The Fault in Our Stars

This book made me laugh, it made me cry, it me think about death and the scars that we leave behind... In short, I really really liked this book. However, I did not LOVE it and I am not entirely sure why. It was well written and there are so many quotes that I've electronically highlighted...but I'm sitting here, writing this review, reflecting upon the novel and I just can't seem to pin-point exactly why I'm not in love with this novel... Honestly, I thought that this would go directly into my “Favorites” list, but maybe my expectations were too high.

There were definitely times in this novel where I felt that the characters were too flat. But I think that was just John Greene's straightforward writing style (note: this was the first novel I've read by him, so this may not be very accurate opinion; however, I'm a fan of his youtube channel so I'm familiar with some of his work).

A scene that stuck out to me was that conversation between Hazel and her parents towards the end of the novel, where Hazel's mother reveals the fact that she has been working toward a Master's degree all this time. This scene really struck a cord with me (I cried like a crazy person) and not just because Hazel gets the closure she is looking for, but also because, at that moment, I realized that these were not just foil characters--they are her parents.

If you are looking for a short and sad read, then check this book out.

Solid 4.5 out of 5 stars.