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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
Loved the story. Hated the ending.
It almost felt like the publishers were rushing them to finish the book and so they bolted through those last few chapters. I get the point but I don't feeeel the point, ya feel?
It almost felt like the publishers were rushing them to finish the book and so they bolted through those last few chapters. I get the point but I don't feeeel the point, ya feel?
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wish I would've read this book when I was in high school because I think I would've really related to it and felt seen, but it just didn't hit the same way since I'm in my thirties. Obviously not the fault of the book or authors, but it did affect my rating.
I went into this book basically blind, I just knew that there would be 2 Will Graysons and they were going to meet. I really enjoyed reading both POVs, they were so different and had their own problems. I had some issues mixing them up at first, but it got easier as the book went on. I know some people didn't like that one of the will graysons was written in all lowercase, but it didn't bother me.
I was surprised how long it took for the Wills to meet and I do wish they would've met earlier and that the book focused more on their relationship than following the 2 characters separately even after they met. It just wasn't what I expected which was more of 2 dudes becoming BFFs because they have the same name. I did like seeing how each Will grew and developed from their meeting.
What Maura did to lowercase will totally broke my heart. While reading it, I totally related to will at that point and I know it would've crushed me if I'd had to go through that. I also felt like it was realistic. I could 100% see some of the people I went to high school with doing something like that and justifying it in the same way she did.
I also related to Uppercase Will's romantic storyline. When I was in high school, I also had issues with both wanting and not wanting to be dating people and struggling with figuring out what I actually wanted instead of what the norm was or what people wanted me to do.
Tiny was such a fun character. I liked that he had insecurities even though he was so extroverted and you wouldn't tell just by looking at him. I didn't really need the whole musical storyline, but I get why it was there, it felt juvenile, but it's high school, so it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
I thought the ending with all the different Will Graysons was cheesy and far-fetched, but also really cute. I smiled when I realized it. I also love that they showed that lowercase will still had love for Tiny even if they didn't make a good couple. I wish this was in books more because someone can still be a good person and a good friend even if romantically it doesn't work and sometimes it sucks to lose those people.
I've read other books by both of these authors and I have more from both on my TBR, so I'll read more from them, but this book didn't make me itch to read anything by them right away. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone I know now, but like I said, this would've hit for me in high school, so I'd absolutely recommend it to someone in that age range that is queer or just feels like they don't belong.
I went into this book basically blind, I just knew that there would be 2 Will Graysons and they were going to meet. I really enjoyed reading both POVs, they were so different and had their own problems. I had some issues mixing them up at first, but it got easier as the book went on. I know some people didn't like that one of the will graysons was written in all lowercase, but it didn't bother me.
I was surprised how long it took for the Wills to meet and I do wish they would've met earlier and that the book focused more on their relationship than following the 2 characters separately even after they met. It just wasn't what I expected which was more of 2 dudes becoming BFFs because they have the same name. I did like seeing how each Will grew and developed from their meeting.
I also related to Uppercase Will's romantic storyline. When I was in high school, I also had issues with both wanting and not wanting to be dating people and struggling with figuring out what I actually wanted instead of what the norm was or what people wanted me to do.
Tiny was such a fun character. I liked that he had insecurities even though he was so extroverted and you wouldn't tell just by looking at him. I didn't really need the whole musical storyline, but I get why it was there, it felt juvenile, but it's high school, so it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
I've read other books by both of these authors and I have more from both on my TBR, so I'll read more from them, but this book didn't make me itch to read anything by them right away. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone I know now, but like I said, this would've hit for me in high school, so I'd absolutely recommend it to someone in that age range that is queer or just feels like they don't belong.
I think it was a good first queer I ever read but not the best
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
John Green has done it again! This is a story of friendship and figuring out your place in the world. The premise is simple, two high school guys with the same name happen to meet and their friend is putting on a musical about his life. But mostly it’s about the will Graysons figuring out what a good friend is but also learning that they have to be a good friend as well.
