0 Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

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Will Grayson, Will Grayson, a young adult collaboration between John Green and David Levithan, is absolutely lovely in so many ways.

This book is about two boys, both named Will Grayson.  They are different yet the same: one is gay, the other straight; one is depressed, the other is just a confused teenager; yet they are both dealing with two things that all teenagers do - love and friends.  They meet unexpectedly one evening, which intertwines their lives in emotional and amusing ways.  The chapters alternate between the perspectives of each Will, giving the reader the opportunity to connect with the feelings and confusion that they are both faced with.

The straight Will Grayson's chapters are written by John, who writes beautifully and who I feel really represents the feelings of a teenager.  This Will goes through the book contemplating his relationship with his friend, Tiny, and his feelings for a friend of Tiny's, Jane.  He certainly seems to be a very confused boy, as are many teenagers, male or female, making this a character who I think many could relate to.

The gay Will Grayson's chapters are written by David, who uses an interesting mix of humor and depression in his Will throughout the book.  This Will has relationship problems with friends and potential "more-than-friends", just as the straight Will.  He, however, views his relationships in a more self-destructive view, making this more than just two stories with the same basis (i.e., love and friendship problems).

Although I distinguish between the two Wills by referring to them as "gay" or "straight", I believe that the story doesn't really focus on those facts.  Obviously, with the love aspects of the book there are going to be mentions of the gay Will and his situations with other boys.  There's nothing graphic, however, so please don't worry.  But rather than play solely off of the gay/straight factors, the entire book felt very emotion based to me, which was greatly aided by having the chapters done in the perspectives of the Wills.  I believe that the emotions felt by both Wills can be felt by anyone, regardless of sexuality.

I strongly, strongly, strongly recommend this book, probably in part because I am such a huge John Green fan(girl) and partly because it was, quite honestly, that amazing.  I won't lie - if I hadn't been at breakfast the morning that I finished reading this, I probably would have cried a little, simply because it was so beautiful.


★ ★ ★ ★ ★
5/5 stars