book review about the fault in our stars

The Fault in Our Stars

By john green.

From interestingly relatable characters to a captivating storyline, ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ stands out as one of the best realistic fiction romance novels in literature.

Article written by Joshua Ehiosun

C2 certified writer.

‘The Fault in Our Stars’  by John Green eloquently disseminated a heart-wrenching story to the audience and showed them the emotional vulnerability of its characters. The story dived into the ideology of its primary character, Hazel, and showed how her perception of life, cancer, and death affected her relationships.

‘The Fault in Our Stars’   presented a story where its primary character got thrown into a crisis she could never escape. Though her ailment was incurable, Hazel’s story changed for good as she met Augustus. The novel’s inculcation of love into Hazel’s life makes the story dynamic as the reader gets thrown into a state of euphoric agitation. However, the story brings its reader back to reality by revealing that Augustus would inevitably die. 

The novel propelled realism by turning Hazel’s romantic infatuation into sorrow. By losing Augustus, Hazel got thrown into the realization that her fate was ultimately inescapable. However, though she felt broken and torn, a letter from Augustus made her realize that though their love story was short, it was worth every second. The authenticity of the story made it an incredibly relatable tale. Its apt attention to intricate details about the lives of its characters made it a story worth reading.

The characters’ lives got limited to Hazel’s observation. Because the story occurred in the first-person perspective, Hazel’s relationship with the characters was the only way to give an insight into their lives. For one, Patrick got described as an over-optimistic middle-aged man who felt thankful for losing his fertility to cancer. Though some characters had a subtle and happy persona, Hazel still defined the majority as sad people waiting to die.

For the non-terminal characters in the novel, a shadow of sadness clouded them as each had a personal issue that made their life terrible. Peter Van Houten became a mean alcoholic because of the feeling of getting isolated from his family legacy. Both Hazel and Augustus’s parents never felt happy because they watched their children slowly lose to cancer. Some had a spark in their personality; one of them was Kaitlyn, Hazel’s friend from her life before cancer.

‘ The Fault in Our Stars’  dialogues was natural and progressive. The story’s fluidity made them intricately definitive. Though it got narrated from the first-person perspective, its dialogues were not dependent on the story’s narrator; this added to character authenticity. Though, for the most part, the tone had a melancholic affiliation, there were times when dialogues were happy and romantic. John Green’s use of short but precise sentences ensured the story never lost its emotional grip on the reader.

Writing Style and Conclusion

‘The Fault in Our Stars’  employed an excellent writing technique that disseminated story plots progressively. The use of compact sentences with a detailed description of events made the story leave an impression of realism on the mind of its reader. John Green’s use of simple wording made the story compact. 

The novel had a great ending because it expressed the essence of tragedy and love. It ended with Hazel stating that Augustus was the choice she never regretted. Though this proved her love for him, it did not dilute the fact that she was dying; this made the ending realistic. From the story, Hazel always admired abrupt endings, and her story’s ending was a perfect portrayal of an abrupt ending.

Is The Fault in Our Stars a good novel?

‘The Fault in Our Stars’   is a great novel. The characters, dialogues, and themes work perfectly in sync to create a story that draws out emotions from the reader. Because it pays attention to the lives of its characters intricately, the novel makes the reader relate to the story personally.

Who are the primary characters in The Fault in Our Stars ?

The primary characters in  ‘The Fault in Our Stars’   are Hazel and Augustus. Other characters that had an immense influence on the storyline are Peter Van Houten, Hazel’s hero; Fannie Lancaster, Hazel’s mom; Isaac, Augustus’s friend; Kaitlyn, Hazel’s friend; Lidewiji, Van Houten’s assistant and Dr. Maria, Hazel’s doctor.

What killed Augustus in The Fault in Our Stars ?

Augustus died from cancer. After he went for a checkup, it got discovered that his cancer had returned and spread throughout his body. On returning from Amsterdam, his health began to decline, and after some time, he gave in.

What is the last part of Augustus’s letter to Hazel?

“You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices. I hope she likes hers.”

The Fault in Our Stars Review

Book Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Book Description: In 'The Fault in Our Stars' Hazel's life transforms through love and pain after meeting Augustus.

