An insecure college freshman learns she can overcome the hurts of her past in the novel Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Since she was eight, Cather Avery has dealt with life by disappearing into writing fanfiction about her favorite young adult book series. Now that she’s in college, life has become too real for Cath. Her twin sister is asking for space; the mother who abandoned Cath wants to renew their relationship; and, the end of the Simon Snow series is coming. All of these events bring stress to a girl who can’t conquer her own insecurity about the college dining hall. Additionally, Cath feels as if she is the only one who must watch over her mentally ill father and alcohol addicted sister. With the help of some friends, Cath manages to come to terms with the pain her mother caused, accept the love of a new boyfriend, rebuild the relationship with her twin sister, and finish her conclusion to the Simon Snow series. She accomplishes all of these things before the end of her spring semester.

For the first time in her life, Cath is separated from her more outgoing twin Wren, who has decided she no longer wants to be known as Cath’s twin. Luckily, Cath’s upperclassman roommate, Reagan, takes Cath under her wing, showing her the basics of college life. Despite her help, Cath’s first semester of college is a train wreck as Cath witnesses her twin sister drink and party to excess. To make matters worse, Cath’s mother, who abandoned the family when Cath and Wren were eight, tries to rekindle a relationship with the girls. Wren goes along with their mother's plan. Then, a boy pretends to be friends with Cath. He uses the story they write together as his own work for a college fiction writing class. Topping things off, Cath’s father is sent to a mental hospital. Cath leaves college early to take care of him, missing the end of her first semester.

Cath considers not returning to college for spring semester but the budding of a friendship with Levi, Reagan’s friend, entices her back. Levi slowly proves himself over the course of the spring semester. Cath’s relationship with her sister is rekindled after Wren survives a bout of alcohol poisoning and is warned by their father to stop drinking. Now Cath’s life is back together to some extent, but she is faced with two challenges. She must finish her fanfiction novel about Simon Snow before the ending of the Gemma T. Leslie Snow series in May. She must also write a piece of fiction to turn in for her final project for a fiction writing class.

It is through this writing project that Cath finally puts into words the hurt and pain associated with her mother leaving Cath and her family. Cath finally feels able to come out of hiding and face the world as she deals with her emotions and makes peace with that part of her life. In parallel, the ending of the Simon Snow series leaves Simon finally at peace with his mortal enemy through the course of the novel. At the story’s conclusion, Cath finds peace not only in her real life but also in the make believe world that has helped her cope for so long.