Actual rating: 3.5* 
 I liked this book. Of course I did - it's a Rainbow Rowell story and I have yet to find a Rainbow Rowell story I do not like. Somehow, though, I felt like it had more potential that just didn't show in the book that eventually came out. 
 My main "problem" with CARRY ON is that it started out as a fanfiction story and that is also a bit how it reads. I love fanfiction stories - frankly, I still read more fanfiction than "normal" books - but I mean this in the sense that it doesn't feel like I got the whole story. The whole Simon Snow world reminds me of Harry Potter (of course), but I get the feeling that I'm missing a lot of background information and world-building; like this book had a couple of prequels I never read. 
 In itself, the story is good. I love the SnowBaz romance and the characters are no carbon copies of the Harry Potter ones, which was a good thing, too. Once again, I must applaud Rowell's characterization: I simply love the fact that her characters are never perfect, because it makes them so much more realistic. The story itself is not completely solid, but I didn't mind so much. It was enjoyable and there was just enough mystery to keep me curious about what was going to happen next. The ending was bittersweet, but stronger because of it, in my opinion. 
 There's plenty to like about CARRY ON and I'd suggest reading it if you've read and liked FANGIRL and/or are a Rainbow Rowell fan, like me; but if that is not the case, I think this book will mostly feel confusing. Nevertheless, I still am (and probably always will be) a Rainbow Rowell fan myself and I'm looking forward to her next story.