I started reading this book with mixed feelings. On one hand, I loved the Simon and Baz parts of Fangirl (more than the Cath/Levi parts if I'm being perfectly honest), but I was a little worried that the World of Mages would not live up to my expectations. I shouldn't have been worried. 
 When the novel starts out, it feels very Harry Potter-esque. You have the main protagonist, a supposed Chosen One who attends a school of magic, struggles with the families (family) he lives with outside of school, whom the main villain has a personal vendetta against. His best friend is an exceedingly clever witch, top of her classes, and is personally in charge of keeping him out of trouble, but usually manages to aid him in his trouble-making anyways. The school bully, aka main protagonist's rival, is also extremely clever, in addition to being rich and from a well respected family that absolutely no one actually seems to like. 
 However, the further into the novel I got, the more original it felt. I believe this was by design, because it really worked. The different characters, and the plot itself, became more and more different from Harry Potter and very much its own story. While there were still similarities I stopped reading "Baz (AKA Draco)" every time the characters' names showed up. 
 The fantasy aspects of the book were really enjoyable - I had been worried, I think, about the fact that a very talented realistic fiction author was writing fantasy, but there were so many interesting ideas that were used. Spells being common phrases was absolutely genius. 
 And then, of course, there was the romance. I won't spoil anything, though the main pairing isn't exactly a spoiler (anyone whose read Fangirl knows, and it is really heavily implied throughout the beginning), but the slow build-up, as well as tension between the two characters was done so well I was thrilled when they actual admitted their feelings for each other - and all the reactions following that moment managed to keep that feeling alive. 
 The humor, as well, was one of the books strongest aspects. Baz's dry wit with Simon's general cluelessness were a great combination, and with Penny being sassy in the mix I was grinning the whole time I was reading it. 
 I could go on for a while, but the main point is that I greatly enjoyed this book, and would highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to take a few hours (because I, for one, could not put it down) to get lost in the World of Mages.