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.
Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.
I can’t believe I read this. I can’t BELIEVE I read this. I had vowed to never, ever read The Fault in our Stars because I hate crying and being sad and cancer. And being the perfectionist, type-A student I am, I finally did. If the love of my life had asked me to read TFioS, I would have said no. But when my grade’s on the line I’ll pretty much do anything that isn’t illegal and/or against my moral code. Haha. So yay! Now I’m cool and I’ve read the book, and I only cried a little [but that’s because I read the spoilers because I’M SORRY, but in addition to being a perfectionist I’m also a planner. So sue me.]. Anyway, so much has been said and re-said about TFioS so I’m not going to do a full review like I usually do. Here are my thoughts!
– I think The Fault in Our Stars‘s biggest selling point [aside from the sweeping romance] is that suffering is a part of life sometimes, and people go through things that are not fair. It’s part of life. We all go through a lot of suffering, and while it might not be as huge as cancer, loves are lost and devastating things happen [big or small]. I remember times where I felt convinced that my life was over for one reason or another. The Fault in our Stars really puts everything into perspective and gives readers a chance to think about their own lives. I thought a lot about what I would do if I knew I was terminal. I wondered how I would change or how I would re-prioritize my life.
– The story is unique because the romance feels so realistic and true. Hazel and Gus are dying, so they have risen above time just to be in the moment. I love their story, and I love how they fell deeply for one another. And, oh, Augustus. I love his personality.
– Hazel’s voice is so poignant and strong, even though she’s scared. Her maturity matches that of someone who has had to grow up faster than average in order to live her entire life in a too-short period of time.
– Hazel’s thoughts about love and life are so real, especially for someone that is dealing with something horrible. I identified with her in many ways because I have debilitating diseases that have altered my life. I’m not terminal, and I’m not in danger of becoming so, but I understood her reflections. It’s unbelievably scary and confusing to live in pain, and John Green writes like he has been through it. He writes Hazel and Gus like he knows what it’s like to be them. He conveys such perfect emotion.
– The romance is so sweet. I had a perfect fairy-tale love story as a teen [obviously it was far from perfect and we went our separate ways], and I was told all the time that I couldn’t possibly know what love is like. I appreciate that John Green understands that teens can know. And they can have a deep love story. I love it when an author respects their audience like that, and does not put characters in their book that tell teens how wrong they are, and how their feelings aren’t true.
– The book gave me hope. The jokes and the sarcasm and the funny jabs are a reminder that you can always have hope, even in dire circumstances. I loved that message.
All in all, The Fault in Our Stars really spoke to me. Readers do not have to be suffering from cancer or even know someone who has/had cancer in order to relate. The book is about living and loving and enjoying the time you have. It’s about hope. I think everyone should read this book because the messages of the necessity for suffering, the realities of cancer, living in the moment, hope, and love are so strong and beautifully delivered.
Wise, funny, and heartbreaking without resorting to exploitation, The Fault In Our Stars does right by its bestselling source material. Read critic reviews
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Movie Info
Hazel Grace Lancaster [Shailene Woodley], a 16-year-old cancer patient, meets and falls in love with Gus Waters [Ansel Elgort], a similarly afflicted teen from her cancer support group. Hazel feels that Gus really understands her. They both share the same acerbic wit and a love of books, especially Grace's touchstone, "An Imperial Affliction" by Peter Van Houten. When Gus scores an invitation to meet the reclusive author, he and Hazel embark on the adventure of their brief lives.
- Rating:PG-13 [Some Sexuality|Brief Strong Language|Thematic Elements]
- Genre: Romance, Drama
- Original Language:English
- Director: Josh Boone
- Producer: Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen
- Writer: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
- Release Date [Theaters]: Jun 6, 2014 wide
- Release Date [Streaming]: Jan 4, 2016
- Box Office [Gross USA]:$124.9M
- Runtime: 2h 6m
- Distributor: 20th Century Fox
- Production Co: Temple Hill
Cast & Crew
News & Interviews for The Fault in Our Stars
Critic Reviews for The Fault in Our Stars
Audience Reviews for The Fault in Our Stars
- Jul 01, 2019
A beautiful and mesmerizing movie, with fantastic performances, but super depressing and unpleasantly heartbreaking: not for sensitive viewers...
- Aug 22, 2016
Surprisingly well made issue movie with a sterling lead performance - though I had a problem with a tiny but belief-defying moment involving some spontaneous applause, as well as a major issue with both the character of Gus and the actor portraying him [I believed in neither].
Super Reviewer
- Jun 09, 2015
Any film that can force me to shed a tear gets extra marks and The Fault In Our Stars qualifies in this regard. How you view this story might depend on your opinion on loss. Those like me who think it's better to have the good for however long than none at all will see it one way. Others who think you are better off not knowing what you are missing might see it less positively. A story about 2 teens [Hazel and Gus] who meet at a cancer support group might not immediately seem like something you would want to watch but it is funny at times and very positive in the main. Gus is full of himself but not in an arrogant way, I thought it more of an inner confidence. Hazel is more insular and reserved and is probably caused by the isolation forced upon her by the ongoing treatment. Their parents try their best to be supportive whilst at the same time giving them space but they find this balance difficult at times. Hazel and Gus are heavily influenced by a book about a character who goes through the same experience as them except that the novel ends abruptly and this is a source of irritation for the both of them. I'll admit to finding The Fault In Our Stars a bit too sickly sweet at times but when it scores, it scores very well. The main reason for this is that I found Gus and Hazel believable and very likeable. I warmed to them both very quickly. I also liked Laura Derns performance as Hazels Mum and Willem Dafoes performance [always good] gives weight to the saying that you should never meet your heroes as it can be a disappointment.
Super Reviewer
Mar 28, 2015
A pretty good film, and an interesting take on love, life, and death. This kind of reminds me of Perks of Being a Wallflower, just about death instead of growing up, high school, etc. I'd recommend seeing this film.