Originally posted at More Than Just Magic 
 Lauren Oliver wrote a great review of this book for the New York Times and in it she talks a bit about duality and dichotomies. Jude and Noah often feel like one half of the same whole and much of their life is overlapping. They both crave their mother's attention. They're both applying to the same art school etc etc. And they start their story seeing the world as something that can be easily split up - in more ways than one. Things can be divided into good and bad, but they can also be divided into Jude's and Noah's. The format/style of the book is a manifestation of those same themes. 
 I will admit however, that in the early stages of the story, I did struggle with Jude's chapters. Her chapters take place "after" the accident that drove them apart and for the first little while there wasn't a lot of energy behind them. Everything was reflection and vague references to what had happened. It wasn't until she met Guillermo that things started to take off for her character. 
 Jude and Noah's relationship felt incredibly honest all throughout this book, especially since it went through so many ups and downs. I think having a sibling is a bit of a double edge sword and Jude and Noah are the perfect reflection of that. No one understand Noah and Jude like they understand one another. But that also means that they can hurt each other like no one else can. But it also means they can feel incredibly close and then miles apart at the drop of the hat. Which definitely describes the relationship most people I know have with their siblings. 
 I think it's easy to identify with Noah right from the start of the novel because he's different and doesn't fit in as easily as his sister does. A lot of people can relate to that. Which is why when he meets Brian it's like his whole world shifts, because here's someone he doesn't have to pretend around, someone he can be his full self around. And not only is that other person okay with that, they want it that way. It doesn't matter if you're gay or straight, I think many of us can relate to that search for someone who understands you (romantically or platonically). 
 I also really liked that, while Noah did struggle with his sexual identity and did come out in the course of this book, that's not what it was about. It's more about how that aspect fits into everything else going on in his life. I think it makes Noah a much more complex character, because instead of all his emotions and drive funnelling into coming out, he's also got to try and balance it with family drama, grief, school work etc. And that makes for a more realistic character. 
 I have never been a (visual) artist. Believe me I have tried. I took painting classes and pottery classes and have tried every craft imaginable. I'm not bad at knitting but I can't do anything more than the basics. But the point is I have always wanted to be good at art and I think I keep trying everything because one day I'm hoping to stumble across a medium that works really well for me. 
 So I really liked that Nelson presented two different artistically inclined people with two very different approaches to their art. And that their art doesn't always come easy to them. I think sometimes we have this glamorous idea of the artist being inspired and everything else just comes so naturally. But with Jude and Noah their art was often something that caused them a great deal of suffering. 
 If I take a step back from this book the reliance on destiny/coincidences can almost seem like a bit too much. But when you're in the book you want to believe. You want to believe that things will happen for a reason and that people will find their way back to one another.