I have loved John Green as a Young Adult author since I read and sobbed my heart out to the very well known novel, The Fault in Our Stars back in 2014 and have been on the hunt to find this book in the library, ever since I saw it had been released. It is safe to say that this novel did not disappoint, it contained everything that I look for within a story and I found it painfully relatable.
Aza has been through quite a lot within her sixteen years of existence and is particularly caught up with the loss of her father which has resulted in her struggling with both anxiety and compulsions, which has been captured extremely well by Green. We learn about the challenges that Aza faces on a daily basis, and we sit in frustration at the lack of her best friend, Daisy's understanding of these challenges but how can you understand something that you haven't been through yourself? You could start by being a little less narrow minded, but i'll leave it at that. I absolutely love how honest, open and raw this novel is, Aza's struggle with mental health is not once put under the radar and is a consistent aspect of the story-line, Green doesn't pretend that it gets better, that Aza is suddenly well again, it is real and it doesn't go away and it adds so much emotion, you almost want to meet Aza in real life and tell her that she isn't alone and that she needs to take her medicine. As a reader, you want so desperately for Aza to get better but she can't, and Green takes a different approach to many other YA authors who write about mental health because he doesn't just make it all go away and he wont sugar coat it.
In all honesty, I wasn't too interested at first in the love story that is present within this novel, I feel like it started pretty unrealistic and I just didn't feel invested but as time went on, I warmed a little more to it and slowly came to love the relationship that Aza and Davis develops, it is sweet, it is sad and it is realistic but most importantly, Aza realises that she isn't alone and that there are people who understand her. When Aza and Daisy decides to make contact with Davis,after finding out about a police investigation that is going on, they take on an investigation of their own which I love and I think that everybody has done at least once in their lives. Aza uncovers a lot about Davis which he equally does to her and despite the pain and grief, losing a parent brought them together.
This novel is filled to the brim with ups and downs, Aza falls out with people and falls in love with others, she has good days and bad, her story is real and sad yet inspiring and comforting. She makes improvements with her health and then has set backs and I love everything about this novel, especially the ending; the ending is everything that so many novels are missing, it makes your heart warm and you feel satisfied and at peace, you know that no matter what life throws in Aza's direction, they'll be some hiccups along the way, but she'll be OK and that is enough.
I would highly recommend giving this novel a read, it is one of the best novels that I have read so far this year and it is one of the stories that you can read over and over again.
Thank-you for reading, Tay x
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