Me and Earl and the Dying Girl: A Novel

Jesse Andrews

Mar 2012 · Abrams

About this ebook

The New York Times bestseller that inspired the Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning film. The funniest book you’ll ever read about death.



It is a universally acknowledged truth that high school sucks. But on the first day of his senior year, Greg Gaines thinks he’s figured it out. The answer to the basic existential question: How is it possible to exist in a place that sucks so bad? His strategy: remain at the periphery at all times. Keep an insanely low profile. Make mediocre films with the one person who is even sort of his friend, Earl.

This plan works for exactly eight hours. Then Greg’s mom forces him to become friends with a girl who has cancer. This brings about the destruction of Greg’s entire life.

“Mr. Andrews’ often hilarious teen dialogue is utterly convincing, and his characters are compelling. Greg’s random sense of humor, terrible self-esteem and general lack of self-awareness all ring true. Like many YA authors, Mr. Andrews blends humor and pathos with true skill, but he steers clear of tricky resolutions and overt life lessons, favoring incremental understanding and growth.” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“One need only look at the chapter titles (‘Let’s Just Get This Embarrassing Chapter Out of the Way’) to know that this is one funny book.” —Booklist (starred review)

“Though this novel begs inevitable thematic comparisons to John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, it stands on its own in inventiveness, humor and heart.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Ratings and reviews

I would rather be dead than read this book or any parts of it ever again. I am an avid reader. I spend every free moment of my life reading books or researching new books to read. I read many great reviews about this book and I had to come back to double check people were talking about the same book I read because this book is horrible. It had no story line, was written like a book in some parts and a play in others. Horrible, horrible read! I'm very sad I wasted my week vacation trying to read this book.

Even though a lot of the book was inappropriate and profane I really enjoyed it. It made me laugh and at some points cry. I liked how the book wasn't terribly deep, full of cliche life lessons, and a romance. If it had have all of that it would've been TFIOS. Though, the thing I love about this book is that it is unique because it is not like that. It is a story that is relatable and hilarious about a friendship thrown together by the traumatic event of cancer.

I really got into this book near the end. There's a lot of gross out talk that was kind of off-putting at first, but I powered through it. The main character was kinda annoying at first, but he grows on you. It gets better as you go, and I'd say it's a pretty good book.

About the author

Jesse Andrews is a writer, musician, and former German youth hostel receptionist. He is a graduate of Schenley High School and Harvard University and lives in Boston. This is his first novel. Visit him at jesseandrews.com.