I bought the book the same week it came out, and finished it all in about 4-5 hours. But I didn't end the book in tears. I ended with a sigh. Not of boredom, or epiphany...but of mixed emotions.
The main story line described in the summaries of fugitive billionaires takes a back seat to the internal conflicts that plague Aza. It honestly seems just placed there to give a timeline and pressure for events since by the end of the story it is neatly wrapped up and placed in the hands of an NPC and away from the protagonist.
But for the first time in a while I have to say that I connected with a character. Her internal dialogue and concerns, though more severe than my own, remind me of myself. It represents parts of my anxiety that I play down as circumstantial stress. Aza's character brings about a great understanding of mental health in an honest conversation that deserves attention.
"Turtles All the Way Down" reflects on the paradox which lent its name to the book, mental health through the eyes of a teenager dealing with realistic anxiety, and the pains of growing and understanding how everything impacts you and becomes a part of you permanently. It also shows the depth of Star Wars knowledge Green actually has in order to create detailed conversations on the intricacies of Wookiee languages (spoiler alert, there are quite a few Star Wars fandom geek sessions in the book). Though it suffers at times from plot confusion and extraneous details, John Green brings his A-game as he releases another novel after the smash-hit "The Fault in Our Stars."
If you're interested in any more of John Green's work, definitely check out the following titles:
The Fault in Our Stars
An Abundance of Katherines
Will Grayson, Will Grayson
Looking for Alaska
Paper Towns