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challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
John Green’s „The Fault in Our Stars“ is a deeply moving and beautifully written novel that explores love, loss, and the meaning of life through the eyes of two unforgettable characters. This book has been sitting on my shelf since 2012, and I‘m glad I finally read it.
The story follows Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old girl living with thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs. Encouraged by her mother, she reluctantly joins a cancer support group where she meets Augustus Waters, a charismatic and confident boy who lost a leg to osteosarcoma. What begins as a witty and philosophical friendship soon blossoms into a powerful and heartbreaking romance. Together, they navigate the complexities of illness, love, and their shared obsession with a novel that leads them on an unforgettable journey to Amsterdam.
Green’s writing is both poetic and raw, blending humor with heartache in a way that makes the story feel deeply authentic. Hazel and Augustus are not defined by their illnesses but by their intelligence, humor, and deep love for each other. Their dialogues are sharp, filled with literary references and existential musings that make the book as thought-provoking as it is emotional.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its refusal to romanticize illness. It presents a brutally honest portrayal of suffering, loss, and the unfairness of life, yet it also finds beauty in fleeting moments of happiness and connection. The novel’s emotional climax is devastating, yet it leaves readers with a sense of gratitude for the love and moments that make life meaningful.
Overall, „The Fault in Our Stars“ is a heartbreaking yet life-affirming story that stays with you long after you turn the last page. It’s a book that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on what it truly means to love and be loved. Whether you’re a fan of young adult literature or not, this is a novel that deserves a place on your bookshelf. And isn‘t it a great sign if a book can make you cry even though you have seen the movie adaption multiple times already?
The story follows Hazel Grace Lancaster, a 16-year-old girl living with thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs. Encouraged by her mother, she reluctantly joins a cancer support group where she meets Augustus Waters, a charismatic and confident boy who lost a leg to osteosarcoma. What begins as a witty and philosophical friendship soon blossoms into a powerful and heartbreaking romance. Together, they navigate the complexities of illness, love, and their shared obsession with a novel that leads them on an unforgettable journey to Amsterdam.
Green’s writing is both poetic and raw, blending humor with heartache in a way that makes the story feel deeply authentic. Hazel and Augustus are not defined by their illnesses but by their intelligence, humor, and deep love for each other. Their dialogues are sharp, filled with literary references and existential musings that make the book as thought-provoking as it is emotional.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its refusal to romanticize illness. It presents a brutally honest portrayal of suffering, loss, and the unfairness of life, yet it also finds beauty in fleeting moments of happiness and connection. The novel’s emotional climax is devastating, yet it leaves readers with a sense of gratitude for the love and moments that make life meaningful.
Overall, „The Fault in Our Stars“ is a heartbreaking yet life-affirming story that stays with you long after you turn the last page. It’s a book that will make you laugh, cry, and reflect on what it truly means to love and be loved. Whether you’re a fan of young adult literature or not, this is a novel that deserves a place on your bookshelf. And isn‘t it a great sign if a book can make you cry even though you have seen the movie adaption multiple times already?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Alcohol
Moderate: Cursing, Drug use, Vomit
Minor: Sexual content
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content
Minor: Toxic relationship
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Terminal illness, Grief
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Had this on my shelf since it came out but never got further than chapter two. Initially, I found the writing very 2010, but it grew on me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Death, Terminal illness
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Rereading this book so I am maybe biased with the 4 star rating, but the first time I read it I was like 13 so doesnt feel right to go with the rating I would’ve given it then either.
I LOVE the characters in this book. They feel like friends, or like versions of myself, or some combination of both. I think they tend to feel a bit one-dimensional but this can be attributed to them being teenagers, I think they have deep inner worlds but also don’t really know who they are? Either way, it is beautiful to watch them interact, I just felt a bit of depth missing in the teenage angst and quirkiness this time around. I guess I want to say that despite loving the characters, something felt a bit missing for me in depth which made the book not a true 5-star for me.
Tfios is a page-turner and the love story is beautiful and heartbreaking. I finished the entire second half of the book in a few hours after taking my time with the first half. Overall, it feels like a glance into the life of Hazel, and I adore John Green for his ability to write in a way that makes you question meaning and your definition of “time well spent” even while reading a story you already know.
Rereading it and “knowing” John better from his online presence (and also having recently reread Looking For Alaska), I also found the book an interesting peak into his evolution as an author and public figure. The first 5 pages alone are a tribute to his massive improvement in style since Looking For Alaska and I felt strangely proud (and somewhat awe-struck… one of the first times I’ve gone back to read pages of a novel aloud to myself) of the incredible voice with which he opens the book.
Overall, I’d call the book (again, upon rereading) cathartic. I knew the story, I knew the famous lines, and I knew the heartbreak that was coming but still let myself sob over the great loss and what it represents. The injustice of life and the beauty in living anyway are captured wonderfully.
I LOVE the characters in this book. They feel like friends, or like versions of myself, or some combination of both. I think they tend to feel a bit one-dimensional but this can be attributed to them being teenagers, I think they have deep inner worlds but also don’t really know who they are? Either way, it is beautiful to watch them interact, I just felt a bit of depth missing in the teenage angst and quirkiness this time around. I guess I want to say that despite loving the characters, something felt a bit missing for me in depth which made the book not a true 5-star for me.
Tfios is a page-turner and the love story is beautiful and heartbreaking. I finished the entire second half of the book in a few hours after taking my time with the first half. Overall, it feels like a glance into the life of Hazel, and I adore John Green for his ability to write in a way that makes you question meaning and your definition of “time well spent” even while reading a story you already know.
Rereading it and “knowing” John better from his online presence (and also having recently reread Looking For Alaska), I also found the book an interesting peak into his evolution as an author and public figure. The first 5 pages alone are a tribute to his massive improvement in style since Looking For Alaska and I felt strangely proud (and somewhat awe-struck… one of the first times I’ve gone back to read pages of a novel aloud to myself) of the incredible voice with which he opens the book.
Overall, I’d call the book (again, upon rereading) cathartic. I knew the story, I knew the famous lines, and I knew the heartbreak that was coming but still let myself sob over the great loss and what it represents. The injustice of life and the beauty in living anyway are captured wonderfully.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness
Moderate: Vomit
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Terminal illness
Moderate: Child death, Vomit
Minor: Alcoholism
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child death, Terminal illness