The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.
Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.
Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind.

I initially didn’t want to write about The Fault in Our Stars. Nearly everybody who is in tune with the young adult book world knows about John Green’s new book. It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Green’s writing. I’ve loved his past three novels, and the books he has co-written- so it’s safe to say that I had high expectations for The Fault in Our Stars. Every single one of those expectations was met.

The Fault in Our Stars is an original, humorous, and deeply emotional read. The two main characters, Hazel and Augustus are both incredibly well developed. This is Green’s first time writing from the point of view of a girl, and he nailed it. Hazel was brutally honest about everything she was going through, both in terms of her cancer and in terms of just living and being a normal teenager. Hazel is someone that I could relate to. I would love to have a friend like her some day. Augustus is charming. Some would argue that he’s the male version of a MPDG (manic pixie dream girl), but I don’t think so. Gus was just as honest as Hazel, and I loved reading about him.

Nearly every review I’ve read of The Fault in Our Stars has mentioned how much the reviewer cried. Me and all those other reviews have that in common. Never in my life have I cried so much when reading a novel. Don’t let the possibility of tears keep you from reading The Fault in Our Stars. You should read it. Everybody should read it.

The Fault in Our Stars is a beautiful, heartfelt, luminous book that will stay in your head for ages after you’ve finished reading it. This has quickly become one of my favorite books. I applaud John Green for this brilliant piece of literature.

FTC- Bought.

 

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What did you think of TFiOS? Tell me in the comments! But please, no spoilers for those who haven’t read it!