Book Author: John Green

Book Edition: First Edition

Book Format: Hardcover

Publisher - Organization: Dutton Juvenile

Date published: January 10, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-525-47700-1

Number Of Pages: 313

• Writing Style
• Lasting Effect on Reader

‘The Fault in Our Stars’  is a novel that tells the story of a sixteen-year-old girl, Hazel, who meets Augustus Waters. Hazel begins a journey that leads her to meet her hero, fall in love, and experience intense pain.

• Incredible story
• The novel has great characters
• Dialogues are fluid
• The characters are relatable
• The ending was inconclusive about Hazel

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About Joshua Ehiosun

Joshua is an undying lover of literary works. With a keen sense of humor and passion for coining vague ideas into state-of-the-art worded content, he ensures he puts everything he's got into making his work stand out. With his expertise in writing, Joshua works to scrutinize pieces of literature.

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Awards & Accolades

Our Verdict

New York Times Bestseller

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

by John Green ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 10, 2012

Green seamlessly bridges the gap between the present and the existential, and readers will need more than one box of tissues...

He’s in remission from the osteosarcoma that took one of his legs. She’s fighting the brown fluid in her lungs caused by tumors. Both know that their time is limited.

Sparks fly when Hazel Grace Lancaster spies Augustus “Gus” Waters checking her out across the room in a group-therapy session for teens living with cancer. He’s a gorgeous, confident, intelligent amputee who always loses video games because he tries to save everyone. She’s smart, snarky and 16; she goes to community college and jokingly calls Peter Van Houten, the author of her favorite book,  An Imperial Affliction , her only friend besides her parents. He asks her over, and they swap novels. He agrees to read the Van Houten and she agrees to read his—based on his favorite bloodbath-filled video game. The two become connected at the hip, and what follows is a smartly crafted intellectual explosion of a romance. From their trip to Amsterdam to meet the reclusive Van Houten to their hilariously flirty repartee, readers will swoon on nearly every page. Green’s signature style shines: His carefully structured dialogue and razor-sharp characters brim with genuine intellect, humor and desire. He takes on Big Questions that might feel heavy-handed in the words of any other author: What do oblivion and living mean? Then he deftly parries them with humor: “My nostalgia is so extreme that I am capable of missing a swing my butt never actually touched.” Dog-earing of pages will no doubt ensue.

Pub Date: Jan. 10, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-525-47881-2

Page Count: 272

Publisher: Dutton

Review Posted Online: Jan. 9, 2012

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2012

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT FICTION

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by John Green and David Levithan

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BOOK TO SCREEN

Hindi-Language The Fault In Our Stars Film Coming

SEEN & HEARD

From the Boys of Tommen series , Vol. 1

by Chloe Walsh ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 28, 2023

A troubling depiction of an unhealthy relationship.

A battered girl and an injured rugby star spark up an ill-advised romance at an Irish secondary school.

Beautiful, waiflike, 15-year-old Shannon has lived her entire life in Ballylaggin. Alternately bullied at school and beaten by her ne’er-do-well father, she’s hopeful for a fresh start at Tommen, a private school. Seventeen-year-old Johnny, who has a hair-trigger temper and a severe groin injury, is used to Dublin’s elite-level rugby but, since his family’s move to County Cork, is now stuck captaining Tommen’s middling team. When Johnny angrily kicks a ball and knocks Shannon unconscious (“a soft female groan came from her lips”), a tentative relationship is born. As the two grow closer, Johnny’s past and Shannon’s present become serious obstacles to their budding love, threatening Shannon’s safety. Shannon’s portrayal feels infantilized (“I looked down at the tiny little female under my arm”), while Johnny comes across as borderline obsessive (“I knew I shouldn’t be touching her, but how the hell could I not?”). Uneven pacing and choppy sentences lead to a sudden climax and an unsatisfyingly abrupt ending. Repetitive descriptions, abundant and misogynistic dialogue (Johnny, to his best friend: “who’s the bitch with a vagina now?”), and graphic violence also weigh down this lengthy tome (considerably trimmed down from its original, self-published length). The cast of lively, well-developed supporting characters, especially Johnny’s best friend and Shannon’s protective older brother, is a bright spot. Major characters read white.

Pub Date: Nov. 28, 2023

ISBN: 9781728299945

Page Count: 626

Publisher: Bloom Books

Review Posted Online: Oct. 21, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2023

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL THEMES | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS | TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE

From the Culpable series , Vol. 2

by Mercedes Ron ; translated by Adrian Nathan West ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 5, 2023

Plenty of heat but not enough substance to keep the fire burning.

A romantically entangled stepbrother and stepsister in Los Angeles navigate their tumultuous history and take their relationship to new levels in this translated title by an Argentinian author.

Nick and Noah are madly in love: Their mutual attraction is established as the book opens with Noah’s 18th birthday party, during which she and Nick have an explicitly described sexual encounter behind the pool house. This fiery scene sets the stage for twists and turns in the lovers’ journey, including a separation when Noah is forced to go on a monthlong mother-daughter European tour. But reminders of their pasts (chronicled in the 2023 series opener,  My Fault ) threaten to undermine their stability. Nick’s wealthy estranged mother makes an unfortunate appearance, while Noah is haunted by the trauma of her father’s violent death. The blend of everyday complications (jealousy, parental disapproval) with frothy visions of high-society life is at once lacking in subtlety and intimately irresistible. The series initially gained popularity on Wattpad, and the novel follows the episodic structure typical of works on that site; sensual encounters occur at reliable intervals. Still, the characters and their milieu feel formulaic, and the writing is stilted. The differences between the two—Nick is five years older and has an office job; Noah has just finished high school—makes their suffocatingly possessive relationship feel particularly squirm-worthy. Nick and Noah and their families read white.

Pub Date: Dec. 5, 2023

ISBN: 9781728290768

Page Count: 450

Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2023

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2023

TEENS & YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE

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Teen Book Review: "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

" Despite the tumor-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." --- Summary Via Goodreads

Review By: Anonymous

The book The Fault In Our Stars by John Green is a book about two teenage kids who both have cancer. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a book that isn't any ordinary cancer book and loves romance. The main character is a girl whose full name is Hazel Grace Lancaster and she is 16 with thyroid cancer. Later we meet a boy named Augustus Waters and he is 17 with osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer. You should totally read this book if you are a sucker for romance and love books that are out of the ordinary.

Get the latest updates about what's happening at the library!

Book Review: The Fault In Our Stars By John Green

By: Author Laura

Posted on Published: 19th June 2020  - Last updated: 12th January 2024

Categories Book Reviews , Books

The Fault in Our Stars Summary

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 13, 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.

The Fault in Our Stars Review

Usually, after I’ve read a book, I immediately try to throw some thoughts down on a page so writing the book review is easier, but I couldn’t do that with this book. I was an emotional mess and too busy rolling around on my bed wailing.

I’ve seen so much hype about The Fault in Our Stars in the blogosphere and, well, in life. But, to be honest, if it hadn’t come through my letterbox, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. It sounded a bit too heavy for me to handle and the thought of reading about sick teenagers did not appeal.

“The marks humans leave are too often scars.” The Fault in Our Stars Book

The Fault in Our Stars follows the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster, a lung cancer patient. She probably wouldn’t be very happy if she heard me defining her by her disease like that though as that’s what everybody around her seems to do.

After she is diagnosed with depression, she is forced to attend a support group where she meets Augustus Walters, a gorgeous and muscly boy who for some unknown reason (to her) is interested in her. They develop a close friendship, both challenging and supporting each other.

The Fault in Our Stars is written from the perspective of Hazel and her narrative is really witty and funny. I love that both Hazel and Augustus are so accepting of the disease that is such a huge part of their lives. Neither of them is self-pitying but nor are they unrealistically ok with what must obviously a highly traumatic thing to go through.

Listen to The Fault in Our Stars for free with an Audible trial !

Both of them are determined to live their lives as normal teenagers and it’s really saddening to watch them struggle. They’re both incredibly mature having been forced to confront the idea of death very early on in life so moments together when they can just be like any other teenagers are so special. These characters are so inspirational and I wish more people had their strength and outlook on life.

I don’t think I’d be giving much away by saying that a romance develops between Augustus and Hazel. And honestly? It was one of the most beautiful relationships I’ve ever seen develop in a novel.

This wasn’t insta-love and there aren’t many PDAs or anything like that but you can see a real connection between the pair of them based on shared pain and experiences that made them who they are. I also can’t imagine any other couple making ‘okay’ a flirty word.

“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” The Fault in Our Stars Book

These two teenagers really care about each other and, for lack of a better phrase, they have such banter together. There aren’t that many huge romantic gestures or anything silly like that in this book and, to them, hanging out and playing video games is just as good a pastime as any. This story reveals the complexities of each character and shares their personality beyond their illnesses that people usually define them by.

