Rainbow Rowell Quotes

Powerful Rainbow Rowell for Daily Growth

About Rainbow Rowell

Rainbow Rowell, born on February 24, 1973, in Omaha, Nebraska, is a contemporary American novelist, essayist, and graphic novel writer, renowned for her poignant narratives of love, family, and self-discovery. Growing up in a working-class household, Rowell developed an early affinity for storytelling. Her passion was ignited by the novels she devoured as a teenager, particularly those by Jane Austen and Judy Blume. This love led her to major in journalism at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Post-graduation, Rowell worked various jobs, including writing for the Omaha World-Herald, where she honed her craft. Her professional writing career took off when she self-published a novella titled "Etiquette & Etiquette" in 2004. It was later picked up by St. Martin's Press and re-released as "A Novel in Novellas" in 2011. In 2013, Rowell published her debut adult novel, "Fangirl," a coming-of-age story that resonated deeply with young adults. The success of "Fangirl" was followed by "Eleanor & Park" (2013), another poignant tale of first love set in the 1980s. Both novels were New York Times bestsellers and established Rowell as a major voice in contemporary literature. In 2015, Rowell ventured into graphic novel writing with "Carry On," an adaptation of her popular novel "Fangirl." Her subsequent works include "Attachments" (2011), "Landline" (2014), and "Wayward Son" (2019). Rowell's writing is characterized by its keen insight into human emotions, her ability to capture the complexities of youth, and her knack for crafting unforgettable characters. Her works continue to inspire readers worldwide.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The best thing you can possibly do with your life is to tackle the motherf**king shit out of it." - Eleanor & Park

This quote encourages an aggressive, determined approach towards life's challenges, using the colloquial phrase "tackle" to signify taking on problems head-on and with vigor. The phrase "motherf***ing shit" is a strong expression denoting obstacles and difficulties one may encounter in life. Therefore, the quote implies that the best way to live is to fearlessly confront and overcome those challenges or problems with unrelenting spirit.


"You don't love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they are good and kind and interesting." - Fangirl

This quote emphasizes that true love is not superficial, based on physical appearance, material possessions, or status symbols. Instead, it's about appreciating the inner qualities of a person such as goodness, kindness, and intelligence. The author suggests that these character traits are more significant in forming deep, meaningful relationships than temporary attractions.


"I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful, 100%." - Attachments

This quote signifies sincerity and loyalty, as embodied by the character of an elephant. It suggests that when one speaks their mind and means exactly what they say, there is unwavering faithfulness in their words, much like an elephant's unbreakable devotion. In a broader context, it emphasizes the importance of honesty and staying true to oneself and commitments.


"It is not an exaggeration to say that the only time I've ever looked truly happy is in photographs." - Eleanor & Park

The quote highlights a common human sentiment whereby individuals, particularly teenagers like Eleanor and Park, may present themselves as happier or more content in photos than they genuinely feel in their everyday lives. This discrepancy could be due to various reasons such as the desire to project a positive image, the fleeting nature of true happiness being captured at a specific moment, or simply the general awkwardness that comes with being photographed. It's a poignant reflection on our societal expectations and the way we present ourselves in public versus private moments.


"I wondered if people who believed they had known love were just those who had been loved first, and so didn't know any better." - Fangirl

This quote suggests that individuals who believe they have experienced love may simply be those who have been loved first, without a comparative understanding of what love could look like outside of that initial experience. Essentially, it questions whether one's perception of love is shaped by being the recipient rather than the giver, thus limiting their awareness of alternative forms or deeper expressions of love.


In 'Attachments,' which is told from a male point of view, people asked me if a man would really think that much about whether a woman likes him. But I have a husband and three brothers, and they're all like that.

- Rainbow Rowell

Woman, Brothers, About, Asked

Attraction is what happens between you. It's not universal. And it's not conventional. And thank God for that.

- Rainbow Rowell

Conventional, Thank, Attraction

I feel like some sort of fiction-writing hobo, jumping trains and always hoping I'll find a good place to start a fire in the next town. And I keep having these panicky episodes where I corner my husband and rant at him: 'I don't have anywhere to write! I can't write! I don't have a place to write!'

- Rainbow Rowell

Next, Some, Rant, Trains

My favorite Starbucks is nice - Omaha Starbucks stores tend to be friendlier than big-city ones, and the baristas are especially lovely at mine - but it's still a Starbucks.

