My Rosebud Boy

by Rainbow Rowell

This short story was written as a bonus for people who ordered SCATTERED SHOWERS from the Bookworm in Omaha, Nebraska. It's an alternate universe story about Simon Snow and Baz Pitch, characters from Rainbow's Simon Snow Trilogy. It was printed by the author in a brochure format.

Genres: Romance, Short Stories, LGBT, Young Adult, Fantasy, Queer, Contemporary

49 pages, Paperback

First published November 8, 2022

About the author

Rainbow Rowell writes all kinds of stuff.

Sometimes she writes about adults (ATTACHMENTS, LANDLINE, SLOW DANCE).

Sometimes she writes about teenagers (ELEANOR & PARK, FANGIRL) .

Sometimes — actually, a lot of the time — she writes about lovesick vampires and guys with dragon wings. (THE SIMON SNOW TRILOGY).

Recently, she’s been writing comics, including her first graphic novel, PUMPKINHEADS, and the monthly SHE-HULK comic for Marvel.

She lives in Omaha, Nebraska.

More at rainbowrowell.com.

Reviews

[Celine Ong · Rating 4 out of 5]

simon snow calling out my tattoo pain kink was not on my 2023 bingo card

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely cannot believe Rainbow wrote a whole alternate universe about Snowbaz where Simon works at a flower shop and Baz is a tattoo artist.

I love how much fun she has with these characters and how I love how much she can’t get them out of her head.

Can we also talk about the artwork though?!?! Absolutely STUNNING!!

[Rowan :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You haven't ruined this. You haven't ruined me. I wanted everything you gave me- I want more."

Oh my goodness, this was such a cute fluffy read! Again, many thanks to my lovely librarian for letting me read her very own personal copy.

This short little story became available when Scattered Showers was published- if you ordered it from Rainbow Rowell's website, it came with an extra Snowbaz story- this.

My Rosebud Boy isn't set in the World of Mages- it was written in an AU, which was so interesting! I really enjoyed seeing the alternate roles the characters played in this story. It was so fascinating! The characters, as expected, had the same personalities, but, as usual my favorite character was, to the surprise of no one, Baz.

Okay. Baz. AS A TATTOO ARTIST. ABSOLUTELY DEFINITELY YES. His character in this story was so amazingly well done, and I just loved every second I spent reading about him.

Simon isn't my favorite character, I guess you could say, but I still really enjoyed his role in this story. Simon working at a flower shop. Who has a bunch of tattoos, most of which don't mean anything... Yes. Just yes.

The plot of this story was really great. Good pace, no insta-love. It was so much fun watching Simon's feelings develop for Baz, quite similarly to how it happened in Carry On: They never really used to hang out, (in this story they don't hate each other, they just don't know each other) their shops are next to each other, (much like their roommate situation) and Baz had feelings for Simon all along: he just didn't do anything about it and Simon never realized the feeling was mutual until he got to know him.
It was so fun watching their feelings build up and progress over the span of many tattoos and months.

And can I just take a sec to say how AMAZING the art in this book was? I mean, all the depictions of Simon and Baz were good, but I LOVED the way this artist drew Baz. Absolutely in love.

I suppose that is all I have to say about this short story, so now for the three questions:

Would I recommend this story?
If you enjoyed the Simon Snow trilogy, then yes! I would highly recommend this. It's a cute fluffy romance and an interesting alternate universe Rainbow Rowell has crafted.

If this was a movie, what would I rate it?
PG-13. Language. Easier to relate with if you're around 13 or older.

Will I read Rainbow Rowell's other books?
I would like to at some point!

ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ-
Any Way the Wind Blows ★★★
Wayward Son ★★★★
Carry On ★★★★

[˗ˏˋ mckenna ˎˊ˗ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i cannot believe we live in a world where an OFFICIAL tattoo/flower shop snowbaz au exists?!?! thank u rainbow 😭😭😭

[Ditte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snowbaz flower shop and tattoo parlor AU, hell yeah.

Simon having a tattoo pain kink wasn't something I saw coming but seems entirely in character 😆

Super cute little bonus AU from Ms Rowell.

[lane (๑ᵔ⤙ᵔ๑) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mom, why is my sister's name Rose?"

"Because your mother loves roses."

"Thanks, Mom."

"No problem, My Rosebud Boy (2022) by Rainbow Rowell."