I’ve read other people’s reviews of  The Fault in Our Stars and they said that they could see the end coming, but I really couldn’t. I think perhaps I was in a state of self-denial and was convinced that things would all turn out the way I wanted them to in my head, but they most certainly did not. The ending of this story was one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever read, ever .

When I read the synopsis of this book, I expected a sad story but not one that would make me want to rip my heart out of my chest. I can’t tell you how many times I cried whilst reading this book.

There is a certain point in this book where I just couldn’t contain myself anymore and full-on sobbing ensued. This must be one of the most painful stories to read if you’ve had any experience with sick relatives and I honestly can’t imagine what state I would’ve been in if I had.

I’ve never read any John Green books before but the general consensus seems to be that  The Fault in Our Stars is his best novel yet. This is such an emotional rollercoaster and it is undoubtedly one of the best young adult books I’ve ever read. This book is just so real and raw and the writing itself is just so darn brilliant.

I tried to write some sort of coherent review and reign the fan-girl in but I think she’s about to pop out so that’s all from me! Read. This. Book.

“Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.” The Fault in Our Stars Book

Buy The Fault in Our Stars now: Amazon | Waterstones | Blackwells

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If you liked this post, check out these: The Fault in Our Stars Quotes The Fault in Our Stars in Amsterdam Let It Snow by John Green Me Before You by Jojo Moyes Midnight Sun Film Review

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[This post was first published in 2013 and updated in 2020]

Drithi Shetty

Sunday 12th of September 2021

I have read The Fault in our Stars by taking from library and I really love it I love Teen romance and this was Iike a mood changer like sadness, happiness and all If you don't mind can you pls review To all the boys I've loved before by Jenny han

Friday 21st of March 2014

I loved that book ! it was amazing!

Wednesday 2nd of October 2013

The Fault in Our Stars was my first John Green book as well and I cried like a baby! I loved it so much! The book is really unique and honest, and I loved how strong Hazel and Gus were!

Friday 7th of June 2013

I don't cry when I read books, but this one made me cry buckets. Great book and I'm a fan for life now. Reading Paper towns now.

Monday 14th of April 2014

Ahh I really want to read his other books! I currently own Will Grayson, Will Grayson, An Abundance of Katherines and Let It Snow but I've only read the latter and it was awesome! Hope you enjoyed Paper Towns :)

Monday 18th of March 2013

OMG. This book made me cry so hard! I had cried over only one book ever before this, and that was top-notch drama! I guess, this one was, too, 'cause I cried non-stop towards the end.

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The fault in our stars.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 43 Reviews
• Kids Say 503 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Heartrending love story told by teen dying of cancer.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Fault in Our Stars is a story about teens fighting cancer, and sensitive readers might be uncomfortable with the subject matter and sometimes graphic descriptions of what it's like to die. Hazel has some near-death experiences and also copes with Gus as he vomits uncontrollably,…

Why Age 14+?

Some mature language that seems realistic given the age of the main characters:

The main characters drink champagne, etc., on a trip to Amsterdam, and Gus puts

The two main characters, who are in love, do have (safe) sex, though it is descr

There is no out-and-out violence here, but sensitive readers should know that th

Any Positive Content?

Hazel not only provides teens with insight about what it is like to know you are

Hazel is a smart, funny narrator, and readers will appreciate the flawed but lov

Will build vocabulary and awareness of literature, as the book makes references

Some mature language that seems realistic given the age of the main characters: stuff like "bull----," "bastards," "nuts," etc.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

The main characters drink champagne, etc., on a trip to Amsterdam, and Gus puts cigarettes in his mouth (but doesn't smoke them). Some discussion of fictional cancer drugs. An adult character is an alcoholic who begins drinking early in the morning.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

The two main characters, who are in love, do have (safe) sex, though it is described only briefly.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

There is no out-and-out violence here, but sensitive readers should know that there are graphic descriptions of what it is like to suffer through cancer. Hazel has some near-death experiences and also copes with Gus as he vomits uncontrollably. Characters lose eyes, legs, control of their personalities, and more. Also, characters play violent video games and read books and watch movies with high body counts.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Hazel not only provides teens with insight about what it is like to know you are dying -- and to lose someone you love -- but her story is also about deciding to love and be loved, even when you know it will cause pain.

