Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green & David Levithan

Will Grayson, Will Grayson was co-written by two fabulous authors, John Green and David Levithan. The book is about two boys named Will Grayson who randomly meet each other in Chicago. Honestly, any description I give beyond this just doesn't seem like it would do the book justice.

I had never read a book that was co-authored before so I was pretty excited to do so. After seeing a bunch of talk about this from some of my online book girls, I added it to my TBR list and months later I got my hands on it.

I feel as if something is wrong with me though. As much as I liked this book and yes, I would read it again, I didn't love it as much as everyone else seems to. Maybe it was a classic case of too much hype and anticipation that built it up far beyond what it should have been. I'm not sure. There were certainly things that I did love about this book though, I loved the one liners and the sentiment behind what drove each Will Grayson. I also really liked that this book was nothing like I thought it was going to be.

I did like how each Will Grayson was different than the other but that they were also pretty similar in that they thought they wanted to be alone or didn't feel like it would be wise for them to open up to anyone and then each one finding a person that challenges them and shows them that it's ok to be open.

My favorite character in this book had to have been Tiny Cooper. He was one of the most realistic best friends that I have read about. He's there to back you up, call you on stuff, but also gets so wrapped up in himself that it seems like you've been forgotten. I really do appreciate you Tiny Cooper.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

A few weeks ago I made a trip to Books-A-Million with the intent to spend some saved birthday/Christmas money and I knew one of the books I was going to buy was Looking for Alaska by John Green.

The last few months that I've gone to the bookstore, I kept coming across this book and each time I left thinking that I would get it "next time." Next time always turned into my forgetting about it and then re-discovering it. Part of what drew me to the book was the title because it had the word Alaska in it and if you know me even a little, you know I love Alaska (the place). So I finally decided enough was enough and I bought it.

I didn't know much about it before I started reading, and I soon found out that the book is broken down into two sections, Before and After. "Before and After what?" you're probably wondering so this is where I challenge you to go read this book and find out. Another thing I soon found out is that it takes place in an area I'm familiar with so it was weird and amusing to me reading about Birmingham, Pelham, Mountain Brook, and Montevallo, Alabama.

Looking for Alaska follows Miles "Pudge" Halter on his search for the Great Perhaps. Miles is a friendless Florida teen who decides to go to Culver Creek, a prep school outside of Birmingham, Alabama. While there he becomes friends with his roommate Chip "The Colonel" Martin and beautiful, fascinating Alaska Young.

Teenage shenanigans ensue and culminates in a big event. I was curious as to what the event was going to be but I knew it had to be big in order for there to be a before and after and to say it was a surprise is an understatement.

This was also the first male narrated book that I've read in a while and it was a nice breath of fresh air getting out of the head of a female, even though Alaska is a prominent character.

Teaser Tuesday - Looking for Alaska

Thanks to MizB at Should Be Reading for hosting Teaser Tuesday's. If you'd like to participate all you have to do is grab the book you're reading, open to a random page, share 2 teaser sentences (non-spoilers please!), and list the name of the book, page number, and author.
"Sorry. Don't worry, dude," he said. "God will punish the wicked. And before He does, we will."

Page 71 of Looking for Alaska by John Green