I always love finding new, different books to read. I will read one genre-say romance- and then get bored because it is the same old story, girl meets guy, guy is a badboy whom everyone says stay away from, girl doesn't listen, but plays hard to get, boy falls for girl, girl falls for guy and then they live happily ever after and their story ends, or a sequel comes out. So once I was able to predict the ending, I was on the search for new books, but not giving up the young adult romantic novel, being a hopeless romantic at heart. One day when mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, I see that someone I follow posted a picture of a book and the comments where all raving about how fantastic the book was. The person who posted the picture is related to a singer so of course everyone loved the book or was going to read it right away in hopes of gaining their attention. Being the book lover that I am, I just had to look up this book and see what all the hype was about.
Looking for Alaska was not what I was excepting. It took me a while to pick it up and start reading it, but I just didn't know what to expect. Barnes and Noble had such great reviews for it-almost five stars- while Goodreads was sitting at just over four stars. With the due date drawing closer and closer, I broken down and started reading. And reading. And reading. If we went somewhere, the book came with me. I finally put the book down and just sat there in awe. This author that nobody had ever heard about, a history teacher on YouTube, had just opened my eyes to a whole new genre of books.
Starting off, I hate books that don't have chapters because as my eyes start to droop late at night, I always say "one more chapter, one more chapter." But maybe it's a good thing this book didn't have chapters because it made me keep reading. I was curious as to why Mr. Green set it up to start over one hundred days before. Well, before what? So naturally I kept reading until I got to the day after. I was confused and in shock. No, he wouldn't do that. I went back and re-read the few days before and he did! At that point I was ready to throw the book and the wall and cry my eyes out, but I didn't. I don't really cry over books, but this brought me close to tears. Now, at this point, if you haven't read the book, you are probably curious as to what is going on. I can't spill too much because it would give the book away. But I can discuss other parts of the book.
So, if you aren't into reading about teenagers doing drugs, then I would avoid this book. I am not for teenagers doing drugs, or anyone doing illegal drugs for that matter, but it is part of the book and that was Mr. Green's decision so I don't question him on why he did it. There isn't much else to say about this book without giving much away, but I would definitely check this book out if you are at a loss for books to read. Now, I am not saying that this is a book to read when you are bored. I am saying that if you need a book to read, turn to this one. It is short and only took me about a day and a half.
Read on!
Maddy Nicole (:
