Turtles All the Way Down

Today, I’m really excited to talk to you about Turtles All the Way Down by John Green. This book is a beautiful and complex exploration of mental health, love, friendship, and how we deal with the world around us. It’s a story that takes you deep into the mind of its protagonist, Aza Holmes, as she navigates life with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) while also dealing with her relationships and the mysteries around her. At the heart of the novel is Aza, a 16-year-old girl trying to live a “normal” life despite her mental health struggles. She’s smart, thoughtful, and has a deep love for her best friend, Daisy, who is full of energy and always seems to drag Aza into wild situations. One of the main plot points kicks off when Daisy convinces Aza to look into the disappearance of a local billionaire, Russell Pickett. The man is missing, and there’s a large reward for any information about him. Daisy thinks it’s a great idea to investigate, and Aza, despite her own struggles, agrees to join her. But the investigation isn’t just a plot device—it also serves as a way to get us deeper into Aza’s head. As she reconnects with Davis Pickett, Russell’s son, Aza’s world starts to spin in a way that feels uncontrollable. Davis is rich, troubled, and deeply affected by his father’s disappearance, and Aza finds herself drawn to him. What starts as a mystery soon becomes about Aza trying to understand her feelings and how to navigate the space between wanting to connect with others and feeling trapped inside her own mind. What makes this book so powerful is how Green portrays Aza’s OCD. You see, Aza isn’t just “quirky” or “a little obsessive” in the way that people might commonly associate with those terms. She experiences intrusive, overwhelming thoughts that control her actions. Her mind spirals in a constant loop, and the book does an incredible job of showing how it feels to be trapped inside that loop—when even the simplest of tasks or thoughts can turn into something all-consuming. Aza tries so hard to keep a handle on her thoughts, but they keep pulling her back, no matter how much she wants to break free. As Aza reconnects with Davis, we see a relationship blossom, but it’s complicated by Aza’s internal battle. Davis is kind and understanding, but Aza knows that her mental illness makes it hard to have a normal relationship, and this creates a lot of tension. What’s really touching is that Davis, who’s dealing with his own struggles, seems to understand Aza in a way that others don’t. They share an emotional connection, but Aza’s fear of getting too close, because of her own fears and anxieties, keeps her at arm’s length. The dynamic between Aza and Daisy is also crucial. Daisy, as Aza’s best friend, is supportive but often doesn’t understand the gravity of Aza’s struggles. Daisy is impulsive, loves adventure, and wants to solve the mystery of Russell Pickett’s disappearance, but she doesn’t always understand why Aza can’t just “snap out of it” when things get hard. This dynamic between the two friends highlights the complexity of mental illness—how people who haven’t experienced it might not understand what it’s like to live with it every day, and how even close relationships can be tested by this disconnect. Throughout the novel, Aza’s struggle to find a balance between her desires—like her desire to connect with Davis, her need to find closure regarding the Pickett family mystery, and her wish to be a better friend to Daisy—is a central theme. But the more she tries to fight against her mental illness, the more it pulls her in. Aza has a constant internal battle, and the book captures the confusion and frustration that comes with not being able to control your own thoughts. But, perhaps more importantly, the story also focuses on how Aza learns to live with those thoughts, how she learns that she doesn’t have to be perfect or completely in control all the time. One of the themes of Turtles All the Way Down that really resonated with me is the idea of “spirals.” This is the way Aza describes her OCD, and it works as a metaphor for the novel as a whole. Life feels like it’s constantly spiraling, and the more you try to stop it, the more out of control it seems. The book shows that mental health struggles don’t just “go away” when you try to ignore them or pretend that they don’t exist. They are a part of you, and finding ways to cope with them is key. The journey that Aza goes on isn’t about defeating her OCD, but learning how to live alongside it, how to acknowledge it without letting it define her. At the same time, Turtles All the Way Down also touches on the theme of human connection. Aza’s relationship with Davis evolves throughout the book, and while it’s complicated by her mental health, it also shows the power of vulnerability. Davis, despite his own trauma, opens up to Aza in ways that help her understand that she doesn’t have to do this alone. There’s a really beautiful moment when Davis expresses that he, too, is stuck in his own personal spirals, and it’s a quiet reminder that everyone has something they’re struggling with, even if it’s not always visible. As Aza works through her personal struggles, there’s a sense of growth and change. There are no perfect resolutions in this book, no easy fixes for Aza’s problems, but there is an acceptance that she doesn’t have to have everything figured out right away. And as she continues to navigate her life, she learns to accept her flaws, her fears, and her obsessive thoughts—understanding that they don’t make her less worthy of love or connection. In fact, she learns that it’s okay to be vulnerable and honest about her struggles with others. At the end of the book, Aza’s not “fixed.” But she’s learned to ask for help, to communicate better with those around her, and, most importantly, to be kinder to herself. It’s a poignant reminder that mental health isn’t something you “cure,” but something you manage and live with—sometimes day by day, sometimes moment by moment. So, if you’re looking for a story that’s heartfelt, raw, and real, Turtles All the Way Down by John Green is definitely one to pick up. It’s about love, friendship, mental health, and finding a way to live with the parts of ourselves that we sometimes wish we could change. It’s beautifully written, and if you’ve ever struggled with feeling overwhelmed or misunderstood, Aza’s story might just resonate with you in a deeply personal way. I hope this summary gives you a great sense of the book’s themes and what to expect, and I really recommend giving it a read—it's a book that stays with you long after you've finished it. Thanks for listening!