Will Grayson, Will Grayson

"Will Grayson, Will Grayson" is a unique and engaging young adult novel that follows the lives of two teenage boys, both named Will Grayson, whose paths unexpectedly cross in Chicago. First published in 2010, the story alternates between the perspectives of the two Wills, each dealing with their own struggles—one with friendship and relationships, the other with depression and coming out as gay. Their meeting sets off a chain of events that lead to self-discovery, personal growth, and the realization of the importance of friendship and identity.

The primary themes in "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" include friendship, identity, and the complexities of teenage life. John Green and David Levithan bring their distinctive voices to each of the Will Graysons, making their characters deeply relatable and authentic. The alternating chapters provide a dynamic narrative structure that keeps the reader engaged. The book's pacing is brisk, with a good balance of humor, drama, and poignant moments. Although labeled as "young adult," the novel is neither simple nor immature. It is a fun, light read, with a somewhat predictable ending, but that doesn't make it any less entertaining.

I found this book both heartwarming and thought-provoking. The book tackles important social issues with humor and heart. The dual narrative style effectively highlights the distinct yet interconnected journeys of the two protagonists. A memorable moment for me was the high school musical production, which brought together the diverse cast of characters and underscored the book’s themes of acceptance and community. The portrayal of mental health struggles and LGBTQ+ issues was handled with sensitivity and realism, making it resonate deeply with me.

Probably the most fun quote from the book is when one of the protagonists finds themselves in a Chicago porn store: "It's kinda boring, actually. It looks like a regular store–shelves of DVDs and old VHS tapes and a rack of magazines, all under this harsh fluorescent glow. I mean, there ARE some differences from a regular video store, I guess, like (A) At the regular video store, very few of the DVDs have the words 'guzzling' or 'slut' in them, whereas here the opposite seems to be the case, and also (B) I'm pretty sure the regular video store doesn't have any devices used for spanking, whereas this place has several. Also, (C) There are very few items for sale at the regular video store that make you think, 'I have no earthly idea what that is supposed to do or where it is supposed to do it.'"

This book would have gotten a higher rating for me if it hadn't been for two things:

1. The abysmal straight-out-of-Disney ending.
2. Tiny Cooper


Will Graysonx2 is my first venture into both John Green and David Levithan, the latter I hadn't even heard of until now (I know, I know). Both Graysons are written by each author and separated by chapter, with Green getting the odd-numbered chapters and Levithan the even-numbered. It's a cool system and a great way to set the two characters apart, but I have to say that I MUCH prefer Levithan's Grayson.

While Green Grayson is as quirky/nerdy as a Green character can get, Levithan Grayson has a voice that sounds like an authentic teenager. Green Grayson is a teenager that teenagers want to be: funny, smart, and with only a slight pinch of apathy. Levithan Grayson is a polar opposite, a petulant asshole who disrespects his mother and lies to weasel his way out of a situation (no offense to actual teenagers). It's not pretty, but it feels painfully real. Green Grayson comes out as almost romanticized by comparison, though not nearly as much as Tiny Cooper.

For a book titled Will Grayson twice, it amazes me how it seems to be more about Tiny Cooper than anyone else. Cooper is the well-meaning gay stereotype that tries only feebly to not be a stereotype. The book CONSTANTLY tries to get you to like him, but his actions in trying to hook up Green Grayson with Jane (not to mention talking behind his best friend's back) only makes him come across as immensely unlikable.

This turns into a heckova problem when the ending comes along - featuring a musical so hilariously egotistical despite the hammered-in fact that it's totally NOT about Tiny Cooper (it totally is). This coupled with an utterly unbelievable resolution between the characters makes for a conclusion that really just doesn't mesh with the rest of the book's tone.

Will Graysonx2 isn't really a bad book, just slightly disappointing in the end. If Cooper had been a bit more downplayed and the ending changed entirely, it would have come out a lot better. The lessons are great and the humor often spot-on, but the flaws are just too obvious to overlook.

This is my second John Green book; and I think I’m a fan, I choose this book because it looked different and I wanted to see what he would do in a collaboration with the author of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (which I loved the movie but not read the book). When it comes to collaborations, I’m always worried that the authors writing styles won’t match up, but this book was written from the point of view of two different Will Grayson’s; each other telling the story of one of the protagonists. It was an interesting way to tackle the subject of Homosexuality and the problems with being so different in high school.

The first Will Grayson (written by John Green) is struggling with the concepts of friendships, his overly flamboyant best friend Tiny; wasn’t Will’s choice of a friend and sometimes the friendship was more difficult than he wanted. But Will has to choose between how he handles life with a gay friend or if he will ditch him from something easier.

The second will grayson (is always shown in lowcase and is written by David Levithan) is my favourite character in this book; not because he is gay or he is struggling with depression; but because he is sinister and bitter with the world and I really connected with that. This will is struggling to keep his homosexuality a secret and the relationship he has online, but his best friend Maura; the crazy goth clinger on is doing everything to counter act his secrets in an effort to make will hers.

The two Will’s lives collide and this is where most of the story takes place, but I won’t spoil it for you as this is a coming of age story you don’t really want to miss out on. The book is funny, witty and is focused on friendships and homosexuality. There is so many great aspects in this book, my favourite is the band called “The Maybe Dead Cats” an intellectual pop band that are making reference to Erwin Schrödinger’s thought experiment known as Schrödinger's Cat. I really enjoyed this book and breezed right through it, I know a lot of people gave this book negative reviews but don’t let them sway you from an interesting and enjoyable story.