Let me sum this up for you:

Caroline's greatest sin in this book is A) lying about being friends with fictional characters to save face, and B) lying about her reason for wanting to go to Ashmore (shock shock, it's a boy).

And yet everyone, including her mother and therapist, treats her like she's told an INSANELY SERIOUS LIE THAT COULD SIGNAL A TOTAL PSYCHOLOGICAL BREAKDOWN HOLY SHIT. Caroline was treated like one of those hardcore drug addicts that steal from grandma and sell their bodies for money as far as trust goes, and it was utterly ridiculous.

I mean, are you seriously telling me we need to pull a girl from school because she chose that school because a boy she liked was going there? Do you seriously think Caroline is the FIRST GIRL EVER to let a romantic interest influence her choice of college? Holy shit.

(Also, because I've finally hit my limit: From this point on, any book I read that shoves even ONE hamfisted "Fuck da Patriarchy!" reference in a book, especially YA, it immediately loses a star. I cannot even begin to make you understand how common this has become, and it's a virtue-signaling tool for the author. I hate it, and I've hit my limit with it.)

4.5

I picked up this book because it was described to me as something fans of Rainbow Rowel's Fangirl would like, so I said why the hell not?

I've never identified with a book character so much as I've identified with Caroline here. She is socially awkward doesn't know how to make friends and hides under books, shows and movies.
She has this problem of having invented all this imaginary life for her mother's sake, including friendships brought right out of her favorite show, and when it all crumbles down on her graduation day, she is sent to therapy for the summer and given a trial run at college, Caroline has one semester to prove to her mother and therapist that she can actually form real relationships.

I've always had this thing where I have no problem starting a conversation but I never know how to go on talking to that person. I'm always so envious of people who can simply talk to other about everything and that actually know how to, because I don't, I can't form a friendship to save my life, or I'm way too open or way too closed or way too awkward or way too much, so seeing that portrayed so accurately was amazing.

I only wished this book was longer and actually came with a manual on how to make friends but otherwise this book was just what I needed, it was quick and heartfelt and relatable. I read this in one sitting and enjoyed the fuck out of it.

I enjoyed this book. I really liked the last book I read by the author and decided to get another book, and boy am I glad! I felt like I could relate to Caroline as she navigates a new world, trying to find herself. The pop culture references were bonuses, things that I could understand, some of them being from shows I enjoy. It's made me want to watch Felicity now as I've never seen it...

My review for Finding Felicity can be found here on Fangirl Fury:

https://fangirlfury.com/2018/05/08/college-ya-meets-90s-tv-finding-felicity-review/

5 reasons why Finding Felicity is for fans of Felicity AND everyone else!

1. Finding Felicity is set during a key transitional period in a young adult’s lifetime - the transition to college & freshman year. Felicity fans know this is a key element during the show!
2. Main character Caroline is one of the most realistic, relatable characters I’ve ever read. Stacey found unique ways to make her one of us while also showing us what makes her the person she is. I loved that we saw her ongoing mental health process through the story.
3. There are lots of secondary characters who need their own book! I would read stories about any of them. It’s like having a full cast!
4. There are 3 Supernatural references. Did Stacey write this just for me? 🤣
5. You don’t have to have watched Felicity to get it but there are enough references that will make you want to watch it for the first time or once again!

Oh, I felt for Caroline, I could really relate, and I enjoyed her story so much!

Yah...this was not a good book. Caroline was like... I mean, to do a thing like that, you have to actually be mentally ill? It’s such a movie character thing to do and really didn’t feel believable. The premise of the book was a lot better than the execution. What about the thing at the near end with the shower etc? SO out of place? Why?

As said, I’m glad for the 1.75x speed feature so I could get through the book faster than normal speed.

I read this in one day, only taking breaks for work and to Google the Felicity wiki. I was a huge fan of Felicity, and Caroline felt like another (much, much younger) version of me. I loved reading her story and watching her come into her own. Now I'm going to have to binge watch Felicity (I have all the dvds, but I'll probably Netflix it Caroline style). Team Noel forever!

This book was chock full of good advice about being yourself, but isn't particularly motivational. All I really feel inspired to do after finishing Finding Felicity is watch the TV show Felicity (free streaming with ABC app, lol).

I do see parts of myself in Caroline. I too believed that I could reinvent myself in college and become a person who likes going to big parties (spoiler, I couldn't). That comparison lead to me experience some high anxiety as Caroline's adventures made me reminisce about stupid college stuff I would rather forget.