Review: TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN

Title: Turtles All The Way Down
Author: John Green
Page count: 304
Date published: 10 October 2017
Genre: Mystery, Young Adult, Contemporary
Thank you so much to Penguin Random House SA for sending this book my way!
Rating:

Synopsis:
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.
MY THOUGHTS
(SPOILERS AHEAD)
So, I’ve only ever read TFIOS and I watched Paper Towns and that is all I’ve ever consumed by John. I never touched anything else in fear that there might be more sad endings. But then you hear the rave reviews of this one and you have to know what it’s about. And, oh boy, I was not expecting this.
I’ve read books about anxiety before but never like the anxiety Aza has. The way she says that her thoughts are and how she felt she couldn’t overcome them, her spirals and how she felt out-of-place. The psychology of it. It just hits you hard. I honestly do not know how I’m going to word the rest of my thoughts on this book. You experience her spirals with her and it just touches you in ways you did not think possible.
I loved Davis. I think he’s an awesome character. He knows how to be with Aza. He’s an awesome brother. But he has a certain depth to him. He was so well written and I really loved him.
Daisy was such an awesome friend at the beginning and right at the end. But I know what Aza feels like, how people don’t understand you sometimes and how in a way, you don’t know why they don’t. Daisy is really sweet and you understand her viewpoint but it also hurts to hear what she says and that Aza is selfish. You completely understand and yet you know it’s not totally true.
I’m also not upset with the ending like with TFIOS and Paper Towns. It feels like it’s not over yet. That there’s something more to tell, which is one of the reasons I think it’s such a well written novels. This story was written as a message to tell. I feel that the characters and especially Aza was the main plot point of the story and less the mystery. It’s just left me think and leaves such an impact on you. I honestly don’t know how to put my thoughts into words. You just have to read this to understand and I definitely recommend.
xo