Hi all!
Today I am ranking every fictional novel by John Green. I say fictional, The Anthropocene Reviewed and Everything is Tuberculosis, are non-fiction. I’m not really interested in checking either of them out. I’m also not going to mention Let It Snow, as it’s an anthology, written with other authors. John is the king of contemporary. I love reading what he puts out. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Spoilers Ahead!
1.) PAPER TOWNS
This is my favourite John Green book for a couple of reasons. It is a coming-of-age story, centered on Quentin Jacobson and his enigmatic neighbour, Margo Roth Spiegelman. After taking him on all-night adventure through their hometown, Margo suddenly disappears – leaving behind cryptic clues for Quentin to decipher. Firstly, despite the fact that Quentin is a teenage boy, I’ve never related more to a fictional character. He reminded me so much of my younger self, I instantly connected with him. He’s a very nostalgic person, romanticising people and situations. That was me all over. Secondly, Paper Towns has one of my favourite bookish quotes: “what a treacherous thing to believe that a person is more than a person.” It basically means when the rose-coloured glasses come off, we see the people are just people; not magical solutions to all our problems. I am guilty of viewing people in the past, the way Quentin viewed Margo. Admittedly, he learnt that lesson a lot faster than I did. Finally, this is not a love story. It’s a tale about friendship. When Quentin begins to see Margo for the flawed adolescent she is, he returns to the people who stuck by him from the beginning – his friends. I absolutely ADORE the film adaptation. The scene below gets me every single time. He refers to his besties as his miracle. I don’t think another book of Johns’ will top this one.
2.) THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
I’m guessing The Fault In Our Stars is most people’s favourite John Green book. Trust me, I understand why. If you didn’t sob like a lunatic by the end, did you actually read it? It follows Hazel Grace Lancaster, a teenager with terminal cancer. At a patient support group, she meets the charming Augustus Waters – a boy in remission. He instantly falls in love with her at first sight, showing Hazel how to make the most of the remaining time she has left. Unlike Paper Towns, this is 100% a love story. I remember seeing the film adaptation in cinemas; hearing people audibly break down, myself included. The ending is beyond heartbreaking. If you think you know where it’s going, trust me, you don’t. Unfortunately, it’s far too sad for me to re-visit. I mentally cannot cope.
3.) LOOKING FOR ALASKA
Looking for Alaska is guilty of the ‘manic pixie dream girl’ trope, but I love it anyway. You could say Paper Towns was as well, but I believe Quentin broke down that barrier, letting his friends save him, over a girl. I cannot say the same for Miles Halter, the protagonist in this story. One summer, he leaves his home behind to attend a boarding school. There, he meets Alaska. She’s beautiful, quirky and very troubled. It doesn’t take long before Miles falls head over heels, desperate to win her heart. Despite their chemistry, she is tormented by her own inner demons, unable to be vulnerable with another person. When she disappears, Miles fights to learn the harrowing truth: is Alaska dead or just gone? The book was adapted into a mini-series and it’s perfection. I would almost recommend it over the novel.
4.) WILL GRAYSON, WILL GRAYSON
In fourth place, we have Will Grayson, Will Grayson. This story was co-written with David Levithan. It follows two teenagers, both named Will Grayson. Through a strange twist of fate, they meet one evening, discovering that despite sharing the same name, their lives are polar opposites. Together, they navigate their own personal struggles, forming an everlasting bond. It’s a heartwarming book. I really liked it.
5.) TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN
In fifth place, we have Turtles All The Way Down. It follows Aza Holmes, a teenager suffering with intrusive thoughts and OCD, particularly where germs are concerned. While grieving the loss of her father, she finds herself bonding with the son of a billionaire, whose own father is a fugitive. Together, they search for him, discovering a lot about themselves along the way. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy this one. It was very weak in comparison to some of his other works. It didn’t give off the same magic and I actually struggled to finish it. It’s a shame, because I also have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (click here), but I didn’t relate to Aza as a main character. I also don’t like the title. It bothers me.
6.) AN ABUNDANCE OF KATHERINES
Last, but not least, we have An Abundance of Katherines. It follows Colin Singleton, a child prodigy living in Chicago, who has only ever dated girls named Katherine. After being dumped by Katherine #19, he longs to matter and feel whole again. He uses his smarts to create an unbreakable formula, ensuring he and his future partner, remain together forever. However, numbers can only take you so far in the game of love. I found Colin as a protoganist quite infuriating. Furthermore, the story lacked the heart and soul I’m used to with a John Green book. I had no choice but to rank it last.
Thank you so much for reading! How would you rank his works?
Peace & Love xoxo