Although I have loved books by both John Green (Looking for Alaska) and David Levithan (The Lover’s Dictionary) separately, together they simply blew me away with a story that is heart-warming, hilarious, and completely honest. Their co-written novel Will Grayson, Will Grayson alternates between the perspectives of two very different characters with one thing in common: their names, a shared trait that brings them together in unique and surprising ways.

The Will Grayson written by Levithan is the only child of a single mom, cynical and depressed with life, whose only real connection to the world seems to be the boy he talks to online despite refusing to admit to anyone in his “real life” that he is gay. His portion of the novel is written entirely in lowercase as a way to represent how small he feels. His counterpart, written by John Green, has a best friend named Tiny Cooper and a set of rules he follows to keep his heart safe that involves not caring even when it comes to the girl he maybe sorta likes.

Although initially it would seem that it would be confusing keeping straight the two main characters with the same name, but even without the differences in capitalization to guide me while listening to Will Grayson, Will Grayson on audiobook, they were immediately different. Each Will Grayson showed a unique and genuine perspective on the teenage experience. That’s really what I loved about this book; not only is it absolutely hilarious – especially anything to do with the larger-than-life Tiny Cooper – but it’s incredibly authentic as well. Even though the book is marketed at young adult, the issues that Green and Levithan deal with are those that follow people through the rest of their lives – themes like self-acceptance and learning to open up your heart.

I also completely recommend the audiobook experience of Will Grayson, Will Grayson as I think it brings Tiny Cooper’s songs to life in a way that isn’t quite possible on the page. Because yes, by the way, Tiny is putting on a musical based on his own life.

My only slight dissatisfaction with the novel came with the way things tied up with one of the Will Graysons and Tiny, but it’s possible that’s just my own personal preference. Overall a humorous and touching story, Will Grayson, Will Grayson has certainly left me hopeful that Green and Levithan decide to collaborate again in the future.