Review: Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Author: John Green and David Levithan 
Published: 2010
Pages: 310
My Rating: 3.5


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'd known about Will Grayson, Will Grayson for a while. I first about it when a podcast that I listen to did a book-club episode on the book. But now, I finally got around to reading it. I'm still undecided on what I really thought about it.


I was very interested in the fact that this is written by two authors, with two characters (by the name of Will Grayson, obviously), switching each chapter. I know I shouldn't. But I can't help but compare John Green books. I always love the characters, the writing and the themes behind them, so I was truly looking forward to reading this John Green book with a twist. 


The switching of the chapters between Will Graysons was very interesting. They were both such different characters, and you could see that through the writing. And I found myself liking one of the Wills and hating the other at the beginning. Yet once I'd read the whole book, my view had almost been switched.


I loved the first Will Grayson because he reminded me so much of the other typical John Green lead characters. Yet as the book went along, I found myself connecting with him less and less and I found that his side of the story was actually a little dull. I think his meeting with the other will grayson didn't affect him as much. At first, I hated the other will grayson. He was winy and unappreciative of everyone around him. But as his side of the story went on, I found myself really connecting with him. He was so conflicted and his meeting with the other Will Grayson really changed his life. I actually think that his story was the most interesting one at the end.


The stand-out character, by far, was Tiny Cooper. Tiny is originally in the first Will Grayson's story, but when the Wills meet, Tiny thrusts himself into the other's life as well. Tiny is the fabulous inspiration of the story and is such a strong component of both the Will Graysons lives. I don't think that there would have been a story, if it were not for Tiny. I also feel like the book itself could be called Tiny Cooper. 


I still don't really know how I feel about this book. I loved Tiny, the themes and the switching of POV. But overall, I don't think I really felt much about the story and some of the messages being put across. I didn't enjoy it as much as Paper Towns, and definitely not as much as Looking for Alaska (now one of my favorite books). But it still was a good clever read, and I would recommend it if you are a fan of John Green or David Levithan.