H. D. Dodson

 

Blurb from Goodreads: “One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical.”

I freaking loved this book.  LOVED.  In fact, I think you can officially consider me a John Green/David Levithan fangirl.

On the serious side though, let’s talk about why I love this book so much.  First of all, the characters are so full of depth and voice it’s as if you’re standing right there in the halls of their high school with them.  (Tiny, OMG how I love Tiny, is probably the best of all of them with his super-spectacular sparkly self.)

Second, I love that this book completely encapsulates gay characters without making it anything out of the ordinary.  They’re gay.  So what?  That’s just who they are.  I LOVE that. 

Third, I am an utter and complete sucker for musicals.  Ah, what I would pay to see Tiny’s performance up on stage.  I’m sure the show would reach epic beyond epic levels.

Fourth, we’ll go back to Tiny because I love him so much.  He’s not afraid to put himself or his feelings out there, and all he wants is to see people happy and be appreciated.  And the arc of the characters is so wide and so well done with Tiny being the driving force behind it all — I just can’t quite put it all to words.

Fifth, it’s funny!  So funny I laughed out loud sporadically through the whole book.

In fact, I loved it so much that mere hours after finishing it, I passed it to a friend and demanded that she read it immediately. 

What about you all, have you read Will Grayson, Will Grayson yet?  What’d you think? 

Also, go check out my post over on Paper Hangover today in celebration of banned book week!

Blurb from Goodreads: “Before. Miles “Pudge” Halter is done with his safe life at home. His whole life has been one big non-event, and his obsession with famous last words has only made him crave “the Great Perhaps” even more (Francois Rabelais, poet). He heads off to the sometimes crazy and anything-but-boring world of Culver Creek Boarding School, and his life becomes the opposite of safe. Because down the hall is Alaska Young. The gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, self-destructive, screwed up, and utterly fascinating Alaska Young. She is an event unto herself. She pulls Pudge into her world, launches him into the Great Perhaps, and steals his heart. Then . . . After. Nothing is ever the same.”

I have heard so many great things about John Green, and I’ve had this book on my to-be-read list for a long time. Well, I finally got around to reading it and — amazing.

I was hooked from the start by the voice of our narrator, Pudge. Instantly he was important to me, and I really cared about what he had to say. The story of Culver Creek Boarding School is so real and raw it is impossible not to be sucked into it. I laughed out loud at several spots through the book, squirmed uncomfortably at several more.

John Green immerses you right back into that teenage mindset with flawless skill. These were kids I’d have known in school, would have loved, and never once did I feel they faltered from the true essence of teenagers.

If you haven’t read this book, you need to. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll finish with every expectation fulfilled.