After writing a string of some of the most popular young adult novels of all time, John Green took a bit of a hiatus from fiction writing altogether. But he certainly hasn't been out of the limelight. For the past several years, he has turned his attention to nonfiction, as well as to a variety of other ventures. They include not only various podcast projects but also film and television adaptations of several of his YA novels.

As Green notes in his acknowledgments to HOLLYWOOD, ENDING, his relative luck in Hollywood provided him with plenty of insight that informs this new work. Here, in his first novel for adults, Green focuses on two actual young adults --- not teens but still in their early 20s --- while maintaining the emotional authenticity, smart dialogue and thought-provoking situations that have made his writing so beloved by teen readers (and more than a few adults who enjoy reading YA).

"HOLLYWOOD, ENDING is a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes at the Hollywood machine and its vast apparatus, as well as the betrayals both small and large that keep it running."

The plot roughly follows the production timeline of a new independent movie, a biopic of Andy Warhol near the end of his life, unexpectedly starring Marvel action hero Matthew Malone --- hoping to play against type while also creating buzz for the film --- in the title role. But Malone is a supporting character in Green’s novel since his real focus is on Malone's two young co-stars. Juniper Castillo is a showbiz veteran, having starred in a popular TV show when she was a kid. Now, however, she's hoping that her role in Andy Warhol Never Gets Old is what will finally help her break into serious adult acting roles. She is paired up with Kai Laramie, a talented young actor in his first film role. 

The two hit it off immediately. Juniper is especially charmed not only by Kai's good looks but also by his tendency to blurt out “I love you” to everyone he feels affection toward, even before he really knows them. She admires his sincerity and naivete, and finds it refreshing to interact with another actor only just on the cusp of fame. That lifelong limelight, though, means that Juniper is used to secrets about her family becoming public. At this point, the narrative about her challenging relationship with her late mother, a classic stage mom who succumbed to addiction, is included on her Wikipedia page. Kai, however, has significant trauma in his past that he would rather not bring to the public. He's not even sure how to talk about it with Juniper.

Their evolving relationship with and attitudes toward fame grow especially resonant given that they play out against the backdrop of an on-screen biography of Andy Warhol, who embraced fame and, in some ways, resented it. Green effectively explores the parallels --- he even has his astute young characters dissect them --- without veering into heavy-handedness. The result is a novel that takes something as ostensibly superficial as celebrity and turns it into something worth thinking about. 

From their first meeting all the way through to the awards-season buzz, HOLLYWOOD, ENDING is a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes at the Hollywood machine and its vast apparatus, as well as the betrayals both small and large that keep it running. The novel's dual perspectives also serve to offer deep observations on each character's interior life and how they view each other. Green's legions of fans --- many of whom, of course, grew up alongside his YA works --- will welcome this new, more mature but equally appealing side of a beloved author.