Review: The Fault in Our Stars

Title: The Fault in our Stars

Author: John Green

Rating: 5 stars

The blurb:
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.

Review:

This normally isn't the sort of book I read. I'm usually all about paranormal romance or science fiction books, but after becoming a part of nerdfighteria (if you don't know about the nerdfighters look them up, you'll thank me later) I knew I had to read this book.

This book is amazing! It's funny, smart, and sad without being depressing. Yes the main character has cancer and yes that is sad but this book also makes you realize  how short life can be and how you have to make sure you're doing all you can to get the most out of it.

Hazel Grace Lancaster is an amazing character. She is strong, smart, and incredibly witty. When she goes to her cancer kid support group she never expects to meet the fascinating and hot Augustus Waters. Hazel and Augustus have incredible chemistry. They have witty banter and a real emotional connection. I wish these characters were real so that I could have a chance to really get to know them.

One of my favorite things about Hazel is her love of the book An Imperial Affliction by Peter Van Houten. She says of this book: "sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book. And then there are books like An Imperial Affliction, which you can't tell people about, books so special and rare and yours that advertising your affection feels like a betrayal." (The Fault in Our Stars pg. 29). I think that anyone who loves to read has felt that way at some point in their life about a book. The fact that Hazel shares this book with Augustus shows how much she trusts him.

The characters in this story are very interesting. Such as one of her old school friends Kaitlyn who Hazel has trouble talking to because the cancer makes Kaitlyn feel like she has to watch what she says. Hazel's friend Isaac who is also in the cancer kid support group is a great character. He is funny and he can understand what Hazel is going through. Hazel's parents are also not what you'd expect. Hazel's mother is strong and doesn't break down easily while Hazel's father cries all the time because of his sadness over his daughters cancer. I really love the role reversal here because in a lot of other book and movies where parents are dealing with their child having cancer, it is often the mother who always breaks down.

My advice to those who are thinking about buying this book is simple: do it. You won't regret it. Don't be put off because you think this book is going to be a depressing story about cancer, this book is so much more than that. 

DFTBA

Author John Green Reading Chapter One of The Fault in Our Stars