- Rainbow Rowell

Lovely, Starbucks, Mine, Omaha

Having a conversation on a landline is more intimate than talking to someone in person. Your voices are so clear and close - you're in each other's heads.

- Rainbow Rowell

More, Other, Having, Conversation

I find love stories satisfying when you can see the work - when you can really watch people find each other and fall in love, a little bit at a time. I like slow burns. Falling in love is so good; why would you want to rush it?

- Rainbow Rowell

Love, Why, Other, Satisfying

When I watch a romantic comedy, I feel like they're selling something that doesn't exist. Two beautiful, but extremely unpleasant, people are terrible to each other for an hour, accidentally kiss, then decide to like each other during an extremely vague montage. That isn't how people fall in love.

- Rainbow Rowell

Love, Vague, Other, Accidentally

I'd never written a novel before, and I wrote a novel, and that turned out OK.

- Rainbow Rowell

Never, Before, Turned, OK

I was in my mid 20s when email finally took off. Until then, the phone was my primary way of connecting with the people in my life.

- Rainbow Rowell

My Life, Finally, Took, Primary

I like science fiction, I like fantasy, I like time travel, so I had this idea: What if you had a phone that could call into the past?

- Rainbow Rowell

Fantasy, Fiction, Like, Science Fiction

I think, when I was younger, I believed in - and yearned for - conventional beauty. I thought there was a spectrum from ugly to beautiful, and that you could objectively plot everyone you saw along it.

- Rainbow Rowell

Beauty, Think, I Think, Objectively

With fandom, people are sensitive, and sometimes defensive, about their experiences.

- Rainbow Rowell

Sensitive, Sometimes, About, Defensive

I can't seem to help writing love stories. I definitely crave romance. When I was young, I craved romance in books, but I didn't want to read just romance - love plays such a big part in our lives, it shouldn't be cut out and restricted to its own fiction.

- Rainbow Rowell

Love, Big, Romance, Restricted

As I moved to less and less diverse places in my life, I realized that white people don't talk about race amongst themselves!

- Rainbow Rowell

My Life, Race, Moved, Diverse

It's very difficult, I think, especially on two cellphones, to have a romantic conversation.

- Rainbow Rowell

Think, I Think, Very, Conversation

I enjoy stories about thin women - I read them frequently. I enjoy them; I root for those characters, but I always feel like there are enough of them out there and there are enough of them in the spotlight.

- Rainbow Rowell

Always, Stories, Read, Thin

I'm not complaining about my cell phone - all my friends are in there, and all my favorite songs and all my favorite Benedict Cumberbatch GIFs; I don't want to give it up. But cell phones are the worst for talking on the phone.

- Rainbow Rowell

Phones, Cell Phones, About, All My Friends

I tend to write about my anxieties - it's what I'm afraid will happen. And I write a story working it out.

- Rainbow Rowell

Will, Happen, I Write, Anxieties

A landline is an anchor - busy signals, long distance bills, missed connections and all.

- Rainbow Rowell

Distance, Missed, Signals, Anchor

If you were an alien who came to our bookstores - or browsed our teen magazines - you'd think that only Earth girls who look like Mila Kunis ever got any action.

- Rainbow Rowell

Teen, Think, Like, Bookstores

In my mind, every single female character I've written is plus-size.

- Rainbow Rowell

Character, Mind, Single, Female

When 'Attachments' came out and people liked it, I'd have a warm feeling of having made a connection.

- Rainbow Rowell

Warm, Made, Having, Connection

I definitely had a hard time leaving for college because I'm not much of a risk-taker.

- Rainbow Rowell

College, Had, Definitely, Leaving

With 'Attachments,' my goal was to write a really good romantic comedy. I wanted the reader to be smiling throughout.

- Rainbow Rowell

Smiling, Goal, Comedy, Write

When you're a woman, you have to work harder to get a laugh... I follow so many hilarious women on Twitter. It's a daily reminder that women get to be funny.

- Rainbow Rowell

Work, Woman, Reminder, Twitter

Our cellphones can do everything, but they're bad at letting us talk to each other.

- Rainbow Rowell

Talk, Bad, Other, Letting

I wrote all four of my books at Starbucks.

- Rainbow Rowell

Four, Books, Wrote, Starbucks

When you actually fall in love, no one sees that other person the way that you do.

- Rainbow Rowell

Love, Other, Actually, Sees

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