Review: Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Format: eBook
Published by Egmont UK on 27th March 2014 (first published on 27th August 2013)
Pages: 152
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Rating: 
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New York Times bestselling author David Levithan tells the based-on-true-events story of Harry and Craig, two 17-year-olds who are about to take part in a 32-hour marathon of kissing to set a new Guinness World Record—all of which is narrated by a Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS.

While the two increasingly dehydrated and sleep-deprived boys are locking lips, they become a focal point in the lives of other teen boys dealing with languishing long-term relationships, coming out, navigating gender identity, and falling deeper into the digital rabbit hole of gay hookup sites—all while the kissing former couple tries to figure out their own feelings for each other.

Okay, this book was absolutely AMAZING, and it almost made me cry many, many times, despite the fact that it is a fairly short book, but first of all, I have a rant. One which I am sure is not remotely original, but one which I must nevertheless make.

Look at that cover.

Now look at this cover:

Now look at the first cover again, which is the UK paperback version.

And now look back at me.

I am not pleased with the UK paperback version.

The US hardcover version is making a statement that fits in perfectly with the message of the book. Look at that title and that beautiful image and how in your face it is: two real, live boys kissing, their faces filling up the entire cover. That gigantic title just slammed right on top of the image. You can't ignore it. The visibility is precisely the point.

The UK paperback version is just so feeble and bland in comparison. THEY'RE NOT EVEN KISSING. Nor are there actually any boys. Just some silhouettes made out of words. Nothing about the cover is eye-catching.

I'm very sad about this. (Actually I'm just not very fond of all the redesigns for Levithan's covers in the UK. They all look like this. They are all supremely boring.)

However, I'm here to talk about the actual book, and the book itself is wonderful. It's my new favourite solo Levithan, and it's one of my new favourite books ever.

There were many times, especially towards the beginning of the book, when I had to blink away tears. In fact my eyes were constantly filled with tears for maybe the first 10% of the book. I was mesmerised by the voice of the chorus of those who have died from AIDS. Reading their perspective on life was simply so crushingly beautiful, infinitely sad and exhilarating all at once. All the things that they've been through, and all the things that they will never have again. Their pain and happiness, their memories of illness and love and family and friendship, freedom and secrecy. What they think about the lives of teenage boys now.

I love the different stories of gay teenage boys that we get in this book. Craig and Harry, who used to be boyfriends but are now best friends, trying to kiss continuously for over thirty-two hours. Peter and Neil, who have been in a relationship for over a year. Avery and Ryan, who are just meeting each other for the first time. Cooper, who is so alone and struggling to feel anything but emptiness. Boys whose parents are accepting and boys whose parents aren't, boys whose parents are trying to get there. A boy who is transgender. Another boy who is suicidal. They're all very different, and I feel like all their stories were realistically and sympathetically portrayed. They all faced real difficulties, whether big or small. The characters and their relationships all felt incredibly authentic.

I liked that the glimpses we got of them felt like real life. The sense that their stories weren't in anyway complete, that these were just brief snapshots of them; that their lives had so much potential, and their futures had so much power. That not everything is easy, and not everything is triumphant. But they are alive.

This book has so much to say about love and family. It is a book which reaches out to you with every word and tells you that you should live, and love to the best of your ability. I could quote so many lines from the book which meant the world to me, but I think it's best if you read this book and discover them yourself. I can't tell you how much it felt like this book understood me profoundly. Like it was holding my hand.