of Mages, hes still depressed, hes still got dragon wings and a tail. Im in the middle of writing Any Way the Wind Blows. I know hes the love of my life. But its right there, right? This review isnt the place to discuss whether Rowling is right (she isnt), but its worth saying that if you like Potter, but find it hard to read, given Rowlings views, you might enjoy this more LGBT+ friendly magic-school story (and what happens afterwards). In Carry On, he relates an incident that happened when he and Simon were fifteen: one of his familys unsuccessful plots to maim Simon, which apparently cost an innocent bystander her voice. All of his coping skills are about winning the war, and none of them are about living at peace. Something like make a wish also doesnt obviously connect to fireits only because most readers understand the context of blowing out birthday candles that the words can accomplish what they do. Most of the walk-on characters have a fun detail attached to them, so theyre memorable despite next to no lines. But, if this is the kind of character you like, theres a good chance youll like this book. She published two novels, Eleanor & Park and Fangirl, which cemented her reputation as a young adult fiction writer uniquely gifted at writing smart-yet-dreamy contemporary stories about sensitive young women and the very nice boys who like them. Consequently, it does something very interesting with the way it treats Simon, Baz, and the other characters. Individuals can learn and grow, but systems need more than just a magical boy and his friends to truly bring about change. Oh, my God, I dont go near that. He joined the main trio in book two. We also meet Simons super-smart best friend Penelope Penny Bunce; his girlfriend Agatha Wellbelove; and his rich, arrogant, and possibly evil nemesis: Tyrannus Basilton Baz Pitch. ~ All the spoilers for Carry On(book one) andWayward Son(book two);light spoilerage for Any Way the Wind Blows~. well. Of a thousand lives stacked up on top of each other. Simon. This style lends a poetry to the prose while leaving room for some downright unreliable narration from the protagonists. This plotline clearly reframes what Baz and his family did as unacceptable, underlining the message that Baz was a child at the time and has since grown up, forming different opinions, which he acts on. For a start, Cath doesnt learn she has to grow up and get over fanfiction in order to live a normal life, get the guy, and be a real writer. goof You can check out my review here https://hundredsandthousandsofbooks.blog/2021/07/27/spoiler-free-review-any-way-the-wind-blows/. What do you need? And, more importantly, reach compromises, so theyre both happy. They still hold fast to the important roots of their relationship, but their combative and uncertain edges with one another have finally softened into something comfortable and beautiful. I need Bazs lovesick pining and Pennys snappy commentary like I need air. Its very Return of the Jedi to split the third instalment of a trilogy into three streams, but it left me missing the earlier books group dynamic. The beauty of this is that theres no Hero, no Sidekick anymore. Dont be mistaken; the physical intimacy in this book exists to further character and emotional development. There are some beautiful parts (most notably when Simon bad with words Snow thinks of Baz, Id give him all that I am. Ad Choices. When my parents learned that I was a vamp . Obviously, problematic content should be called out. Further to that, it was also important and validating to see Baz and Simon return to the conversation about Simons sexuality to truly cement the fact that he doesnt find the need to label himself period (and thats perfectly okay.). There are good female characters, particularly Penny, who hates most people but chose to befriend Simon because her mother told her that no one knew where he came from and he might be dangerous, and FionaBazs deranged aunt, who leads most of the schemes against Simon and his mentor. In many ways,Any Way the Wind Blowsended where I expected it to end and hit many of the plot points I expected it to. She informs us that she was three years ahead of our heroes at school, and that their Humdrum-fighting antics messed up her lacrosse games. I can touch you less gently, but I wont love you less kindly. Baz, Theres such a delicate, passionate, and raw rhythm to the way that Rowell writes moments between Simon and Baz, and in this book, more than ever. The final book in the trilogyAny Way the Wind Blowswas announced a week later and published in 2021. His aunt put him up to it and wasnt bothered by what happened, which is all that Baz has to say about the matter. Hes always been impulsive, always thrived in life-and-death situations where he needed to fight to survive. That this book makes me, and many, many others feel seen proves that. Any Way the Wind Blows is now available to purchase. Penny demands a disguise and Shepard suggests she says shes a muskrat maidena kind of creature that Penny has never even heard of. This Simon is (according to Baz) the worst Chosen One ever chosen. Apparently prophesied to save the World of Mages, Simon is the most powerful magician ever born, but he cant control that power and isnt good with wordsthe currency of this particular magical world. Penny, Agatha, or both could have been set up as characters who didnt need true love to complete them, but by promoting them to main characters (rather than the sidekick and the ex-girlfriend), they become caught up in the YA romance genre. Bazs character arc is one of the most satisfying elements of the trilogy. Any Way the Wind Blows focuses on interpersonal relationships. When the Humdrum comes after me, I fight him. Hes also a vampire who refuses to drink people. He does still help people even after he loses his power. Nothing can. I got very excited when I first saw the 2 on the spine of Wayward Son and realized you were planning a Simon Snow series. Honestly, I had many qualms about how this book ended. We have digested so many Chosen One stories. Pennys parents eventually accept Shepard as her partner, but in part because hes interested in magic. So thank you, Rainbow, for letting all of us Normals take a peek into your witty, wonderful World of Mages and sharing some of the magic. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Any Way the Wind Blows is out now. Fangirl is a genuinely good, likeable, and engaging romance. The third book is going to be about that. Absolute pieces. Rowell heard us loud and clear, and boy did these two talk. In Carry On and the rest of the trilogy, its Simon and Baz. When Penny objects to the plan, Shepard responds: Nice. Like any good fairy tale,Any Way the Wind Blowsplays with the powers of names magically and more metaphorically. How much of ourselves do we owe the people who raised us? Hes convinced he was never the Chosen One at all. If a character wants to put out a fire, theyll cast Make a wish; when Simon wants to get blood out of his trousers, he casts, Out, out, damn spot. (Or tries toit doesnt really work.) Okay, weve got a very special orphan, the most magical orphan there is, and hes on a train going to magic school. We also learn that some of the issues they had in Wayward Son were caused by Baz treating Simon gently, because thats what he himself wanted from a relationship, whereas Simon interpreted this as Baz pitying him. derry nessa007 borricadas Baz is exactly the kind of character fandom wishes Draco Malfoy was: always well dressed, usually ready with a clever put-down, and very sad on the inside. As Rowell told Vanity Fair in a recent phone call, it at least wont be a four-year wait again. Its why they fell for Smith-Richards in the first place. Hes not just a Normal, hes a special Normal who gets us. In a way, none of this is new, but its unusual to spend so much time in an established relationship that isnt actively breaking down. The bulk of the novel splits the main cast into three groups: Baz and Simon, Penny and Shepard, Agatha and newcomer Niamh. I still think that is the characters overall narrative effect, but it doesnt click into a clear lesson and effect change in the World of Mages. But the other thing I hope people see, even when he doesnt see what a badass he is, is that Simons really a badass. But, it was so much rawer, so much more intimate, than I expected. My worry is that even well-intentioned gatekeeping will limit future opportunities for aspiring queer and BIPOC writers. Simons holding a sword on the cover, but he barely uses it, because thats not how he solves his problems anymore. And being able to breathe is one of the novels running motifs. So, the more the gen pop uses a phrase, the more powerful the spell becomes. Can our beloved dragon boy use the inheritance he receives from his dead mentor/abuser (whomhe himselfkilled!) Nearly every main character in this book is queer, and only one character labels himself as gay.
Two years after Fangirls release, Rowell published her own version of Simons eighth year at Watford School of Magicks: Carry On (2015). Both of these strands are, like Simon and Bazs story, also centred on romantic relationships. I was really sick for a long time, and it kind of came to a head when I was writing Carry On. Its a call to take care of yourself, to communicate, to enjoy the mundane. RELATED:21 Queer Books To Look Out for This Summer and Fall. Yet Rowell does a good job of selling this as the shock Simon needed. In the first, Penny is trying to uncurse Shepard, which would be easier if she still believed she could fix peoples problems, and if Shepard stopped smiling at everyone and buying sandwiches from Pret. Any Way the Wind Blows finally delivers all of the beautiful, wonderful, soft, heartbreaking, tearful, incredible (and dare I say spicy) Simon and Baz moments that weve all been patiently waiting for. I am not a cruel person. Her novels arent Mills & Boon-esque by any means, but the first rule of writing for the big romance publishing house still applies: At the heart of all great romances are two strong, appealing, sympathetic and three-dimensional characters. In Eleanor & Park, its well, Eleanor and Park; Fangirl, its Cath and Levi. A reviewer on Amazon put it very well: The first two books are adventures with fleeting, beautiful, agonising moments of intimacy. Carry On is probably one of my favorite series and I think you did a brilliant job of describing it. This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. Like I said, I wasnt completely satisfied with the way the story ended because it left a lot of questions unanswered but your take on it was very fresh and made me feel better about how it ended!
Sometimes you dont get catharsis or closure, but you still need to move on anyway. AO3 skews heavily towards male/male pairings, in comparison to other archives, but hopefully still gives some idea of scale. I did research on what would be the most powerful spells in the U.K. and I looked updo you want to guess what the most popular songs of all time in England are? Even Pennywho has always been certain shes right about everythingis miserable and confused. Did I get that right? All spells are taken from clichs and sayings, memes, songs, whatever is used byNormals. Penelope Bunce is Simons best friend. Id open up a vein. A year and a half after giving up his magic to save the World of Mages, hes still depressed, hes still got dragon wings and a tail. Im in the middle of writing Any Way the Wind Blows. I know hes the love of my life. But its right there, right? This review isnt the place to discuss whether Rowling is right (she isnt), but its worth saying that if you like Potter, but find it hard to read, given Rowlings views, you might enjoy this more LGBT+ friendly magic-school story (and what happens afterwards). In Carry On, he relates an incident that happened when he and Simon were fifteen: one of his familys unsuccessful plots to maim Simon, which apparently cost an innocent bystander her voice. All of his coping skills are about winning the war, and none of them are about living at peace. Something like make a wish also doesnt obviously connect to fireits only because most readers understand the context of blowing out birthday candles that the words can accomplish what they do. Most of the walk-on characters have a fun detail attached to them, so theyre memorable despite next to no lines. But, if this is the kind of character you like, theres a good chance youll like this book. She published two novels, Eleanor & Park and Fangirl, which cemented her reputation as a young adult fiction writer uniquely gifted at writing smart-yet-dreamy contemporary stories about sensitive young women and the very nice boys who like them. Consequently, it does something very interesting with the way it treats Simon, Baz, and the other characters. Individuals can learn and grow, but systems need more than just a magical boy and his friends to truly bring about change. Oh, my God, I dont go near that. He joined the main trio in book two. We also meet Simons super-smart best friend Penelope Penny Bunce; his girlfriend Agatha Wellbelove; and his rich, arrogant, and possibly evil nemesis: Tyrannus Basilton Baz Pitch. ~ All the spoilers for Carry On(book one) andWayward Son(book two);light spoilerage for Any Way the Wind Blows~. well. Of a thousand lives stacked up on top of each other. Simon. This style lends a poetry to the prose while leaving room for some downright unreliable narration from the protagonists. This plotline clearly reframes what Baz and his family did as unacceptable, underlining the message that Baz was a child at the time and has since grown up, forming different opinions, which he acts on. For a start, Cath doesnt learn she has to grow up and get over fanfiction in order to live a normal life, get the guy, and be a real writer. goof You can check out my review here https://hundredsandthousandsofbooks.blog/2021/07/27/spoiler-free-review-any-way-the-wind-blows/. What do you need? And, more importantly, reach compromises, so theyre both happy. They still hold fast to the important roots of their relationship, but their combative and uncertain edges with one another have finally softened into something comfortable and beautiful. I need Bazs lovesick pining and Pennys snappy commentary like I need air. Its very Return of the Jedi to split the third instalment of a trilogy into three streams, but it left me missing the earlier books group dynamic. The beauty of this is that theres no Hero, no Sidekick anymore. Dont be mistaken; the physical intimacy in this book exists to further character and emotional development. There are some beautiful parts (most notably when Simon bad with words Snow thinks of Baz, Id give him all that I am. Ad Choices. When my parents learned that I was a vamp . Obviously, problematic content should be called out. Further to that, it was also important and validating to see Baz and Simon return to the conversation about Simons sexuality to truly cement the fact that he doesnt find the need to label himself period (and thats perfectly okay.). There are good female characters, particularly Penny, who hates most people but chose to befriend Simon because her mother told her that no one knew where he came from and he might be dangerous, and FionaBazs deranged aunt, who leads most of the schemes against Simon and his mentor. In many ways,Any Way the Wind Blowsended where I expected it to end and hit many of the plot points I expected it to. She informs us that she was three years ahead of our heroes at school, and that their Humdrum-fighting antics messed up her lacrosse games. I can touch you less gently, but I wont love you less kindly. Baz, Theres such a delicate, passionate, and raw rhythm to the way that Rowell writes moments between Simon and Baz, and in this book, more than ever. The final book in the trilogyAny Way the Wind Blowswas announced a week later and published in 2021. His aunt put him up to it and wasnt bothered by what happened, which is all that Baz has to say about the matter. Hes always been impulsive, always thrived in life-and-death situations where he needed to fight to survive. That this book makes me, and many, many others feel seen proves that. Any Way the Wind Blows is now available to purchase. Penny demands a disguise and Shepard suggests she says shes a muskrat maidena kind of creature that Penny has never even heard of. This Simon is (according to Baz) the worst Chosen One ever chosen. Apparently prophesied to save the World of Mages, Simon is the most