Book Review: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Author: John Green & David Levithan

Publisher: Penguin

Blurb: Will Grayson meets Will Grayson. One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two strangers are about to cross paths. From that moment on, their world will collide and Iives intertwine.

It’s not that far from Evanston to Naperville, but Chiacago suburbanites Will Grayson and Will Grayson might as well live on different planets. When fate delivers them both to the same surprising crossroads, the Will Graysons find their lives overlapping and hurtling in new and unexpected directions. With a push from friends new and old – including the massive, and massively fabulous, Tiny Cooper, offensive lineman and musical theater auteur extraordinaire – Will and Will begin building toward respective romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most awesome high school musical.

I know technically this was written by two authors when the book in question is, “A Book From an Author You Love But Haven’t Read Yet” but it’s John Green and I don’t care. Now although you could say I didn’t “get into” this book quite as much as I did with the likes of Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns, it’s quite safe to say that John Green (along with David Levithan) have produced another relatable coming of age story – with likeable characters and an interesting plotline – about love, life and the struggles of growing up, fitting in and finding yourself.

I loved the two Will Grayson’s and both the contrasts and similarities between the two. Although they both lead different lives with different interests and preferences, you know that they’re both trying to find their place and make sense of their worlds and themselves. I was impressed with how easy it was to differentiate between the two in their narratives because I was worried at first that that might have been confusing but for anyone thinking the same thing, the authors have done a fantastic job at making both Will Grayson’s their own person with their own voice.

I found gay Will Grayson’s chapters quite dark and intense but I think the topic of depression was covered very well and sensitively. His emotions were so real they leaked  out of the page and I was so completely caught up in his head. Although straight Will Grayson didn’t have it quite as bad, he still had his own problems to work through regarding love and friendship and I think having them meet each other in the weirdest way somehow helped them both through their problems and see things in a different light.

John Green has done it again and this book is another prime example of why he is one of my favourite authors. The ending literally made me well up with joy – there was such a sense of togetherness which even I – as a reader – felt. I will never tire of the messages and lessons he includes in his books and there will always be something to learn about yourself, love and life. I’m also looking forward to reading more of David Levithan’s work after reading this because from what I’ve seen, he appears to be another incredibly talented author.

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4.5/5 Stars