Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault in Our Stars (Amazon) 
Author: John Green
Genre: Young Adult
Sensuality Rating: Mild
Source: won
Published: January 2012 by Dutton Books

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, 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.

I read this book over a month ago but it’s taken me so long to review it because of all of the feelings that I have for it. The Fault in Our Stars has to have been one of my two favourite reads so far this year. The premise was intriguing and John Green delivered with a novel that made me laugh, scream and sob.

Sixteen-year-old Hazel has managed to be granted a miracle in her life. When she was twelve, she was diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer and was prepared to die, but thanks to a drug trial, her tumors shrunk and she was allowed to live on with her life; a miracle! But then she meets Augustus Waters and the world that she’s been living in starts to completely change around her.

Oh gosh, I don’t even know where to begin. I initially had no intention to read this until I could get a copy from the library, but I won a copy of this book from a giveaway and couldn’t resist the urge to start reading the second I got it. I finished this book the day I started it, refusing to set it down throughout the first half and constantly setting it down through the rest of it.

I wasn’t sure how John Green was going to handle writing a novel in a female point of view, especially since all of his previous novels have featured males as the main characters, but I was so, so impressed with the writing. It’s definitely his best novel yet. Between the way he wrote Hazel’s character (her personality was wonderful) and Augustus Waters’s characterization as a whole (not only did he sound adorable, but he had such a kind, caring, wonderful personality) the novel was one of the best reads I’ve had the pleasure to read.

The beginning of the novel was so entertaining and funny. Being in Hazel’s mind was so fun because you could tell that she was a well-planned character that was developed and likeable. Once she met Augustus, that was it. I was hooked completely, and I sat for hours, just reading every bit of the way. Of course, when I reached the point that John Green is infamous for, it broke my heart. While reading from that point on, I was crying the entire time. Sobbing, even.

The Fault in Our Stars hit me so hard that I almost fear rereading it in the future because of all of the feelings that will appear when I reread it. I can’t imagine going into this again while knowing what’s going to happen in the novel. In fact, I think I would start crying upon reading the first page. This novel has hurt my heart in so many ways but it’s also made me so happy, and if you’re looking for a novel that you’ll want to declare your new favourite novel, don’t hesitate to pick up a copy of TFioS and read it. Even though it’s heartbreaking, you won’t regret it.

Rhee’s Rating: