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

Publisher: Speak
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Format: Paperback
Pages: 321
Source: Purchased

From Goodreads: One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, Will Grayson crosses paths with . . . Will Grayson. Two teens with the same name, running in two very different circles, suddenly find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, and culminating in epic turns-of-heart and the most fabulous musical ever to grace the high school stage. Told in alternating voices from two YA superstars, this collaborative novel features a double helping of the heart and humor that have won them both legions of fans.

My review: This book has been highly recommended on my online book club so when we were headed to the YALL Fest and David Levithan was to be there I decided to pick it up to have signed. A few more online book clubbers recently read this for the first time within the past month, so when I was looking for my final read of 2011 this one was on my mind.

I started this book over my lunch break – I read while I eat at my desk – and this was probably a mistake. I might get fired…possibly. I was laughing so hard that a few of my coworkers not on their lunch hour kept asking me if I was ok! The laughing continued when I picked up the book at home that evening. And then the tears started.

Each Will Grayson is a complex character so the first portion of the book reads like to well-developed stories until the moment when the two meet. And suddenly the entire story shifts - but in an amazing way. Their individual problems became similar in the light of each other - universal struggles that teens deal with but still keeping their uniqueness. That doesn't make much sense, but it's true.

The ending - well, that was beautiful. There really isn't another word for it...just beautiful. The story itself was beautiful, the writing (this was great throughout, not just the ending) and the characters shown with beauty in the last few scenes.

This entire review isn't much of a review, more of a rambling thought explosion so I will cut to the chase. This book is amazing - it's hysterical, it's heartbreaking, and it's inspiring. Read it!