Book Review: “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green

The quote on the front cover from Jodi cannot say it better…filled with heartbreak and tears…characters living whilst trying to be *okay*…

Published by: Penguin Books
My Edition: Paperback
Author: John Green
Awards This Book has Won: Countless…

A little bit about “The Fault in Our Stars”…

Despite the tumour-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

My Review:

I had never read a John Green book before ‘The Fault in Our Stars’, but obviously that’s about to change. TFIOS was highly praised among all the review sites I follow, so when I picked up a copy of it, I could see just what a winner it was.

The YA-hit follows Hazel (or Hazel Grace as Augustus calls her) who has cancer, though it is being managed slightly, for now, by a medical miracle as she calls it. What struck me first was, after reading reviews of how deeply sad this book was, was that Hazel would be a sick teenager who fell in love with a boy who was sick and is now in remission and they lived happily for a while, because Hazel is always saying that, even though the medical miracle has bought her time, she has possibly only got a few years. When Hazel meets Gus, there is this deep, understanding and perfect connection. I remember thinking how I hoped they would have happiness and that their story would not be a sad one.

They meet at Support Group, a place where a lot goes on in TFIOS. She also meets Isaac, another character there. So aside from their instant connection, Hazel and Gus were both Wish eligible from being sick and Gus uses his in exchange to take Hazel to meet the author; Peter Van Houten who wrote the book they both shared an interest in; An Imperial Affliction.

“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” – Hazel

It wasn’t that I just loved this book, or that it was written exquisitely. I adored this book because it held a meaning that some others didn’t, and characters that had that sparkle that made them realistic and vivid. There’s not a lot I can say without giving too much away about what happens throughout the book, only that this is not just a story about teenagers living with illnesses, but a story of fighting every battle with hope and the best feeling in the world for them was falling in love with each other.

Hazel; she was impulsive and dynamic, sweet and real, underneath it all. She wasn’t fazed that someday in the near future that she would die, she was just living for the moment and I think that is one of the best examples John Green set in TFIOS.

Augustus; he was sentimental and a barrel of laughs, never missing a beat. He always made Hazel Grace laugh and they got on like a house on fire.

John wrote the characters to almost be *made* for each other. Soulmates, in fact. It is up there with my Top Five favourite reads of all, and proudly.

It will make you laugh, cry and repeat until the last pages are closed. A perfect tragedy that deserves five stars all around.