ALSO, JENNY, WHAT DO I DO WITH MYSELF NOW THAT THERE'S NO MORE OF THIS BOOK FOR ME TO READ?

So I’m still veryvery excited about this, even though I won’t get to read it for ages.

I loved Agatha! Not sure I would say she was my favourite – I don’t think I had one – but she has just the best storyline. In fantasy, we’re only ever told that to want magic is to be normal, look at Petunia, she didn’t fare well from shunning it (admittedly after wanting it). But, Agatha is all about how if she doesn’t want it why should she have to have it, why does she have to be the accessory to the two guys battling out for her affection. Go to LA life your life with people who don’t treat you like an object or someone superior to others. Love her.

I got a bit ranty there, sorry.

Absolutely! And so consistent with her reaction to Simon and Agatha’s fight. I’m the kind of friend who would have seen that situation as a reason to choose sides, but Penelope was incredibly loyal to their group and gave them no choice to break it, even if she was closer to Simon. And that’s so independent of the plot, just there to show that Penelope’s inner life doesn’t revolve around Simon. I love when Rainbow Rowell does that.

Re: Draco/Baz, I think the HP fandom has done a great job rewriting Harry as a more rounded character. He’s often a crappy friend, his lack of structure is more often than not the reason he’s not a better wizard, etc. But Draco most of the time is this kind of ethereal manic pixie dream boy, only there to obsess over Harry and look fragile despite his sarcastic streak. But maybe I just lack the proper context? Maybe Baz is a kind of response to other class of fics I haven’t read? What kind of fics does Rainbow Rowell read, anyway?