Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Author: John Green

Publisher: Dutton's Children 2012

Genre: YA Contemporary

Pages: 337

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: US of YA; NPR Teen; Books to Movies; ebook; New Author

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.

Our first book club selection of 2014!  I have heard absolutely amazing things about this book.  That's why I put it up for consideration for our January club selection.  The reality of the book didn't live up to all the expectations.  It's a good book.  I might even say it's a great book.  But, I think it's a great book for someone else.  I think if I had read this when I was 16 it would have been great.  As I am now 31, it's just a good book.  The love story seemed a bit too teenagey for me.  I wanted a bit more depth to the romance.  The sections about life and death are really what kept me sucked into the book.  Gus and Hazel's look at life was interesting and thought-provoking.  I especially loved the eulogies at Augustus's pre-funeral.  I would love to be remembered that way instead of some empty platitudes about living a good life.  I would love the real me to appear at my funeral.  Overall, I think TFiOS is a really really good book.  I just couldn't give it 5 stars.