Positive Role Models

Hazel is a smart, funny narrator, and readers will appreciate the flawed but loving characters throughout. Most notably, readers will be amazed by her parents, who try to be truly supportive to their daughter always, even though their hearts are breaking and they don't always agree with her choices.

Educational Value

Will build vocabulary and awareness of literature, as the book makes references to Shakespeare, etc. (including the title, which comes from his Julius Caesar ("The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,/ But in ourselves, that we are underlings."). Can inspire discussions about fate, the meaning of life, thoughts about dying.

Parents need to know that The Fault in Our Stars is a story about teens fighting cancer, and sensitive readers might be uncomfortable with the subject matter and sometimes graphic descriptions of what it's like to die. Hazel has some near-death experiences and also copes with Gus as he vomits uncontrollably, etc. Characters lose eyes, legs, control of their personalities, and more. Also, characters play violent video games and read books and watch movies with high body counts. There's some swearing and drinking, and the two main characters, who are in love, do have (safe) sex, though it's described only briefly. This is a mature and powerful story: Hazel not only provides teens with insight about what it is like to know you're dying -- and to lose someone you love -- but her story is also about deciding to love and be loved, even when you know it will cause pain.

Where to Read

Parent and kid reviews.

• Parents say (43)
• Kids say (503)

Based on 43 parent reviews

Crass at times

A romantic, emotional and sensitive story for young people must not involve them having sex in their young and immature relacionship just cause they've got a terminal illness, what's the story.

Hazel knows she is dying of cancer, and even when she makes an instant connection with survivor Augustus Waters at a youth support group, she is determined not to start a romance with him ("I'm a grenade and at some point I'm going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties, okay?"). Even so, when he uses his Wish to take her to Amsterdam to meet a reclusive author she loves, it is impossible to deny that he loves her -- and she loves him. And though she soon learns that Gus has a painful secret, Hazel learns that loving others is worth it, even when it leaves a "scar."

Is It Any Good?

Be prepared: This is a tearjerker dealing with dying -- and surviving the death of a loved one. Parents who read this book along with their teens will be particularly moved by Hazel's parents, who soothe her anxiety by telling her about their plans for after she has died ("Even when you die, I will still be your mom, Hazel ... how could I stop loving you?"). Green wrote this book after making a friendship with a teen with cancer, and his attention to detail is remarkable, from descriptions of equipment to what it feels like to be stared at by well-meaning strangers. Readers may be perplexed about an alcoholic author who begins making appearances in Hazel's life, and may be unsure if he is really there or just a symbol. This decision seems a bit out of step with what is otherwise a realistic and emotionally harrowing book about love and loss. But Hazel's honest narration and her strength to love despite the consequences will capture teens' attention most. In the end, this is a painful book, but well worth it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about what it would be like to know you are dying. Would you do anything differently? Why does Hazel say she feels like a "grenade" and tell her parents she wants to "minimize the casualties" by staying away from people?

Also, the author's other books, such as Looking for Alaska , are often called edgy. What makes a book "Young Adult," and when does it crossover into being an adult story? Does it have to do mostly with the age of the narrator, or something else?

Book Details

• Author : John Green
• Genre : Coming of Age
• Topics : Great Girl Role Models
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Dutton Books
• Publication date : January 10, 2012
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 14
• Number of pages : 336
• Last updated : November 4, 2019

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green | Book Review

Posted February 16, 2015 by Jana in Book Review , Young Adult Fiction / 5 Comments

Despite the tumor-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.

I can’t believe I read this. I can’t BELIEVE I read this. I had vowed to never, ever read The Fault in our Stars because I hate crying and being sad and cancer. And being the perfectionist, type-A student I am, I finally did. If the love of my life had asked me to read TFioS, I would have said no. But when my grade’s on the line I’ll pretty much do anything that isn’t illegal and/or against my moral code. Haha. So yay! Now I’m cool and I’ve read the book, and I only cried a little (but that’s because I read the spoilers because I’M SORRY, but in addition to being a perfectionist I’m also a planner. So sue me.). Anyway, so much has been said and re-said about TFioS so I’m not going to do a full review like I usually do. Here are my thoughts!

