Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Summary: 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. -Goodreads

 

Review:

**Warning: Spoilers!  I have a feeling no one has to worry about this, though, because I’m probably, like, the last person to read this.  So yeah.  Spoilers for Allegiant by Veronica Roth, as well…**

“Everything’s been so depressing lately,” I said five minutes after finishing The Fault in Our Stars.

During my second trip to the wonderful Barnes & Noble, I finally purchased The Fault in Our Stars.  I couldn’t decide whether I wanted the collector’s edition or the regular edition.  I just got the regular.

I wasn’t sure how to go into this book—I was pretty scared, because all people talk about (or at least, what stood out to me when people spoke about TFIOS) is the sadness the book rained upon them.  I thought that this book was going to be just a downpour of sadness and depression.

But when I actually started TFIOS, it was funny.  Like, hysterically.  I was laughing so much throughout this book.  In fact, it was only towards the end that was sad.

It was pretty fast-paced in the beginning, but the rest of it was a nice, steady pace.

I already knew someone died, but I didn’t know who died, which surprised me.  I actually thought Hazel was going to die, because the cancer was gone from Augustus.  I THOUGHT HE WAS SAFE.  Lies… D:  I’m actually glad we didn’t get to see Hazel die because a) I don’t think I can take anymore main character deaths, even though Augustus was also a main character, and b) Shailene Woodley plays both Hazel and Tris… *weeps*  I actually was afraid that John Green was going to end the story, like, in mid-sentence like Anna’s story ended in An Imperial Affliction.  I was so scared that he’d do that, because the ending of AIA was mentioned throughout TFIOS several times throughout the book, and everything happens for a reason.  So I thought, there must be a reason as to why John Green keeps mentioning how Anna’s story ended.  I was very relieved when the story did not end like that.  However, the way the story did end pretty much killed me.

TFIOS was actually very addictive.  I’d put it down for a while, because I’d gone into a reading slump, but when I picked it up again (yesterday night), I stayed up till 11:30 p.m. to finish it!  I haven’t read at night in a LOOOONG time, so I must’ve really liked this book.  (There was this security thing in the middle of one of the pages.  It was something to keep people from stealing.  Anyway, it was this security sticker that was slapped right smack dab in the center of a page, and I was thinking, “What the (choice of word)?!”  I was freaking out because the thing wouldn’t come off.  Finally, I managed to get the sticker off the page, without any damage whatsoever.  It was easier than I thought.)

I didn’t cry when we were told Augustus died, but I cried during his funeral.  I’m glad we weren’t shown how he died and when he died, and that we were just told, because, like I said, I can’t take anymore character deaths right now, even though there are character deaths in lots of books.

And when Hazel put the pack of cigarettes in Augustus’ coffin?  Good gods, that was so sad, because she promised she’d get him more, and… *sadness*

And I got all teary when Hazel found out her mom was going to become a Patrick (dude amused me).

TFIOS isn’t my FAVORITE BOOK EVER, okay?  But it definitely deserves a high rating (see rating below).  I really enjoyed this read.

Favorite Lines:

Mom: “Hazel, you’re a teenager.  You’re not a little kid anymore.  You need to make friends, get out of the house, and live your life.”

Me: “If you want me to be a teenager, don’t send me to Support Group.  Buy me a fake ID so I can go to clubs, drink vodka, and take pot.”

Mom: “You don’t take pot, for starters.” 

Me: “See, that’s the kind of thing I’d know if you got me a fake ID.”

~

“God, you’re the best,” I told him.

“I bet you say that to all the boys who finance your international travel,” he answered.

~

“That’s the thing about pain,” Augustus said, and then glanced back at me.  “It demands to be felt.”

I felt even sadder when I finished TFIOS.  I was listening to music as I read.  I was rereading the last few lines, and then Lana del Rey’s “Born To Die” came on, literally right when I read, “I do, Augustus.

“I do.”

5/5 stars.

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Post-The Fault in Our Stars Actions

• Find my tissues.
• Watch The Fault in Our Stars movie trailer for the first time.
• Watch a TFIOS booktalk on YouTube.
• Catch up on a bunch of other YouTube channels I follow.
• Dig out The Darkest Minds from this abyss:

Just kidding. I don’t actually have my books set up like this! This is just a picture of how messy it gets when I rearrange them… It ain’t pretty.

And now, I suppose I shall read The Darkest Minds.