David Levithan Books in Order

Where to Start Reading David Levithan

For readers new to David Levithan's work, there are two primary entry points depending on what type of story you prefer. If you want to experience his landmark contribution to LGBTQ+ young adult literature, start with his debut novel, Boy Meets Boy (2003). It is a joyful, utopian romantic comedy that set a new standard for queer representation in teen fiction. If you are looking for a high-concept, speculative romance, start with Every Day (2012), which remains his most widely read and discussed book.

The Every Day Series

The Every Day series follows "A," a spirit who wakes up in a different teenager's body every single day, and their quest to maintain a relationship with a girl named Rhiannon. Because the series features companion novels that retell identical events from different viewpoints, a specific reading order is recommended to avoid feeling repetitive.

Recommended Reading Order:

1. Every Day (2012): Start here. This is the core novel that introduces A's unique existence, their rules for survival, and the complicated romance that begins when they inhabit the body of Rhiannon's boyfriend.
2. Another Day (2015): Read this second. Rather than a sequel, this is a companion novel that retells the exact timeline of the first book entirely from Rhiannon's perspective. Reading it immediately after Every Day highlights the differences in their experiences, though some readers choose to skip it or read it after the final book.
3. Someday (2018): Read this third. This is the official, chronological sequel to the story, continuing the narrative of A, Rhiannon, and other characters introduced in the first two books.
4. Six Earlier Days (2012): This is a prequel novella that details six days from A's life before meeting Rhiannon. While it can be read first, it is best enjoyed after the main novel when you are already familiar with the mechanics of A's existence.

An official graphic novel adaptation of the first book, Every Day: The Graphic Novel, was also released in 2023, featuring illustrations by Dion MBD.

The Dash & Lily Series (Co-Authored with Rachel Cohn)

One of Levithan's most famous partnerships is with author Rachel Cohn. Together, they wrote the beloved holiday-themed Dash & Lily trilogy, which follows two teenagers in New York City who communicate and share challenges through a red notebook left on a bookstore shelf.

Recommended Reading Order:

1. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares (2010)
2. The Twelve Days of Dash & Lily (2016)
3. Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily (2020)

This series should be read in chronological publication order, as each book follows the couple during subsequent holiday seasons as they grow older and face new relationship challenges. The first book was adapted into a popular Netflix holiday series in 2020.

The Will Grayson, Will Grayson Duology

In 2010, David Levithan teamed up with John Green to write Will Grayson, Will Grayson, a novel told from the alternating perspectives of two teenagers with the exact same name. This led to a spin-off companion book five years later.

Recommended Reading Order:

1. Will Grayson, Will Grayson (2010): The core novel. John Green wrote the chapters for one Will Grayson, while David Levithan wrote the chapters for the other.
2. Hold Me Closer: The Tiny Cooper Story (2015): A companion novel written entirely by Levithan in the form of a grand, flamboyant musical script. It stars Tiny Cooper, the larger-than-life best friend of one of the Will Graysons, detailing his life, his past relationships, and his school musical.

The Wide Awake Books

Levithan's political speculative fiction features a unique companion structure that spans nearly two decades of publication history.

• Wide Awake (2006): Set in what was then a fictional future, this novel follows a gay Jewish teenager and his boyfriend during a contested presidential election where the first gay president-elect's victory is threatened.
• Wide Awake Now (2024): Described as a "script-flip" and companion to the original, this book updates the premise and timeline to reflect the contemporary political climate, serving as both a spiritual sequel and a modernized retelling.

Co-Authored Standalone Novels

Levithan is a frequent collaborator in the YA community. These novels are entirely standalone and can be read in any order:

• Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist (2006) (with Rachel Cohn): A whirlwind, one-night romance set in the New York indie music scene, which was adapted into a feature film in 2008.
• Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List (2007) (with Rachel Cohn): A story about two lifelong best friends navigating love, betrayal, and their shared "no kiss" list of off-limits guys.
• Invisibility (2013) (with Andrea Cremer): A magical realism romance about a boy who is physically invisible to everyone except for one girl who has just moved to town.
• You Know Me Well (2016) (with Nina LaCour): A dual-perspective novel focusing on two queer teens who sit next to each other in class and find unexpected friendship during Pride week in San Francisco.
• Sam & Ilsa's Last Hurrah (2018) (with Rachel Cohn): A story about twin siblings hosting one final, dramatic dinner party for their friends before graduating.
• Take Me with You When You Go (2021) (with Jennifer Niven): An epistolary novel told through emails between siblings Ezra and Bea after Bea runs away from their abusive home.

Early Career and Novelizations

Before establishing himself as a prominent YA novelist with Boy Meets Boy, Levithan worked extensively as an editor and writer at Scholastic, where he penned several tie-in works and novelizations under his own name or as part of franchise lines:

• Disaster Zone Series (1998): A two-book children's series consisting of In the Eye of the Tornado and In the Heart of the Quake, following two brothers who use psychic premonitions to save people from natural disasters.
• The Mummy: A Junior Novelization (1999): A novelization of the popular action-adventure film starring Brendan Fraser.
• 10 Things I Hate About You (1999): A novelization of the hit teen romantic comedy.
• Malcolm in the Middle Series (2000–2002): Humorous tie-in books based on the television show, including My Class Project (2000) and Malcolm's Really Useful Guide to Getting Away with Anything! (2002).
• Charlie's Angels (2003): A movie tie-in novelization based on the films.
• The Perfect Score (2004): A novelization of the teen heist film about SAT cheating.