(p.s. i have spent literal years searching for this, and just happened to find it on a whim. never give up guys omg)

[Vanessa | nessasreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I suddenly need a tattoo

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so delightful. Not only is it so amazing to have an author who writes an AU of her own books, but the fact that it’s a flower shop, tattoo artist AU that reimagines the characters in a completely different setting but remains absolutely true to who they are as characters (which is of course the beauty of a really good AU) feels almost too good to be true. This is why I love, and will always love, Rainbow Rowell—because she embraces elements of fan culture and fanfiction and carries them over into her published writing with absolute joy and conviction. Just like the entire Carry On series, this made me laugh out loud multiple times and also yell with pure delight. I can’t think of another author who makes me cackle aloud so often while reading, or dance with joy in my kitchen because two idiots in love have finally had the courage to tell each other how they feel. I can only greedily hope that Rainbow Rowell will be inspired again to give us more Simon Snow AUs. 💖🌈💫

[Paz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars
I had not read anything for like three weeks, just one of those reading slumps, but today I found this story and re-read it quickly. Man, I miss these characters, I feel like no matter how much time has passed or how old I get, I'm always gonna have a little hope for more Simon and Baz, in any shape or form.

Original "review":

I could read about Simon and Baz falling in love in every and any universe for years and years (which I have done, thank you ao3 writers). Hope Rainbow keeps on bringing these kind of short stories as a bonus for the fans.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how My Rosebud Boy was all about Simon having a humiliation kink with s&m undertones, what a time to be a Simon Snow fan
10/10

[Flor ):) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Will you tattoo your name over my heart?”
“No”
“What if I come back to you in six months and I still want it?”

DIOS! Eso fue bellísimo, definitivamente un AU flower shop/tattoo artist de la mismísima Rainbow Rowell no estaba ni en mis mas locos sueños pero estoy tan feliz por su existencia. Ame que fuera tan AWTWB coded (incluidas las lágrimas), el significado de los tatuajes y el hecho de que al final el corazón ya no fuera mencionado como un espacio libre.

[Lisa Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely Simon & Baz story!

[fatema ! · Rating 4 out of 5]

who let rainbow rowell write and publish fanfiction of her characters that canonically emerged from fictional fanfiction written about them by another character of hers. my head hurts just thinking about this. the florist x tattoo artist trope hits though

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute Simon and Baz deserve the world 😭😭😭

[Meliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will love Baz and Simon in every universe.

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, Rainbow Rowell! To be fair, this wasn't a full-on published story. It was a fun insert for people who bought copies of another book from the author's hometown bookstore. So, yes, I went out of my way to find this and read someone's scanned photos of the original. And yes, I'm being crazy here. But it wasn't that good and I'm still bummed!

[dobbs the dog · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so lovely!!!
I am a firm disliker of AUs, but this one was fantastic. OMG, a florist/tattoo shop AU, it was just so, SO good!
This also makes me want to get my next tattoo even more badly now! It’s designed and ready to go, I just need to make an appointment. And, unlike what Penny says, all of my tattoos are well thought out and planned. I’ve never gotten a tattoo on a whim before.
I’m so happy that I had the chance to read this. 😊

[Victoria Oh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was perfect. 🥲

[lila ds · Rating 5 out of 5]

no other author would write an AU of their own work. this is why I love rr

[Valen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe Rainbow Rowell wrote an actual flower shop/tattoo artist AU for us, what a time to be alive.

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more authors to write fanfiction about their characters

[paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love simon and baz
4.5⭐️

[Luly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marge, creo que amo más a Rainbow Rowell de lo que amo a mi madre
Esta mujer podría escribir su lista de compras y comerciarla y yo la compraría sin reprochar. Amo todo lo que tenga que ver con snowbaz y me hace muy feliz que se pueda dar el lujo y la satisfacción de escribir este tipo de cosas y venderlas. Es aún mejor que un fanfic típico porque es un fanfic al borde del canon (? No sé, amo lo meta que es todo y amé a este Simon totalmente disfuncional y adicto a los tatuajes. Los guiños al canon son un chef kiss

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these characters, so it was pretty much a given I would love this. I don't read AU, though, so I wasn't entirely sure. It was super fun! A short, delightful read that captures the characters remarkably well considering how removed they are from their circumstances in the books. It made me smile and laugh out loud.

