Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Author: John Green & David Levithan

 

My rating: 4 of 5

(Book read from March 6th to March 23rd, 2013 for a read-along)

Summary:

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.

Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both of them legions of faithful fans.

 

 

My Thoughts on the Book:

Ok, so my first thoughts on this novel when I finished it - absolutely hilarious! I just laughed so much. As you can see from the summary, Will Grayson, Will Grayson is a contemporary YA novel about 2 guys that are both named Will Grayson, that meet accidentally, and that meeting will influence both of their lives. The story is narrated alternatively between the 2 Will Graysons, and the PoV changes with every chapter. So, so you'll know about who of the 2 Will Graysons I'm talking about, I'll use capital WG for the 1st Will a.k.a John Green's Will, and I'll use small wg for the 2nd Will a.k.a David Levithan's Will.

So, the book starts with WG. We meet WG, and his best friend (the unforgettable) Tiny Cooper & of course there's Jane. I liked WG right away, he was such a great character, and through the book he carved himself a special place in my heart (both he & Jane actually - they were just so sweet), so, yeah, I really liked Jane as a character, too, and I was hoping for some romance between them, and I was really happy with the way it developed, it was quite sweet, fun & romantic, and they were perfect for each other.

Now, the other Will is actually quite a different character from WG - he's depressed, he has a friend Maura, and an online romance with a guy named Isaac, and he's the only bright light in his life that actually makes him happy & keeps him going. So, they finally decide to meet, and that's when he actually meets WG & Tiny Cooper. 

Ok, I won't go into details because it will spoil the story, because something major that I definitely didn't see coming was revealed, I couldn't believe it how that someone could do that?!? Yeah, I'm still a little bit pissed about it, but that evening is also where some of my fav scenes happened - the ones between WG & Jane were both sad & amazing, and poor wg - I was heartbroken for him, yet really happy in the end, and that was so sweet, too. And something that I saw coming (and I was hoping for) happened :)     

And now a special mention for the man himself - Tiny Copper.  This guy was hilarious, he made me laugh so much. But, he was also a great characters, and a good friend & a real sweetie, and yeah, for a while he became my fav character in the book, although in the end my favs were WG & wg. And his musical, that was lots of fun, too :) 

The ending was good & fun, although I would've loved for some epilogue, but it was fine like this, too. I absolutely loved both writing styles. They were just so amazing, and captured the characters & the story perfectly, and I could only wish that this book would never end. 

Also, I was reading this for a read-along, and I was sticking to the reading schedule, and you have no idea how hard it was to stop reading the book until it was time for the next part, so Will Grayson, Will Grayson is definitely one of those unputdownable books that you'll just breeze through until you finish them. 

So, if you enjoy YA contemporary novels about friendship, love & support, that will both make you laugh-out-loud, yet will bring tears in your eyes, then I can't recommend this novel enough. Now it's definitely one of my favs, and I know that I will read it again & again.  

Challenges:

2013 TBR Pile Challenge

Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge March 2013

Title: Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist

Author: Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Book read from November 1st to November 2nd, 2011!

My rating: 3.5 of 5

Summary:

It all starts when Nick asks Norah to be his girlfriend for five minutes. He only needs five minutes to avoid his ex-girlfriend, who's just walked in to his band's show. With a new guy. And then, with one kiss, Nick and Norah are off on an adventure set against the backdrop of New York City - and smack in the middle of all the joy, anxiety, confusion, and excitement of a first date.

This he said/she said romance told by YA stars Rachel Cohn and David Levithan is a sexy, funny roller coaster of a story about one date over one very long night, with two teenagers, both recovering from broken hearts, who are just trying to figure out who they want to be - and where the next great band is playing.

Told in alternating chapters, teeming with music references, humor, angst, and endearing side characters, this is a love story you'll wish were your very own. Working together for the first time, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have combined forces to create a book that is sure to grab readers of all ages and never let them go.

 My thoughts on the book:

First of all, I have to say that I was really hesitant to read this book. I watched the movie a couple of years ago & it was really below average & I was wondering why the book was so popular, and after that although I found out that the movie was quite different, I still hesitate it, but after reading Dash & Lily's Book of Dares last spring (which I loved) I decided to give it a try to Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. I usually love alternate point-of-views & this time I enjoyed it, too. Alhough I have to admit that I didn't connect with Nick or Norah, overall I liked them. The storyline was interesting (definitely different than the movie), the secondary characters were fun, I enjoyed the writing styles & it was fun, sexy & fast read. I won't go into details, but some parts I loved, some not so much, but most of them I liked a lot, so overall I liked a lot this book. Was it as amazing as everyone said it was? Not really, but I didn't have high expectations & it was good, but in the end it all depends of how much you'll connect with the characters, which I didn't. Will I read it again? Maybe, in a few years. Overall, quite enjoyable contemporary ya romance.  

  

Challenges:

• The Keeping It Real Reading Challenge 2011
• 100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2011
  
• 2011 YA Reading Challenge
• 2nds Challenge 2011

Title: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Authors: Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Summary:

 

'I've left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don't, put the book back on the shelf, please.' 

 

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the New York Times bestselling authors of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

My rating: 4.5 of 5

My thoughts on the book:

I loved this book! I liked both Dash & Lily as characters & I loved all of their dares! They were just so much fun & hilarious at times! I highly recommend this book! Also, I have to mention that this is the first book I've read from Rachel Cohn (she wrote Lily's POV) and the first book by David Levithan that I've read (he wrote Dash's POV) and I enjoyed their writing styles, so I'll definitely read more of their books (joint-written or alone) in the future!

Challenges:

• 100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2011
• 2011 YA Reading Challenge
• New Author Challenge 2011
• A-Z Reading Challenge 2011