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galacticvampire 's review for:

Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
3.5

"Our hearts were broken on the same places. That's something like love."

Before the "no plot, just vibes" definition blew up John Green was already doing it. Are the vibes good? Sure. Did I want more plot? Sure.

This book can be very anxiety-inducing. Aza's internal monologue is bleeding with her OCD, which is both interesting and absolutely dreadful. She can't stop the spiral of her own thoughts, and is very easy to slide down on it as well.

I have some issues with how the relationships around Aza were handled, and the ending was kinda underwhelming. It really had potential to develop everything more, but I also recognise this wasn't the main goal.

But the relevant point is that the book is also relatable. It's honest and doesn't shy away from the ugly parts. This isn't the often-seen romanticisation of mental illness, simply a reminder that it is part of human beings, who are complex and real beyond their condition.