Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

blurb from goodreads:

Diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer at 12, Hazel was prepared to die until, at 14, a medical miracle shrunk the tumours in her lungs... for now.

Two years post-miracle, sixteen-year-old Hazel is post-everything else, too; post-high school, post-friends and post-normalcy. And even though she could live for a long time (whatever that means), Hazel lives tethered to an oxygen tank, the tumours tenuously kept at bay with a constant chemical assault.

Enter Augustus Waters. A match made at cancer kid support group, Augustus is gorgeous, in remission, and shockingly to her, interested in Hazel. Being with Augustus is both an unexpected destination and a long-needed journey, pushing Hazel to re-examine how sickness and health, life and death, will define her and the legacy that everyone leaves behind




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*sniffle, sniffle* I loved this book. *wipes eyes with back of hand*

Augustus was a beautiful soul, and I enjoyed how he encouraged Hazel to really live. She'd given up on living, knowing that she would die and leave a gaping hole behind her. He taught her that every moment here on earth is worth it--both for the one living it and for those who lose their loved ones.

I loved watching their lives, souls, and hearts intertwine, and every moment of this book was precious and beautiful. When I was done (3 in the morning on a work night--2nd time THIS WEEK--*sigh*), I snuck into the kids' rooms, tucked them in and gave them extra kisses.

When the YA Sisterhood blog said this book was about LIFE rather than CANCER, I now have to say they were so right. There isn't anything I didn't love about this book.

Weeks after I read this book, I find myself still thinking about it. Hazel's relationship with her parents, the fear of what her death will do to them, and most importantly her questions about how the world will continue without her. Some of my worst fears (losing a loved one and my loved ones losing me) are addressed by this book, but the more I think about it, the more I feel that I can put those fears aside and focus on living one day at a time, enjoying my family.

I highly recommend this story for everyone.