Since I’m a complete and utterly John Green fan, it’s going to surprise ABSOLUTELY NO ONE that I loved his new book.
Turtles All The Way Down was really brutally excellent and totally gave me 3 existential crises in like the space of 2 hours. So that was nice.
I’m actually floored by how much this book meant to me??? It was so good and so worth the 140 year wait or whatever it was. I wasn’t nervous about the hype because it’s about (a) mental health with an #ownvoices perspective, (b) missing people, (c) smol sad rich boys, and (d) a girl who’s name begins and ends the alphabet so that’s aesthetic. My kind of novel already.
I think The Fault In Our Stars is still my MOST favourite Green novel, but this is a super close second!!
Also I usually only review books I’ve been sent from publishers on the blog but NOT TODAY, FIENDS. My own dragon coins fed this review.
Also not signed because I live in Australia. And it also it doesn’t have the surprise under the dust jacket. Thanks, Australia, you’re doing great.
Also about the title…no it’s NOT ABOUT TURTLES. But The Fault In Our Stars isn’t about a Roman dude talking about Julius Caesar, okay?!?? I don’t understand why everyone’s complaining! The brand is on point!
✓ The plot was really equal parts addictive and engaging.
Bit slow but really really good. I loved that it wasn’t rife with cliches or annoying tropes. It was just so pure and it felt real. It’s not really a “detective” story (I thought it was going to be??) but Aza is lowkey curious about the mission millionaire because she used to know his son, Davis. She does about 12% digging on the missing millionaire and 93898% investigation on Davis. How adorable.
✓ Aza was honestly amazing.
She is EXTREMELY quiet. She hardly ever talks and she’s very much locked in her own head. #RELATABLE #CONTENT However I get sad when this is portrayed as a negative…I mean ok being self-absorbed isn’t great, but Aza had a lot of thinking going on. And so what if all your thoughts are inside not out??? I loved how quiet she was! She’s obviously extremely intelligent and swims in the philosophical too. ALL JOHN GREEN’S CHARACTERS DO THIS. I love how “pretentious” they are because I was 110% like that as a teen too. (Me now??? Hahaha. I mean, no. My attention span and pretentious genius took one look at adulthood and wanted a nap. Which is understandable.) Anyway I LOVED that they talked about the stars and metaphors and what poetry means and the infinite possibilities of death and life. The sheer amount of knowledge these kids spew out is just refreshing and perfect to me. I am HERE for smart people. Also can I have some.
✓ I really really wish the term “OCD” had been used.”
I actually hate when books do this because (a) I end up spending WAY too much time trying to figure out their diagnosis and therefore miss parts of the story, and (b) it actually diminishes good representation because we dont’ get a name for it. I get that some people are “anti-labels” saying it puts you in a box. I’m firmly in disagreement. I think it helps you understand yourself and find help and find people like you to relate to. Plus the fact that John Green wrote an accurate and not cliched or stereotyped representation of OCD is ACTUALLY REALLY REALLY NEEDED AND IMPORTANT AND RARE. So if the book said: “Hey, OCD can look like this.” It would’ve started snuffing out some of the horrible stereotypes OCD people have to put up with from the uneducated populace.
Hey I just said “Uneducated Populace”. MATE, I THINK THIS BOOK IS MAKING ME MORE INTELLIGENT HOLY HECK.
✓ Anyhow! The OCD and anxiety was really amazingly written!
It did stoke my own anxiety, so I will put that out there. I loved it and felt heard but also really anxious when I was done. #ANXIETY #LIFE #PROBLEMS. It focuses on thought-spirals and the psychology behind how and why you act the way you do with OCD. You are not watching someone with OCD, you are experiencing what it’s like to have OCD while reading this book. And that’s freaking important ok.
✓ I have mixed feelings about Aza and Daisy’s friendship.
I felt it started off such a good friendship, and was particularly impressed that their interests were like Star Wars and, ya know, being rich instead of fighting over a boy or something intolerable. But there was an incident and I don’t like how turned out. Also I’m bad at forgiveness hahahhaah. Sorry but no.
