The new novel by John Green has all the hallmarks of his previous successful books- a girl having some sort of psychological/ physical issues, a good natured boy caught up in difficult circumstances, their friends or family members providing enough encouragement to move the story forward which will lead to an unexpected ending.

So this story is set in Indianapolis and centres on 16-year-old Aza Holmes. This story has more to do with Aza and her Anxiety Disorder than a conventional love story, unlike Green’s previous novels. Yes, there is certainly a childhood friend getting reacquainted and becoming more than friend, but really Davis Pickett is more on a periphery. Likewise, Daisy- Aza’s best friend since childhood and even her mother are just additional people in Aza’s orbit.

In reality, Aza has her selves, these multiple selves occupying Aza’s mind and controlling her brain are enough for her to live with. So, she can’t cope with reality and much happier living in her protected cocoon. Her long departed father’s memories add a tinge of greyness to her thoughts. At times compromising, at times suffocating but Aza has learnt to live with her OCD and Anxiety. These are the only constants in her life with a reminder in the form of band aid covering a never healing callus on her finger. As she describes it, that there are spirals writhing her, taking her down, down and further within herself.

Her meeting with Davis Pickett is coincidental but not accidental, as she and Daisy are searching for clues of his missing father- Russell Pickett. Russell Pickett has the most interesting and weird backstory in this entire book, he being a construction tycoon who is going to donate his billions to tuatara. Yes, he has more than curious interest in the genealogy of tuatara and his wealth will be given away for this instead of his two kids. The said tuatara comes as a spectator in this entire saga- doing nothing but witnessing from her special cage.

What pushes Aza to the brink are Daisy’s revelations and her fear of microbial infection developing if she builds any kind of physical intimacy with Davis. The spirals pulls her down till she hits a roadblock, literally and reading about what happens next is certainly worth your time.

It’s true that John Green’s YA novel belong to a certain niche by portraying teens fighting with various health elements, either physical or mental, but his easygoing style makes this a enjoyable read. Although I could not connect much with Aza but could relate with the feeling of constant grieving for her dead father. Everybody has different mechanism to deal with loss, some try to numb pain, some can live with a gaping hole in the heart while for others, the pain becomes a stone tied around their neck pulling them down in the depths.

Is this book worthy for your time- certainly, if you are looking for a pleasant story of some seriously troubles teens. Keeping in mind, the mould set by author’s previous novels, this is a must read book for his fans at least once.