powerful magician ever born, but he cant control that power and isnt good with wordsthe currency of this particular magical world. Penny, Agatha, or both could have been set up as characters who didnt need true love to complete them, but by promoting them to main characters (rather than the sidekick and the ex-girlfriend), they become caught up in the YA romance genre. Bazs character arc is one of the most satisfying elements of the trilogy. Any Way the Wind Blows focuses on interpersonal relationships. When the Humdrum comes after me, I fight him. Hes also a vampire who refuses to drink people. He does still help people even after he loses his power. Nothing can. I got very excited when I first saw the 2 on the spine of Wayward Son and realized you were planning a Simon Snow series. Honestly, I had many qualms about how this book ended. We have digested so many Chosen One stories. Pennys parents eventually accept Shepard as her partner, but in part because hes interested in magic. So thank you, Rainbow, for letting all of us Normals take a peek into your witty, wonderful World of Mages and sharing some of the magic. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Any Way the Wind Blows is out now. Fangirl is a genuinely good, likeable, and engaging romance. The third book is going to be about that. Absolute pieces. Rowell heard us loud and clear, and boy did these two talk. In Carry On and the rest of the trilogy, its Simon and Baz. When Penny objects to the plan, Shepard responds: Nice. Like any good fairy tale,Any Way the Wind Blowsplays with the powers of names magically and more metaphorically. How much of ourselves do we owe the people who raised us? Hes convinced he was never the Chosen One at all. If a character wants to put out a fire, theyll cast Make a wish; when Simon wants to get blood out of his trousers, he casts, Out, out, damn spot. (Or tries toit doesnt really work.) Okay, weve got a very special orphan, the most magical orphan there is, and hes on a train going to magic school. We also learn that some of the issues they had in Wayward Son were caused by Baz treating Simon gently, because thats what he himself wanted from a relationship, whereas Simon interpreted this as Baz pitying him. derry nessa007 borricadas Baz is exactly the kind of character fandom wishes Draco Malfoy was: always well dressed, usually ready with a clever put-down, and very sad on the inside. As Rowell told Vanity Fair in a recent phone call, it at least wont be a four-year wait again. Its why they fell for Smith-Richards in the first place. Hes not just a Normal, hes a special Normal who gets us. In a way, none of this is new, but its unusual to spend so much time in an established relationship that isnt actively breaking down. The bulk of the novel splits the main cast into three groups: Baz and Simon, Penny and Shepard, Agatha and newcomer Niamh. I still think that is the characters overall narrative effect, but it doesnt click into a clear lesson and effect change in the World of Mages. But the other thing I hope people see, even when he doesnt see what a badass he is, is that Simons really a badass. But, it was so much rawer, so much more intimate, than I expected. My worry is that even well-intentioned gatekeeping will limit future opportunities for aspiring queer and BIPOC writers. Simons holding a sword on the cover, but he barely uses it, because thats not how he solves his problems anymore. And being able to breathe is one of the novels running motifs. So, the more the gen pop uses a phrase, the more powerful the spell becomes. Can our beloved dragon boy use the inheritance he receives from his dead mentor/abuser (whomhe himselfkilled!) Nearly every main character in this book is queer, and only one character labels himself as gay. Two years after Fangirls release, Rowell published her own version of Simons eighth year at Watford School of Magicks: Carry On (2015). Both of these strands are, like Simon and Bazs story, also centred on romantic relationships. I was really sick for a long time, and it kind of came to a head when I was writing Carry On. Its a call to take care of yourself, to communicate, to enjoy the mundane. RELATED:21 Queer Books To Look Out for This Summer and Fall. Yet Rowell does a good job of selling this as the shock Simon needed. In the first, Penny is trying to uncurse Shepard, which would be easier if she still believed she could fix peoples problems, and if Shepard stopped smiling at everyone and buying sandwiches from Pret. Any Way the Wind Blows finally delivers all of the beautiful, wonderful, soft, heartbreaking, tearful, incredible (and dare I say spicy) Simon and Baz moments that weve all been patiently waiting for. I am not a cruel person. Her novels arent Mills & Boon-esque by any means, but the first rule of writing for the big romance publishing house still applies: At the heart of all great romances are two strong, appealing, sympathetic and three-dimensional characters. In Eleanor & Park, its well, Eleanor and Park; Fangirl, its Cath and Levi. A reviewer on Amazon put it very well: The first two books are adventures with fleeting, beautiful, agonising moments of intimacy. Carry On is probably one of my favorite series and I think you did a brilliant job of describing it. This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. Like I said, I wasnt completely satisfied with the way the story ended because it left a lot of questions unanswered but your take on it was very fresh and made me feel better about how it ended!