It’s full of early internet nostalgia (speed dialing and IMing) and teenage angst. I’ve been a fan of John Green for years but David Levithan is new to me. Now I’m very happy to check out his work!
It’s full of early internet nostalgia (speed dialing and IMing) and teenage angst. I’ve been a fan of John Green for years but David Levithan is new to me. Now I’m very happy to check out his work!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
If Green's Tiny Cooper character doesn't exist in real life, you kind of wish he would, and that's sort of the magic of Will Grayson, Will Grayson--and some of John Green (and David Levithan's) writing. The teens in their books: smart geeky kids, pop culture junkies and rock snobs, losers that are kind of beautiful in their loserness and hip in their nerdiness, may sound like teens but are maybe a little too perfectly formed, too witty, too ready-with-the-perfect-snappy-comeback to be 100% realistic, but the reader likes the characters so much and are so entertained, it doesn't matter.
This book features a number of these credulity-stretchers, including the core gimmick of these two prickly characters, bearing the same exact name and awash in their own angst, running into each other and becoming entangled in each others lives, and somehow? It just. Doesn't. Matter. Green and Levithan go a long way towards making you kind of love these two somewhat self-loathing characters as they muddle their lives (and also those of the people nearest to them) and gradually make it out the other side with a deeper understanding of themselves. Strangely, at least a couple of the supporting characters are rather more likable (at least initially) than the two protagonists, but that also kind of makes some of the ending payoffs and personal development that much better.
The novel is written in alternating perspectives (switching off Will Grayson's) and overall Levithan's Will Grayson is a bit more of a cad and harder to warm up to, and the non-capitalization in that same section is an extra gimmick that's really unneeded. Still, all in all it was one of the better YA books I've read this year.
This book features a number of these credulity-stretchers, including the core gimmick of these two prickly characters, bearing the same exact name and awash in their own angst, running into each other and becoming entangled in each others lives, and somehow? It just. Doesn't. Matter. Green and Levithan go a long way towards making you kind of love these two somewhat self-loathing characters as they muddle their lives (and also those of the people nearest to them) and gradually make it out the other side with a deeper understanding of themselves. Strangely, at least a couple of the supporting characters are rather more likable (at least initially) than the two protagonists, but that also kind of makes some of the ending payoffs and personal development that much better.
The novel is written in alternating perspectives (switching off Will Grayson's) and overall Levithan's Will Grayson is a bit more of a cad and harder to warm up to, and the non-capitalization in that same section is an extra gimmick that's really unneeded. Still, all in all it was one of the better YA books I've read this year.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ending was a bit anticlimactic but the representation was pretty okay
I adored Tiny Cooper.
I agree, he would be so horrible to have as a friend, most of the time not being able to look past his own self, but as a character he is wonderful. Flamboyant and dramatic, he was really fun to read.
Relating more with Will 1, I especially enjoyed his and Tiny's relationship, as I could see me in the same situation regarding friendship feelings. The way he did not want to open himself to Jane was pretty good, too.
As for Will 2, his vision of life was, well, certainly interesting, and even more with the complete lack of capitalization. Cynical indeed. He made me sad with Isaac and the way Maura acted and the way he certainly didn't open up to Tiny. However, it did make me really happy how at the end he found his pace.
The best, and most heartwarming part was the ending, for sure. It's adorable.
I agree, he would be so horrible to have as a friend, most of the time not being able to look past his own self, but as a character he is wonderful. Flamboyant and dramatic, he was really fun to read.
Relating more with Will 1, I especially enjoyed his and Tiny's relationship, as I could see me in the same situation regarding friendship feelings. The way he did not want to open himself to Jane was pretty good, too.
As for Will 2, his vision of life was, well, certainly interesting, and even more with the complete lack of capitalization. Cynical indeed. He made me sad with Isaac and the way Maura acted and the way he certainly didn't open up to Tiny. However, it did make me really happy how at the end he found his pace.
The best, and most heartwarming part was the ending, for sure. It's adorable.