The Fault in Our Stars by John Green ~ Fiction Book Review

I don’t often read YA books, but I’m wondering if I should change that, because every one I read turns out to be an unexpected delight. Although I haven’t seen the movie, I heard enough about this book – both good and bad – to be familiar with the general plot. Sick girl meets sick boy, romance and tragedy ensue.

I knew I was in for a depressing ride, but it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. Although a heavy tale, there was something light and fluffy about the wisdom I took away from this book. The writing was beautiful in its simplicity, the dialogue was catchy and engaging, and, as a whole, I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

Was it realistic? That was one of the biggest complaints that I had heard going in. No, it wasn’t entirely realistic. But neither is Harry Potter, and I’ve heard far less complaints there. The other major issue other readers (all adult) of this book have shared with me is that they couldn’t identify with the characters. As an adult who is not dying of cancer, I didn’t try. I just accept the book for what it was, and I feel like I was reward with an engaging story in return. Five stars.