Carry OnCarry On
Score Modern
What it's about
Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen. In Rainbow Rowell's affectionate twist on the magical-school story, Simon faces his last year at a school for magicians, an ancient evil, and his roommate and nemesis, Baz.
Why it's worth reading
It has spent 20 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's a funny, romantic and heartfelt riff on the Chosen One fantasy.
You'll love it if you liked
Heartstopper
Red, White & Royal Blue
Six of CrowsGood to know
Simon first appeared as a story-within-a-story in Rowell's novel Fangirl, but you don't need to read it first. It's the first of a trilogy.
By the numbers
- Readers68 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller64 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #47 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #113 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #413 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #800 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
More by Rainbow Rowell
If you like this, read next
A Court of Thorns and Roses
A Dog's Purpose
Legendborn
Throne of Glass
Spinning Silver
The Ten Thousand Doors of JanuaryExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Carry On worth reading?
Yes. It has spent 20 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #800 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 75.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Carry On about?
Simon Snow is the worst Chosen One who's ever been chosen. In Rainbow Rowell's affectionate twist on the magical-school story, Simon faces his last year at a school for magicians, an ancient evil, and his roommate and nemesis, Baz.
How long does it take to read Carry On?
About 13 hours (529 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Carry On?
If you liked it, try Heartstopper by Alice Oseman, Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston or Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.