Get Your Tissues Ready

 

    I recently read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, which easily became one of my favorite books. Although, it was a little weird reading it since the main character's name is also Hazel. This book is so good I read it in a couple days and then watched the movie the day after finishing it.

    Also, this review will contain a few spoilers!

    So, this book's main character, as I previously stated, is a high schooler named Hazel, who is currently battling cancer. She is too sick to attend school, and her mom worries about her being lonely so her mom forces her to go to this group where people with cancer can talk together about their struggles or successes. One day when Hazel goes to this group, she meets a new boy, Augustus Waters. He had cancer when he was younger and lost one of his legs. He is also charming and very smart and they immediately become close. They spend lots of time together and read each other's favorite books. Hazel's favorite book is called An Imperial Affliction, which is about a girl who has cancer. Augustus reads that book and they both really enjoy it, although not as much as Hazel. Eventually, they end up traveling to Amsterdam together to meet the author of that very book. Hazel and Augustus enjoy a (somewhat) perfect week in Amsterdam until Augustus tells Hazel some heartbreaking news...

    Overall, I think this book is a perfect combination of bittersweet sadness, clever one-liners, and a sweet portrayal of young love. Many times it had me laugh out loud, and other times cry (a lot). It is a beautiful story of love and sadness, and the deep connections that can be made in a short amount of time. While the movie was fine, the true masterpiece is in the book itself. So PLEASE, if you get anything out of this review, read the book first, and then, if you still feel the need to, watch the movie. If I am being completely honest, there were some points in the movie where I was a little disappointed, so if you have to choose one, definitely choose the book! This book was super sad, but it shared so much about love, fear, and heartbreak in a comparatively short amount of pages. Please give it a try!

-Hazel 🐸