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

This is not a book about death. This is a book about life. I was looking for a book about death. I got mad when they just glossed over Rachel's death like nothing happened. The narrator's glaring lack of emotion and seriousness bugged me to no end. I started to cry when Earl and Greg started to talk about life. Then I realized that I was looking for the wrong thing. Rachel's death isn't what makes you cry in this book. It's the brutally honest depiction of the mind of a high-schooler, who can't interpret his feelings, who can't even understand his feelings. Greg doesn't even seem to truly feel sad. This book is not pithy. This book doesn't stay with you. It barely even resembles fiction--it's incredibly realistic. This work of art does not deal with how hard it is to accept an inevitable death. Dying's the easy part. You don't have to understand your emotions, feel anything, when you're dead. Living's where it gets hard. Bravo.

I have a paperback copy of this book, and I loved it. It combines hilarious dialogue and thoughts and a sad story in general and makes a realistic story about death. It's upsetting to see how promises are broken and people are forgotten, but that's what makes this book so good; it's able to pull off showing a truth that no one wants to admit is how life is, and makes it a truly amazing experience to read. You won't regret getting this book, if you plan on it.

I got the book in a store but I wanted to leave a review on here. The way Jesse Andrews wrote this book almost changed my life. This is by far the most funny book I have ever read in my life. I enjoy this book alot, and most of the people leaving bad reviews probably just read the first chapter, or watched the movie, because it wasn't the best. I hope those people actually read the book before leaving a review. If you have a sense of humor, then this book is perfect for you.

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.