Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Hazel Grace has been suffering from cancer for years. Despite undergoing a medical procedure that has bought her valuable years, she is still terminal. No longer attending school, she spends most of her days at home with her parents watching reality TV. Her only outlet is a weekly Cancer Kid Support Group she goes to even though she dreads going most of the time.

That is until one day she meets Augustus Waters at the Group. Augustus, who is in remission, shows Hazel that she is so much more than her illness.

What I Was Thinking Before I Started Reading: I keep hearing so much about this book, I need to finally read it.
What I Was Thinking in the Middle of Reading: OK, seriously this is not normal. I am hyperventilating over here from crying.
What I Was Thinking When I Finished Reading: You know when people say they want to crawl up inside a book and live there forever? This is what they are talking about.

I do not care that Augustus Water’s non-smoking metaphor was so ridiculously stupid? I do not care that at times you just knew John Green was thinking “surely this will make my minions cry” while writing? I do not care about any of it because I LOVED this book. Also, hated it a bit, but mostly loved. What did I hate? The fact that John Green was completely right. I cried like a little baby. Not just some tears forming in my eyes. This was full blown, couldn’t breathe, had to put the book down crying. I knew going in it was going to be sad. And I knew there was a good chance I was going to cry. I just did not realize how much. Damn you John Green!

This is actually the second John Green book I’ve read. The first was An Abundance of Katherines. If that was the only introduction I ever had with John Green, I wouldn’t be a fan. I’m glad to see his writing and story telling has gotten a lot better. I tend to dislike the characters in most young adult novels I read. I am not sure if this is my fault or if authors are creating too many obnoxious, one-dimensional characters. John Green had this problem in An Abundance of Katherines. Goodness did I want to smack the main character right upside his head. This book did not have that problem at all. I loved all the characters, especially Augustus and Hazel. When stories are told in the first person, the narrator is always at a disadvantage. We can’t get away from them and their every single thought. That could get tiresome. Luckily, I really enjoyed Hazel and she did not get on my nerves once.

It’s hard for me to put down in words exactly how I feel about this book. For starters, I don’t want to give too much away. I want everyone to enjoy and experience this book for themselves. Secondly, the only thing I can keep thinking is, “If you haven’t read this book yet, please do so immediately.” It’s beautifully written and while this is said a lot, it will genuinely make you both laugh and cry hysterically.

Final Verdict: Best book I’ve read in awhile. This got a 5-star rating from me. I cannot wait to bring myself and box of tissues to see the movie when it comes out.