✓ Can we talk about Davis WHO IS SUPER ADORABLE AND I LOVE HIM.
It was like SUCH a cute romance. Slow and cautious and fraught with problems just from Aza’s OCD and Davis insurmountable grief. He was also the BEST big brother ever and I just…my heart. I loved how geeky and nerdy and beautiful he was. Honestly. DAVIS.
✓ It felt really deep and also like an existential crisis on 300 pages.
Nice. I love overthinking my life. Of course it’s full of psychology and metaphors and it’s very layered. I loved it and also am a potato, but okay.
✓ And yes I teared up at the end.
I mean. It’s a John Green novel. I LOVED the ending and I hated it and I LOVED IT and just ajfdsakld I have at least 4 emotions which is double as many as I usually have. I need to sit down.
So I’m forever a John Green fan.
It discusses the world and minds and how the two are often incompatible with the hugeness of life and thought. It’s sad and it’s not sugar coated and I ached with Aza as her OCD spun her life in scary directions she couldn’t control.
Liking a boy doesn’t make Aza “better” (John Green dismantles that trope SO WELL) and there’s no messages that you need to be fixed to have a good life. Your mental illness isn’t ALL of you, but it is some of you. And that’s okay! Be you and be safe and try to find happiness where and how you can.
I appreciated this book.
Sixteen-year-old Aza never intended to pursue the mystery of fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett, but there’s a hundred-thousand-dollar reward at stake and her Best and Most Fearless Friend, Daisy, is eager to investigate. So together, they navigate the short distance and broad divides that separate them from Russell Pickett’s son, Davis.
Aza is trying. She is trying to be a good daughter, a good friend, a good student, and maybe even a good detective, while also living within the ever-tightening spiral of her own thoughts.
In his long-awaited return, John Green, the acclaimed, award-winning author of Looking for Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars, shares Aza’s story with shattering, unflinching clarity in this brilliant novel of love, resilience, and the power of lifelong friendship.
Goodreads Book Depository Twitter
So I haven’t read this, but I will eventally…like when copies start washing up in second hand shops for cheap probably lol. I think I like Paper Towns best? But Let it Snow is also fun. My favourite thing that John Green has ever written is probably this excellent story about a morp (backwards prom) in a short story collection. I have various issues with A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, my current read (which is pretentious literary fiction) but I think it does a good job of showing ou the authors thought process when he’s worrying about things (I don’t know if he actually has anxiety but still). So that’s certainly interesting.
I haven’t read any of his short stories! I should do that! (Well except for Let it Snow but I didn’t love it because I hate Christmas…so it was pretty much doomed when I opened it up haha.)
you have made me EVEN more excited to pick this up now!!!
EXCELLENT. MY WORK HERE IS DONE.😂
I’m not a big John Green fan but reading your review makes me really want to read this book!
Jess recently posted…10 of the World’s Most Beautiful Libraries
Eeeep, I’m kind of excited that I convinced you then!😂
I absolutely loved and devoured this book in a couple of days. I had forgotten how much I adored John Green’s writing – it’s almost like letting out a breath you didn’t know you were holding in, but even better. His portrayal of OCD was so darn realistic – I suffered with it when I was younger and I could relate a lot; some of it was difficult to read because it brought back some memories. Like you, I wish he had labelled it OCD so people would go “oh, ok, so it’s not just about being a neat freak,” – I HATE that ‘idea’ of OCD. It’s damaging.
The incident with Daisy was frustrating but I honestly can imagine that happening. I think it’s hard for people to understand mental health when they’ve not had any issues themselves, especially when you’re a teenager. It’s ok for me, a wise old owl as I am, to be shouting “NO! THAT IS NOT OK! GROW UP” but I fully believe people have experienced that because their friends didn’t understand or know better.