– I think The Fault in Our Stars ‘s biggest selling point (aside from the sweeping romance) is that suffering is a part of life sometimes, and people go through things that are not fair. It’s part of life. We all go through a lot of suffering, and while it might not be as huge as cancer, loves are lost and devastating things happen (big or small). I remember times where I felt convinced that my life was over for one reason or another. The Fault in our Stars really puts everything into perspective and gives readers a chance to think about their own lives. I thought a lot about what I would do if I knew I was terminal. I wondered how I would change or how I would re-prioritize my life.

– The story is unique because the romance feels so realistic and true . Hazel and Gus are dying, so they have risen above time just to be in the moment. I love their story, and I love how they fell deeply for one another. And, oh, Augustus. I love his personality.

– Hazel’s voice is so poignant and strong, even though she’s scared. Her maturity matches that of someone who has had to grow up faster than average in order to live her entire life in a too-short period of time.

– Hazel’s thoughts about love and life are so real, especially for someone that is dealing with something horrible. I identified with her in many ways because I have debilitating diseases that have altered my life. I’m not terminal, and I’m not in danger of becoming so, but I understood her reflections. It’s unbelievably scary and confusing to live in pain, and John Green writes like he has been through it. He writes Hazel and Gus like he knows what it’s like to be them. He conveys such perfect emotion. 

– The romance is so sweet. I had a perfect fairy-tale love story as a teen (obviously it was far from perfect and we went our separate ways), and I was told all the time that I couldn’t possibly know what love is like. I appreciate that John Green understands that teens can know. And they can have a deep love story. I love it when an author respects their audience like that, and does not put characters in their book that tell teens how wrong they are, and how their feelings aren’t true.

– The book gave me hope . The jokes and the sarcasm and the funny jabs are a reminder that you can always have hope, even in dire circumstances. I loved that message.

All in all, The Fault in Our Stars really spoke to me. Readers do not have to be suffering from cancer or even know someone who has/had cancer in order to relate. The book is about living and loving and enjoying the time you have. It’s about hope. I think everyone should read this book because the messages of the necessity for suffering, the realities of cancer, living in the moment, hope, and love are so strong and beautifully delivered.

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5 responses to “ The Fault in Our Stars by John Green | Book Review ”

Glad you enjoyed it! I wasn’t expecting much from this book, so it blew me away. There was a perfect balance between bitter reality and optimistic hope, such a well done story. And Hazel! Her voice was excellent.

Lovely review :D Lea @ YA Book Queen recently posted… Mini-Review: VICIOUS by V.E. Schwab

I still haven’t read this. I tried. I made it about three pages in and returned it to the library. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it and took something away from reading it. Brianna recently posted… read: george washington books for kids

I think I was one of few that didn’t really fall in love with it. I love how you mentioned how this wasn’t just about the romance, but also about LIFE. I do love books don’t always have A HEA and really focus on things that we don’t like to talk about. :D

Glad you loved it! tonyalee recently posted… 2015 Book Blogger Love-A-Thon | Kick off Interview

The book is beautiful, yes the message is very clear, besides the romance i love the friendship, and the family support, the characters are beautiful and realistic, love the book

This is one of my favorite reads of all time! Love your comments!

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Book Reviews

'the fault in our stars': love in a time of cancer.

Rachel Syme

The Fault in Our Stars

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In his Pulitzer Prize–winning book The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, Siddhartha Mukherjee writes that as recently as the 1950s, cancer was so feared and taboo that the New York Times refused to print the word in a support-group advertisement. It was the second-leading cause of death in the United States then — just as it is now — but it was as mysterious to most people as mortality itself. There is something monstrous about a disease that kills by wanting to live; cancer's goal is to grow and prosper, with absolutely no regard for its host. It makes sense that people couldn't speak about it — it's not easy to commiserate about a nightmare.

And yet, human instinct tells us to band together to fight our enemies, even on the cellular level. Gradually, with scientific breakthroughs and education, cancer became less of a mum word and more of a buzzword. Hollywood jumped on the drama surrounding the disease, and soon films like Terms of Endearment and Beaches were keeping tissue companies in business. Novels and magazine articles highlighted survivor stories; television started adding characters afflicted with illness. Even Sex and the City 's carousing Samantha had her share of chemo.

In recent years, the trend has gone one step beyond talking about cancer — the goal now, at least for pop culture, is to find the humor in it. Fortunately, John Green is the kind of writer to deliver it.

