Four years after his hit novel The Fault in Our Stars, John Green released his long awaited novel, Turtles All the Way Down, on Oct. 10. The story dials in on Aza, a 16-year-old from Indiana who lives with mental illness, in constant fear of contracting diseases, sending her through an “ever-tightening spiral”. The book is written in first person, allowing the reader to really see into the mind of Aza and what she battles every day.

    After a local billionaire who had been accused of fraud goes missing, Aza and her outgoing best friend, Daisy, seek to locate him to claim the $100,000 prize. To do so, Aza reconnects with the billionaire’s son, Davis, her childhood friend. Switching back and forth from reality to her intrusive, anxiety-induced thoughts, Aza juggles a possible relationship, her lifelong friendship, and the bond with her mother.

    Green is notorious for writing sappy romance novels for teenagers, but in my opinion, TATWD is his most mature novel yet. According to an interview with Green on Good Morning America, it is derived from his personal experiences with mental illnesses and the barriers it can create when it comes to forming or maintaining relationships, which gives it a real and relatable feel.