Rosie recently posted…Share The Love – October 2017 Edition
AGREED. SO MUCH AGREED. John Green has a fantastic and amazing style and I just want to read aaaall the things by him forever. (I guess we have to wait like 4 years for his next book now!? 😂) And YES that’s exactly why I wish OCD was labelled. I’m tired of people going “Oh I’m being OCD!” and lining up their socks…like no. It’s really derogatory and the world definitely needs more education on the topic. *sighhhhs*
And agreed about Daisy. I totally think it happens all the time, I just wish she’d had to deal with it more than all the quick forgiveness at the end.
Awesome review Cait 🙂 I have read this and I absolutely loved it. My favourite was also TFIOS but now, this book is certainly on the same level. I can’t recommend it enough to all the people who haven’t read it yet.
I ADORE TFIOS so so much too!! It’s so special (actually I fully feel like a reread now?!) and I’m so glad this book was just as good.💕💕
I loved The Fault in Our Stars, I can hardly see how he can outdo that one
I’m glad you liked TFIOS!
I also did much tearing up and questioning my existence. ‘Twas quite fun
Nothing like reading a book that gives you a little existential crisis as well. Lovely. :’)
Cait! I love your review!! 😀
It makes me so excited to start this one (actually the first John Green book I’ll be reading, like whatttt???) and it’ll also be part of a readalong on GoodReads I’m hosting! 😀 And there are so many participants already yayyy :3
I totally understand if you don’t like doing readalongs, but you’re more than welcome to join any future readalongs (I host them monthly) in the GoodReads group “Bookish Kingdom”! 🙂
Ohh, and by the way! I feel like you would lovee “Under Rose-Tainted Skies” by Louise Gornall!! I read it a few months ago and the author doesn’t shy away from talking about topics like anxiety, OCD and agoraphobia. Very interesting and it was very educating for me personally!
Ahh thank you!! I really hope you like it. 😀 NO PRESSURE.😂 I actually have never done a readalong because I can’t generally fit it in, but thanks for the invite! (And I also have Under Rose Painted Skies on my wishlist for some point. :D)
Yayyy, thanks!! I hope so too! 🙂
I really hope you like Under Rose-Tainted Skies as well!! 😀 Can’t wait to see your thoughts, once you read it 🙂
Great review! I was kinda expecting this book to be a mystery/detective story, but then it wasn’t. They synopsis is misleading. I loved the mental health rep, though. I think I still like TFIOS more than this one. I’ll have to reread TFIOS to decide.
Aj @ Read All The Things! recently posted…Review: All The Broken Pieces – Ann E. Burg
Oh AGREEMENT. The synopsis was SO misleading, especially with her last name being Holmes.😂 But I still loved it so so much ahh!!
I agree with you on all points!! This book was fantastic! I wish they would have said OCD also, I was wondering what her diagnosis was and they kept mentioning anxiety. I also, wholeheartedly, agree with you on Aza and Daisy’s relationship. I would have been deeply offended if I was Aza! I mean, Daisy knew about Aza’s illness and chose to be her friend, I can see where she would have felt like she meant nothing to Aza but still…….relationships of any sort, work both ways.
Agh Daisy was there accusing Aza of being selfish but HOW SELFISH WAS DIASY?!? She was legit writing poisonous fanfic with her in it! It broke my heart. I think Daisy should’ve had more of a comeuppance for that.
Oh I know! The fanfic was especially harsh! Especially since Daisy told Aza that she was writing about her!
Ahhhh I’ve been hearing so many good things about this, I can’t wait to read it!!
I’m so happy that it was good representation and I completely agree about diagnosing the problem the character is suffering. I do the same thing! If it’s not specifically told to me somehow, I’ll go a REALLY long time without realizing what’s going on. I can definitely understand not wanting to pigeon hole anyone, but it would still help me out to have a name for what’s going on, even if it’s just subtle. Thanks for the great review (and hiding the spoilers)! Can’t wait to pick this up!
Loretta @ The Laughing Listener recently posted…Ten Years of City of Bones: Relationships
Yes exactly! I honestly don’t think labels are pigeon-holing, although I know that a lot of people feel that way. To me, it’s more like you wouldn’t say “hey let’s not label that you have cancer!” and then let someone die without proper treatment right? Mental health is just as serious. But it’s individual! And I think it’s ok if John Green didn’t want to use the word OCD buuuut he does in all the promos so I just don’t get why it wasn’t in the book!
Yes!! I agree, I was wondering about that too! Almost everything I saw promoting this book mentions OCD, so why leave that out IN the actual book?? Ah well, I’m just happy this was good. SO EXCITED FOR THIS!
Loretta @ The Laughing Listener recently posted…8 Books I Scored at a Library Book Sale
I have this one as an audiobook but I’ve been hesitant about reading it since I haven’t enjoyed a book of his since TFIOS but after this review I probably need to move it up on my TBR.
Thanks for sharing!
~Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
I kind of really do hope you like it!! I think it’s really personal and special tbh. <3
This book seems adorable and I want to read it because it sounds great! But I fear that I will become a disgruntled wlanut because of romance. WHY CAN’T I JUST APPRECIATE FLUFF AND CUTENESS?? XD
*walnut.
I’m not quite sure what that other thing is BUT I think I have just created a new type of food. I AM A GENUIS.
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It actually doesn’t have fluff and cuteness, so you’ll be fine.😂 Like it’s CUTE but in a: “Hey I’m nerdy and am going to give a nerdy astrology soliloquy @ you pls love me” which I think is honestly adorable.
I agree SO MUCH that it was hard to read as an anxiety/OCD sufferer. (I actually never noticed that they never say OCD on the book!) It was almost “too real”.
I liked the friendship “event”, and found it very realistic. Green didn’t shy away from the reality that mental illness can make us self involved and need reminding about others feelings. It’s hard to hear because it isn’t how you want others to see yourself, but mental illness by its nature gets you so lost in your own head and your own pain. I like how they addressed it without it being exaggerated, which I feel happens too often when written by people who don’t have personal experience.
All that being said, what was the secret under the dust jacket?!? I didn’t know anything about that?
Totally agree! I don’t have OCD but I have severe anxiety and I really did feel super anxious reading it…because it was so familiar?! And I APPRECIATED that, as well as had to take a break to calm down.😂
I do think the friendship thing was realistic…really really hard but realistic. I just wish Daisy had had a bit more of a clapback instead of easy forgiveness. (I am a callous Slytherin though.😂)
Apparently there’s a little tuatara embossed under the dust jacket in some editions! I had no idea. 😂
My book isn’t signed, it doesn’t have the surprise under the dust jacket either AND I AM FOREVER SAD ABOUT IT, so we can be sad together haha.
I’m SO glad you enjoyed this book so much, Cait – it is one of my favorites now, and I love all of John Green’s books too, so… well, this is not really surprising. I just love the characters, even if they seem pretentious to other people, I just love how they think and talk and I don’t know, I like ittttt. And YES we do experience what it’s like to have OCD, which I so appreciated – also made me feel anxious and overwhelmed at times, you are not alone. It was BRILLIANT, I loved it. Looking for Alaska will forever be my favorite though ahah 🙂
Marie @ Drizzle & Hurricane Books recently posted…Review: Otherworld, Jason Segel & Kirsten Miller
We have both been ROBBED here.😂 When I watched a vlog video and they’re like “Oh something exciting is under the dust jacket” I was like “YAY MY TIME HAS COME TO OWN AN EXCITING BOOK!” And…yet no.
Annnnyway.😂 I’m glad we both loved this book!! I think it was just so so well written and I wasn’t disappointed at all (apart from wanting to murder Daisy at times … ugh that fanfic) and I think it’s a really important look into OCD and mental illness honestly. I’m glad it exists!!
