Fault in Our Stars

Hazel Grace Lancaster never expected to find love--least of all in the cancer support group her mother makes her attend each week. A three year survivor of stage four cancer, the only things keeping Hazel alive are daily doses of experimental meds and a portable oxygen tank she takes everywhere. One day there's a new boy at her support group, the cute and charming Agustus. Their connection is instant, however much Hazel tries to deny it (she's afraid of hurting any more people by, well, dying, and she's trying to minimize the damage). Their shared passion for an unusual book leads them to Amsterdam to meet the author and, hopefully, get answers about the book's cliffhanger ending. Eventually, Hazel and Gus give into their feelings for each other. Like you knew they would all along.

Given the serious health issues facing the young characters in The Fault in Our Stars, you know right off this relationship (however sweet and swoonworthy) can't end well. Yet, like with all John Green's characters, you can't help but root for them. TFiOS may not be my favorite of John Green's books (that honor still belongs to Paper Towns), but it comes close. And despite the depressing ending (spoiler alert...but you already knew that), I'm glad I caved into peer pressure and read it. Unlike certain other widely popular books that shall not be named, TFiOS definitely lives up to the hype surrounding it!

Speaking of John Green, are you wanting to read (or re-read) one of his many made-of-awesome books, but find there are none on the shelf? Don't despair! We've created a display of John Green read-alikes. This can be found on top of the curved Fiction shelf, right above where Green's books are shelved (when they're not checked out). Here you'll find authors who write in a similar style and/or books within the same genre. They may not be exactly what you want, but they're close enough to get you through until your hold comes in. --AJB

UPDATE May 13: OPL Teen now owns the audio version of this fantastic book. So if the print copy isn't in, the audio might be.