John Green is the New York Times best-selling author of Looking for Alaska , An Abundance of Katherines and Paper Towns . Ton Koene hide caption

Green writes books for young adults, but his voice is so compulsively readable that it defies categorization. He writes for youth, rather than to them, and the difference is palpable. He doesn't dumb anything down. His language is complex, his syntax adult. He freely references Kierkegaard and William Carlos Williams alongside bloody video games and action movies. Add to that a raw and real glimpse at childhood illness, and his latest, The Fault in Our Stars , may be his best book yet.

The real tragedy of cancer may be that it affects people of all ages, and children suffering from the disease are often hit hardest. Robbed of any semblance of a normal life, "cancer kids," as Green's narrator, Hazel Grace Lancaster, calls them, mark their time in days and weeks.

Hazel, 16, has been battling thyroid cancer since age 13, and only through the use of an experimental drug is she still alive. She carries an oxygen tank with her everywhere, and hasn't attended traditional school since her diagnosis. Depressed and lonely, she tries a support group, where she meets the handsome — and deceptively sick — Augustus Waters, a 17-year-old dreamboat who quickly proceeds to turn her life into an adventure. Green graciously avoids the typical will-they-or-won't-they of most teen reads, as cancer victims don't have the luxury of time to dawdle with their affections. Instead, Augustus and Hazel become fast friends.

Green's novel is elegantly plotted, and as sad in places as one might expect a book about adolescent cancer to be. But it's also brimming with joy. Hazel and Augustus have a zeal for living and for each other that, cancer or not, is rare, and it's a delight to see their plans unfold and relationship flourish even as they both face death.

Green has a powerful online following: He is a YouTube video star with an army of fans he calls the "nerdfighters," a group mobilized "to fight to increase awesome and decrease suck." His draw is so magnetic that just by asking his devotees to donate money, he raised over $100,000 for charity. When he offered signed copies of Fault in a pre-sale last year, the novel leapt to the top of Amazon's list of best-selling books in a single day, and it has remained in the top 20 since.

The Fault in Our Stars proves that the hype surrounding Green is not overblown. He tells his story with such gumption and tenderness that he almost adds a new genre to cancer-lit: romantic teen angst jumbled with big existential questions. Green shoves adolescent-crush jitters and musings about the afterlife into the same story, and yet it all makes sense. As Hazel says to Augustus, "Some infinities are bigger than other infinities ... There are days, many of them, when I resent the size of my unbound set. But Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity."

You will be thankful, too, for the little infinity you spend inside this book.

The Literary Edit

Review: The Fault in Our Stars – John Green

I suppose one of the advantages of not being able to pick and chose what you read; of not having overstocked shelves bursting at the seams with books, nor a pile of unread releases waiting to be opened, is that it forces you out of your comfort zone. Much like when I read my way through the BBC Top 100 , being in Bali, with limited access to literature has meant I’ve read a number of books that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

John Green’s The Fault in our Stars was one of them. While I’m certainly not opposed to YA literature, other than  the likes of Harry Potter, it’s not a genre I read extensively, and thus I suppose I often overlook many of its books.

Beloved by a nation of readers, The Fault in our Stars is John Green’s sixth novel whose title is inspired by Act 1, Scene 2 of Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar , in which the nobleman Cassius says to Brutus: “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, / But in ourselves, that we are underlings.”

Narrated by sixteen-year-old Hazel Grace who suffers from cancer, she meets and falls in love with Augustus Waters at a support group – an amputee in remission. They bond over their love for literature and soon fall in love. A trip to Amsterdam to track down the author of Hazel’s favourite book ensues, as does a confession from Augustus that his cancer has returned.

Alas, the story is a sad one; as is expected when its two protagonists are cancer patients. Yet despite its not-so-happy ending, The Fault in our Stars is a beautiful and poignant tale about making the most of what life has to offer, ceasing every opportunity that comes our way and cherishing those who we’re lucky enough to love.

1 comment on “Review: The Fault in Our Stars – John Green”

I like your review, but often the purpose of reading a review, is to understand another’s perspective especially when regarding books. I wanted to know your opinion on the story, but only got a summary of the story itself and the influence Shakespeare has. So did you like the novel? did you like a particular part, or aspect of the novel? what did you think of then ending? do you want to read any more of john green’s book?

excuse the email that was 11 year old me.

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