Ahh as if I need more reason to read this! I was almost 1003929% going to pick up a copy and then Cait gives an amazing review of it I NEED TO READ ITTTTT. Also have you read Sara Barnard’s new book Goodbye, Perfect as I know you weren’t the biggest fan of Beautiful Broken Things and even if you don’t do a whole review on GP on your blog, if you got an ARC and read it I’d love to hear what you thought – I just published a review of it now and I thought it would be interesting for me to compare my views to yours,
– http://www.whatlexieloves.blogspot.com
AHHHHHH I’M SO GLAD I HELPED YOU DECIDE TO READ IT MORE!! And I haven’t read Goodbye Perfect but I LOVED her book A Quiet Kind of Thunder (total 5 stars for me!!) so basically I will need to read it. 😍😍
I like John Green because Crash Course = my savior but I’ve never read any of his books because I’m intimidated okay
but i’d like to say
I’m named Daisy. The character is named Daisy.
THERE YOU GO. YOU HAVE TO READ IT NOW. (But I think you’re a better Daisy than the one in the book.😂)
AHHH this was such a good review that I just put a hold on the book at the library because 1) I NEED TO READ IT 2) I’m a poor university student. Thank you for sharing! I cannot wait to read it now.
I hope your reserve comes in SO FAST AHH!!!
Favourite is Paper Towns, than The Fault in Our Stars, Turtles, Alaska, Katherines. Turtles is one of the best mental health focused books I’ve ever read, and there’s also a good short story in A Change Is Gonna Come dealing with it.
I liked Aza and Daisy’s friendship because it was realistic, but I didn’t like how Daisy wrote her in her fanfic.
I haven’t read that short story omgg I must find it and devour it.
And I agree Aza and Daisy were realistic, but Daisy had a lot of…poisonous tendencies? It was really hard. I think there should’ve been more of a sorry at the end instead of Aza just forgiving everything really fast so she wouldn’t lose her only friend?
I completely agree with your opinions! I absolutely fell in love with this book especially because I could relate to it so much. I do wish the diagnosis was officially labeled, but it didn’t bother me too much. Overall, I thought this book was absolutely amazing and I am so glad you enjoyed it as well!
Ahhh, I’m so glad you loved it too, Jessica!! <3 It was really special to me and I'm so glad with how it handled all the mental health topics.
FABULOUS REVIEW, CAIT. FAHBULOUS.
I really want to read this book! Honestly, I wasn’t that into reading it because… the cover why is it just an orange swirl omg why. WHY ISN’T THE COVER A BUNCH OF TURTLES STACKED ONTO EACH OTHER. I’m still mad about that.
But anyways! This didn’t sound interesting but OCD and anxiety representation? Yes. Yes. Yes? I’m so glad that there is great OCD and anxiety representation and cute smol boys? I LOVE IT.
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Ahhh thank you!! And haha I kind of am confused that they didn’t put turtles on the cover too.😂 But the orange swirl is the thought spirals so it MAKES SENSE when you read it.
CAIT. I AM WAITING FOR MY COPY TO GET HERE. THEN, FANGIRILING WILL ENSUE. I, too, am a John Green fan. But, I’ll never acknowledge Will Grayson, Will Grayson. Nope. I actually am relieved to know that the friendship is not perfect here, because I think of all the wonderful relationships he shows in his other books, and I get frustrated by how uncool my “real life” friendships were. I am looking forward to this part of the story also.
I didn’t think of Aza’s name like that. HOW ARE YOU SO CLEVER AND ANALYTICAL. GODDAMN IT YOU BRILLIANT PEEP!
Ahem.
Nice review. I am MUCH EXCITE!!!
I HOPE YOU WILL LOVE IT TO PIECES AND HAVE ALL THE FANGIRLING TIMES!! Aww I loved Will Grayson! I only didn’t like his short story in Let it Snow but I think that’s because I hate Christmas.😂 So I’m kind of doomed there.
AZA IS AN AWESOME NAME!
I’ve only read one John Green book: Paper Towns. I might get round to a couple of others at some point. At the very least I have to read The Fault in our Stars, and I’ve heard nothing but praise for this one.
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TFIOS is amazing!! I’m surprised you haven’t been spoiled for it by now though.😂
YESSSSSSS, I”M SO GLAD YOU POSTED THIS REVIEW BECAUSE I HAVE THOUGHTS!!! I agree, TFIOS is still my favorite John Green book, but this is a close second.
I had a few teeny disappointments, mostly because I went into it with certain expectations and they were not met. Like, I was expecting a hardcore detective story. I mean, her name is Aza Holmes and the blurb made it sound like it would be, but oh well. I also wasn’t a huge fan of Aza’s mom, and I really liked the parents in TFIOS, even if they weren’t perfect all the time (but nobody is). And I wasn’t quite as connected to these characters, even though I still really liked them.
I didn’t even realize OCD hadn’t been named until you mentioned it. Probably because I knew John Green had talked about it before I even read the book? But I really like the way it was portrayed. You’re right, the reader doesn’t just learn about it, they experience it.
I’m not anti-label, but I’m okay with sexuality and gender not being labeled since it’s so fluid and some people have a hard time figuring out what exactly they are and how to define themselves (ahem *waves hand*), so it might pressure them to put a label on themselves just so they can relate to other people in the LGBTQ+ community. Although there’s a whole big issue with bisexuality erasure and that also needs to be addressed, but it’s tricky. I totally get that mental health issues should absolutely be labeled, though, because otherwise people might think there’s something “wrong” with them and not find the help they need.
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I totally agree about the detective part! I actually went in with pretty much 0% pre-conceived ideas because I didn’t want to be disappointed (actually I was seeing a lot of people hate on it because John’s so famous and I was like “I’m going to love this just to be difficult”.😂😂) But I do think the whole Holmes + detective sounding blurb was a bit misleading.
And yes! I agree about labels: Like I think it’s up to an individual a lot. Especially with things like sexuality, because like you said it’s fluid and also it can take a long long time to know? I think it IS handy to help find your people though. And then when it comes to mental health, I think it actually can be the difference between life and death. Like beating yourself up thinking you’re “crazy” vs knowing you have a condition with a name and here’s how to treat it. Like we wouldn’t not label cancer or a broken bone, right?
I agree with everything you said. I wonder what the logic behind not explicitly saying “OCD” in the book was, especially since it’s been all over the promotion for the book (John’s videos, tweets, interviews, etc.). I wonder if it was his decision or the editor/publisher’s decision to leave it out. I can see the pros/cons of both sides; people tend to have a very specific idea of OCD and maybe they didn’t want that to cloud the reader’s perception, or maybe they wanted it to be more relatable to a broader audience. I don’t know. I just don’t understand why they would put it in all the promotion but not in the actual book.
(I actually submitted this question when I saw John & Hank live but they didn’t answer it.) 🙁
Emily @ Mixed Margins recently posted…Currently 9,678 words // Beautiful Books Linkup, NaNo 2017
Yes! I think that too! Like he has NOT hidden that it’s about OCD in everything he’s talked about, so why not mention it on page?? I think it could’ve been so healthy in dismantling stereotypes to have it concrete like that. (Plus not all readers are going to see his videos.) And I don’t have OCD but I have anxiety and I still found it super relatable so WHO KNOWS.
I have read Turtles! And I agree with you on pretty much ALL the things. Especially your feelings on Daisy- I find that the feelings that Aza had are SO common and Daisy just… confirmed all of that and it’s so GROSS, but also REALLY sadly true. I liked it a lot, Turtles. I still like TFIOS better too, but such is life. I also can’t fully blame Turtles for any lack of emotional response that I may have had, because that has kind of been my bookish situation lately. So YES, I agree, it was definitely a win, and I think he handled the MH stuff really well, so YEP, YAY!
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It’s true! That’s why it was hard with Daisy because she was VERY realistic, I just wish she’d been called out instead of swamped with forgiveness so fast. (But then am I sad about that??? I think their friendship would be stronger afterwards and I’m glad Aza isn’t alone.)
Oh my! I was so shocked and happy when this book came out.. and now I’m just really excited! It sounds amazing and I also love the focus on mental health. And those little origami stars.. oh my heart! 💕😂😄
IT IS SO SO GOOD!! I know the hype can be scary, but this one was perfect and so heartfelt. <3
😊😊😊
CAIT omg this review makes me want to read the book! I wasn’t going to rush to read it because me and John Green do not get along for the most part, but I love the rep and the coverage of OCD and anxiety? Yes please.
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YOU NEED TO, JEANN. IT’S PRECIOUS AND BEAUTIFUL AND SO SO RELATABLE. 😍😍
I admire your book reviews so much — I love how you can pack up so much insight on a book in your reviews without making them full of spoilers 😊 I’m not the biggest John Green fan because when I read his books I wasn’t the biggest fan of contemporaries, but my reading tastes have changed A LOT since then and I’m actually finding myself reading more and more contemporaries! Turtles All the Way Down sounds like a lovely and meaningful book, and after reading your review, I’m definitely going to read it. 😄 I can’t wait to get my hands on this novel!!! (and read that mini spoilerly part you put in your review after I’m done with the book!) 😋📚
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Aww, thank you so much, Zoie!! And honestly I’m way more into contemporaries than I used to be as well.😂I think they’re getting better and more relatable haha! I’m so glad I convinced you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this so much Cait, although I can’t say I’m surprised. xD It sounds like such a relevant and powerful book and I’m so glad it delivered. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! <3
ZOE IT WAS SO GOOD AND I’M SCREAMING. I love when hyped books don’t disappoint.💕
ASDFGHJKL I SO AGREE WITH YOU CAIT. I love John Green as well, and this has actually TOTALLY become my favourite (TFIOS was my fav before as well). I have anxiety too (though not OCD) and this book was just… it gets it. I mean, I knew John Green would do an AMAZING job at this, but still I was flabbergasted. It’s so unbelievably good and important and just wonderful. And this: “I ached with Aza” – YEP. It hurt so bad but it was so nice, because REPRESENTATION.
I predict I will be yelling about this book forever and ever and ever.
Anne @ Books Baking and Blogging recently posted…Turtles All the Way Down and the Importance of #ownvoices
yes!! Yes!! And I think that’s like so amazing that we both connected so much just over the anxiety aspect if not the OCD. Like it was so freaking well written!??? I felt so understood gahhh.😭😭I’m really glad John Green didn’t quit writing!!
I’m so glad you liked it. I haven’t read it because I’ve been reading a million other books, but it’s on my reading wishlist.
There’s So many books to read, right?!?😂 But I hope you get a chance soon!
I’m so glad you enjoyed Turtles, Cait! I have yet to read it but I’ve heard overwhelmingly positive things about it so I am very excited! It has been a long time since I’ve read anything by John Green (I’ve only read TFIOS and Paper Towns) but I’m glad to hear the 140 year wait didn’t change anything.
I also dislike it when labels aren’t used in books to establish what the mental illness is. I understand the argument against labels. (That is, from the perspective of people who share that identity – when people who don’t share that identity say they are anti-labels I get very annoyed because it’s got nothing to do with them!) But the fact that there is so little rep anyway means that we *need* the labels used in text, because an overwhelming number of people *do* use them. Plus even if people ultimately choose not to label themselves, I think labels are really helpful as an identity to help people know they are not alone and that there is a word for it and a group of people with a shared experience. I’m really glad we are getting more #ownvoices mental illness rep, and I’m hoping more of them in the future will use the words.
Lovely review – I’m really looking forward to reading this 😀
Helia @ Rose Quartz Reads recently posted…What is it that attracts adults to read YA?
YAY I’M SO GLAD YOU LOVED IT TOO!! And yes so true right?!? I’m glad he’s still writing and I’m okay to wait 140+ years between books if we get magical gems like this.😂
And I DO understand the argument against labels, but it’s very personal right? Like some people are for, some against, and both parties are to be respected. I’m VERY for because as someone who struggled with really life-ruining mental illness my whole teenage years without understanding why and thinking I was the problem!? Like labels really helped and saved me. So I think it’s really positive and good to tell people what is going on and how to help. (We name cancer after all, so we can get the right treatment! No one should have to suffer alone.) And its’ weird because John Green SAYS Aza has OCD in his interviews! SO like why not in the book!?
I also hope there’s a ton more #ownvoices rep in mental health matters. <3