"I'm in love with you, and I'm not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you.”

Better late than never is right with this one. This is my first time reading John Green, and it was exactly what I expected but also not what I expected at all. This book didn't make me cry, because I already knew that

something bad was going to happen, because this is a book with cancer, so obviously someone was going to die. But John Green is really out here killing off my favorite characters?

The writing style was very blunt at times but also very pretentious, and I actually liked it. I loved the way that Hazel and Gus's relationship developed over the course of the novel. What I didn't really like was the whole author subplot. I think this book could have been stronger without it. That being said, I read this book in the span of two days and I really enjoyed it (even if it wasn't entirely medically accurate).

Content Warnings

will0w_xx's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny lighthearted sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

0.5

Content Warnings

letrasenrizo's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

mousecat's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

dramagirl2003's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.

it was real, it was honest, it was brutal

thoughts while reading

p24:

I didn't tell him that the diagnosis came three months after I got my first period. Like: Congratulations! You're a woman. Now die.

oh girl 😳

p28: gus is really funny roasting his parents about the encouragements
p31: aww poor girlie pop trying desperately not to faint

p55: ansel elgort seems to be a perfect match for what I've read of augustus so far
p118: gus is such a flirt but also maybe probably desperate to get laid
p125: screams internally

p147: aww augustus on his first flight is pretty cute
p153: augustus is such an icon and honestly goals for being able to confess his love for hazel when he still thinks it's unrequited (EVEN THOUGH SHE TOTALLY DOES LOVE HIM)
p159: i am marvelling at the insanity of the situation
p164:

"Kind of hard to believe anyone could ever find that annoying," Augustus said after a while.
"People always get used to beauty, though."
"I haven't gotten used to you just yet," he answered, smiling

GIRL never mind hazel, i'm blushing

p171: gosh reading their excitement about meeting van houten and knowing how it's all going to go down is a little melancholy
p181:

"Do you know why I left America, Lidewij? So that I would never again have to encounter Americans."

😅
p192:

"Like all sick children," he answered dispassionately, "you say you don't want pity, but your very existence depends upon it."

hmm is he wrong in this specific instance? everything else is pure nonsense but to my understanding at least, this specific sentence contains a shrapnel of truth. i could be wrong, and i don't think it in a mean way. like (and this is a bit of a silly example) augustus' driver's license. he shouldn't have gotten it, but ✨cancer perk✨ the instructor took pity on him but her pity didn't upset him then because it benefited him

p210: my heart aches a little knowing that augustus is about to sit hazel down and tell her

about his cancer being back

p225: simple but perfect comeback to being accidentally groped by a blind friend 😌

p251: i might die if someone said that in front of any adults in my life

p253: i'm on chapter 20 now and i still haven't cried but i'm guessing there's plenty of time
p260: i'm probably about to start crying after reading the

eulogy and seeing that augustus dies

on the next page. i can feel it coming
p278: i'm still not crying
p308: where are these tears i was promised i would cry?
p313: augustus is an absolute legend and i feel it would be a great honour to be the last love of someone's life

Content Warnings

lexibug's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I wish I had read this book in middle school so I could fully appreciate it as the desired audience. I also wish I had read the book before watching the movie (although I did enjoy the movie more and it had a few differences in details). I think I would have enjoyed it more. All in all, I enjoyed the story of two teenagers and their journey together, and even as an adult, it makes you truly question your beliefs and, in my case, reaffirm them and inspire me for the future. To not take life for granted. For that, I would recommend this book.

Content Warnings

More...