Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

If you were to ask me “What is the perfect YA novel?” I would have to say this one. Benjamin Alire Sáenz constructed a beautiful coming of age story of two boys growing up together (and apart) into their adulthood and discovering love while exploring their sexuality. If this book was meant to be classified as an adult novel, I wouldn't think it's quite as good but as a YA novel, to me, it is very impressive. The author uses language that is generally straightforward and not flowery but was also profound at times.

- “When will it feel like the world belongs to us?”
- “I don't always have to understand the people I love.”
- “Another secret of the universe: Sometimes pain was like a storm that came out of nowhere. The clearest summer morning could end in a downpour. Could end in lightning and thunder.”
- “When I was drying myself off after my shower, I stared at my naked body in the mirror. I studied it. How strange to have a body. Sometimes it felt that way. Strange. I remembered what my aunt had told me once. ‘The body is a beautiful thing.' No adult had ever said that to me. And I wondered if I would ever feel like my own body was beautiful. My aunt Ophelia had solved a few of the many mysteries of the universe. I felt as though I hadn't solved any at all. I hadn't even solved the mystery of my own body.”

I can see why this story wouldn't be for everyone and I'd understand why some people wouldn't connect with it. But for me personally, I felt like I really saw myself in Ari and almost like I was experiencing my own past years coming of age in my personal young adulthood. This book certainly isn't the most interesting novel I've ever read, it's not some crazy concept, or twists and turns and villains and magic. But that's part of the charm for me, it is sort of simple but expertly done. If I had this book when I was at the age of these characters, I can see myself obsessing over it. I'm excited to read the sequel (probably next year).