Will & Will

"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.'"

I usually avoid John Green. His writing voice is identical to his narrator voice from his Crash-Course World History youtubes and it quickly becomes grating. So when I saw the title (good title - Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green is great at titles) AND a co-author, I was ready to dip my toe back into his schmaltzy world without even reading the synopsis on the back. (and for all my criticisms, JG knows how to write a first kiss: channeling us all back to wobbly knees and highschool. how does he keep those memories alive? well, that's a worry for another day)

the other author was a tad darker, and they took alternating chapters. while it originally looked like David Levithan was invited for his gay guns (more like his gay shield as no author can now command a voice that doesn't match his own set of identities) he tried to hit more than one note for his characters, delving into class issues, and living with diagnosed depression. He had the more compelling story even if, stylistically, his grammar was juvenile and conspicuously absent of capitalization (full disclosure, I embraced this style in my teens and early 20s, even going so far as to write 'me' as my signature on letters, so I readily balk at it)

anyhow, the format was successful and the set-up of how they meet was inspired, but the musical plot device took over to the point of dominance and made the ending really drag. specifically the ending was one long pep talk (lecture?) that didn't work on me.