[del · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh this was so sweet

[jess ☆彡 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5!!!! please give me more SimonBaz content always 😭

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would read about Simon and Baz in whatever universe 🌹

[SnailsAndSlugs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Simon and Baz, but apparently not like this🤣🫢

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS—POSITIVELY LOVELY

Simon and Baz Carry On AU one-shot

Written by Rainbow Rowell as a promotion to encourage readers to order their copy of her book at an Omaha bookstore.

*** PLOT ***

Simon is kind of a mess; he's in a go-nowhere job, dates chaotically, often with a bad end, and knows he'll never get over his mother's death; the chaos is reflected in the random, poorly done, tacky tattoos covering his body. Worst possibly is the botched L[O crossed out]UCY tattoo in memory of his mother that covers his right forearm. He works with his best friend, Penny, in a London florist shop owned by that twat Davy (who's such a twat he makes them clock out for bathroom breaks). The quiet, weird, overly formal, vampire-like guy who owns the place next door comes in one day and, looking grave and uncomfortable, says he wants to buy flowers. Simon is fascinated by him but thinks he's off: Why does he always wear three-piece suits? Why does he have no tattoos? Why should anybody trust a tattoo artist who has no tattoos? Why does he never smile? But he throws a lovely bouquet together for the man, who, turning to leave, tells Simon he can fix the horrible messed-up tattoo on his right forearm and to make an appointment in advance if he's interested. He leaves his card—Baz Pitch, tattoo artist.

Simon goes by Baz's shop the next day, and Baz lets him in right away, despite his having no appointment. The parlor is spare and even clinical, and Baz explains he studied art and got into covering bad tattoos by helping a friend out. He used to just design them on commission, but they were often applied badly, so he began doing the tattoo work himself, and now, ten years later, he has his own shop and is doing steady business. Indeed, Simon had checked for himself online and seen that Baz has become quite successful and has quite the waiting list, despite never advertising. Simon explains that the botched tattoo was done by his drunk friend Gareth on a whim after Simon's mother's death. It looks like a bad biro scrawl, but he wants to keep the name. Baz sketches a new LUCY over it, with roses surrounding, and even this is gorgeous. Simon immediately agrees to have Baz ink it the following day, and Baz offers him a steep discount. The next day, Simon brings Baz a beautiful bouquet as a thank-you, and Baz inks the most beautiful tattoo. To properly thank him, Simon invites Baz out for a drink after; Baz says he's starving, so they should make it dinner instead.

At the local—Baz has a full English and Simon the fish and chips (but no beer, please, because he doesn't like how it makes him feel)—they get to chatting about Simon's myriad other unfortunate, ugly, ill-conceived tattoos, including AGATHA on his left wrist (it was a bad breakup after an unfortunate relationship) and JEREMY along a finger (the douchebag stole Simon's sword; "SWORD??" "Yeah.") Baz seems physically pained by the bad art and the idea of Simon destroying his body with thoughtless permanent ugliness; Simon is very lackadaisical about it and says he's spontaneous and just likes the feeling of getting the tattoos. Baz gravely explains that normally he designs a tattoo for a client and makes them wait six moths before inking to make sure they REALLY want it.

Simon begins having Baz cover his myriad fugly tattoos—always art surrounded in some way with flowers—and he really enjoys the time in the chair, the pain of the needle, and the euphoria he feels once the tattoo is done and the pain lifted. Baz mostly remains very quiet (he says he prefers silence while he works), but Simon can't help but chat cheerfully. Simon says he'd like wings on his back—dragon wings. Baz reluctantly agrees and convinces Simon they should be blue with red roses surrounding them—it will work better with his skin tone. The line work alone takes hours and hours in the chair, leaving Simon nearly giddy with exhaustion and pain. He spontaneously kisses Baz, who initially seems very taken aback but then kisses Simon back passionately. But then he goes quiet and says Simon should wait three weeks to let the work heal before they begin color. Disappointed and a bit confused, Simon agrees and leaves.

Penny is happy Simon finally kissed Baz and is properly sympathetic that Baz seemed to go cold on him afterward. When Simon returns to Baz's studio, he brings more flowers and apologizes for kissing him and said he would like to be Baz's friend and hopes they can put that awardness behind them. Baz is uncomfortable and quiet, but after a moment he agrees.

Once the wings are done, Simon asks Baz to join him, Penny, and Penny's boyfriend, Shepard—an American who works at the cafe' across the street and is a Big Foot truther—at the pub because they want to meet him. Baz seems pleased and sheepish but agrees. The four get along well, with Baz mostly quiet but actually starting to actually smile, and Penny and Shepard think Baz is brilliant and Simon's dragon wings exquisite.

