The Fault In Our Stars Review

Characters: Hazel Grace Lancaster

Hazel Grace Lancaster, born on September 29th and aged seventeen, is the main character of The Fault in Our Stars. She is the main female love interest of the book. Hazel finished high school early and has already begun pursuing a college education. She is diagnosed with Stage 4 Thyroid cancer (a type of lung cancer), but has managed to live with her disease thanks to doses of an experimental drug called Phalanxifor (which does not actually exist).

Characters: Augustus Waters

Augustus, or Gus usually used by Hazel, is a main character and the male love interest of the story. He says that his fear is oblivion; he wants to leave a mark on the world, to be remembered. He is diagnosed with osteosarcoma, the most common cancer that forms in a rare bone cancer that caused him to lose his leg. But the loss of his leg never stopped his perseverance of life.

Characters: Peter van Houten

Peter is the author of Hazel and Gus’ favorite book, An Imperial Affliction. He lives in Amsterdam with his assistant Lidewij Vliegenthart. When you first hear about him, you think very highly of him, as it is Hazel’s description of him. He is Hazel’s hero. But later on you find out that he is just a rude and hateful alcoholic. Yours and Hazel’s perspective on him turns completely.

Plot: 

Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 17 year old girl diagnosed with Stage 4 Thyroid cancer, meets and falls in love with Gus Waters, a similarly afflicted teen from her support group. Hazel feels that Gus really understands her. They both share the same acerbic wit and love of books, especially Hazel's favorite, An Imperial Affliction by Peter van Houten. When Gus scores an invitation to meet the reclusive author, he and Hazel embark on the extremely emotional journey of their brief lives.

My Opinion: 

This is my favorite novel ever. I have always loved books with a strong emotional side to them. John Green is also one of my favorite authors of all time. The lessons in this book are probably another reason why I fell in love with it. One of the lessons taught in this book is Live in the moment. Since the future is a blur, cherish what you have now. Enjoy every moment you can with your friends and family. Or be happy with your place in this world. Simply as John Green wrote, “The world is not a wish granting factory. Sure you can optimistically dream ahead, but sometimes you need to be happy with enough, an appreciation for what we have right here and now.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves romantic stories. That is what The Fault in our stars is all about. Love. But if you are very susceptible to books about cancer, then be warned because this book is all about two people who fall in love but the Fault is the cancer. And the Stars is their love. But all in all, this is a great book and I recommend it to anyone.