Turtles All The Way Down by John Green

Title: Turtles All The Way Down
Author: John Green
Pages: 304
Audiobook read by: Kate Rudd
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Publisher: Penguin Teen/Penguin Random House Canada
Release Date: October 10, 2017
Buy: Amazon| Chapters Indigo| Kobo
Audio- Kobo *for review by Penguin Audio*

Summary (Goodreads)
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.

Review: 

I think Turtles All The Way Down is one of my favourite books of 2017. From the start of listening to the audiobook and reading along with it, I was hooked with the story. You can relate to Aza in many ways. The struggles with anxiety and OCD are both mental issues that we don't see lots of in YA and it was portrayed really well by John Green who also faces OCD.

When you finish the book you can see why the story is called Turtles All The Way Down because Aza's thoughts are spiralling when her other thoughts come to do something else. I loved how John Green created Daisy! She was hilarious, smart and knows what she wants. Her relationship with Aza had so much energy and brought out Aza's personality (even when she is trapped in her own head) and you read about the ups and down of their friendship as her condition does make Aza self-absorbed). Daisy calls it as it is which is another thing I loved about her character.

Lets now get to our other main character, Davis. I loved their awkwardness (with her germaphopia and hypochondria with his own defences) I found that while it was hard to see them try to connect. I felt heartbroken by the end! Which I guess is normal in any of John Green's books. Overall, mental health was portrayed well and it gives awareness for others and connection between all the characters.

4.5/5