Simon gets tattoo after tattoo after tattoo covered, always with flowers worked in, always at steep discount or for free. Finally he begins to feel terrible about it, like he's taking advantage of Baz; he's an exceptional artist and is wasting all this time he could be billing other clients on giving Simon his work for free. As Simon begins to run out of space on his skin for Baz to work, he asks Baz to freestyle something over his heart. But Baz refuses; he says he will not continue to give Simon thoughtless, unplanned, meaningless tattoos to cover thoughtless, poorly done, meaningless tattoos; Simon's body is sacred, and he should treat it as such. Simon pushes back, saying he does value this art, profoundly; he trusts Baz and wants Baz to express himself. Baz breaks down and says he has been acting in bad faith: he'd originally suggested Simon get the tattoo covered because he had a crush and wanted to be around Simon; and then he insulted Simon's tattoos and made Simon feel bad all so he could keep working on him. He's terribly ashamed of himself. Simon is stunned; he'd thought Baz wasn't interested. He says he's very happy to hear Baz wants him and is not upset at all at Baz's pretense; the art remains very dear to him, and if Baz had inked all the skin on his body, Simon would happily get it lasered off so Baz could begin all over again. He wants to be with Baz. Baz looks miserable and hopeful, and Simon kisses him.

They are together, and they are in love. One day Simon asks Baz to tattoo BAZ on his heart, and Baz says if Simon waits six months and still wants his name, he'll tattoo it. Simon giddily thinks of the inches of skin he still has left uncovered that he can get Baz to ink.

*** ANALYSIS ***

This is just a lovely story, beautifully showing a sort of devil-may-care, chaotic, low-grade dysfunctional Simon attracted to the buttoned-up, grave, sophisticated, acerbic Baz. Simon enjoys being rescued and "worked on"—and low-key gets off on pain—and Baz finds Simon beautiful, an artist with his floral work, goodhearted, a loyal friend, adding flowers to hospital arrangements just to make people feel better, happy to socialize at a pub but never immoderate or getting drunk, and, of course, super hot. They are a lovely complement to each other, and Rainbow Rowell does a LOVELY job drawing a Baz who is miserable over his crush in a way that very easily could appear to be ill-natured or annoyed or put off. She draws Simon as a caring, warm, emotive man who's a bit impulsive, which could simultaneously appear thoughtless, careless, and cheap with his affections. The attraction is sweet and palpable and the barriers to entry (!) organic, heart-tuggy, and believable.

Throughout, the bouquets Simon brings Baz as thank-yous and the flowers Baz uses to ornament Simon's new tattoos have quiet, unstated meaning—primarily purity of love and eternal devotion, and merging into desire to court. Simon certainly doesn't understand what he's saying with the flowers (at the top of the story he scoffs to Penny about Victorian flower language, saying he thinks it's ridiculous and random), but we don't know if Baz understands the significance of what he's inking permanently into Simon's skin. I tend to think Baz—sophisticated, intentional, intelligent—may well have understood what he was doing and used his art to express a passion and desire for Simon that he couldn't yet bring himself to verbalize. Either way, it's a lovely, lovely layer of meaning that enhances this already gorgeous story and makes me a little bit joyful-frantic. (I die over pining, hopeless Baz.)

Simon is an open, emotive, kind of messy, emotionally bruised orphan, and Baz's order, attention to detail, and nurturing make them perfect complements. Where Simon thinks of himself as immature and sort of a failure, Baz sees only warmth and life. Once Simon was careless and unthinking with his body, but Baz teaches him to treat it like a temple. Baz sees his obsession with Simon as shameful and pathetic, but when Simon sees himself through Baz's eyes, he begins to understand he is sacred. Simon is inspiration and passion for Baz, and Baz's desire to repair broken things and make them beautiful becomes an anointing.

Pining Baz and warm-blooded, thoughtless Simon is one of my favorite dynamics, and this story lets us revel in it, tying a bow on their happily-ever-after.

The accompanying art is mostly lovely, though some of the poses read a bit awkwardly. But it enhances the production, which Rowell has designed to look like a 'zine (which is fantastic).

This is a gorgeous, lovely, heartbreaking, funny, really lovely revisit of this everything universe. I'm so glad I stumbled upon it.

[knd · Rating 5 out of 5]

mañana rindo un final pero esto era más importante