Get transported on a magical trip to Amsterdam in The Netherlands with two teenagers with cancer. This brilliant book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster as you follow the story of the main characters. Enjoy this book review of The Fault in our Stars by John Green.
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Overview of The Fault In Our Stars
My book review of The Fault In Our Stars by John Green is really positive, because I really love this book. It deals with the sensitive, emotional topic of teenage cancer, but in many ways it’s not a sad book. The way I read it, it’s a celebration of the beautiful experiences we can have in our lives, even when things are difficult.
The Fault In Our Stars follows the story of Hazel, a teenage girl with cancer. Her mother encourages her to go to a support group, where she meets Gus, a boy who has also had cancer. The two get to know each other by discussing their love for books. Hazel’s favourite book is about a girl with cancer, but she has never been satisfied with the ending. The author of her favourite book, Peter Van Houten, lives in Amsterdam. Hazel dreams of meeting him to ask about the ending of this book.
Gus manages to get them tickets to go to Amsterdam. This is my favourite part of the book, where they fall in love in the beautiful city of Amsterdam. They enjoy a romantic dinner, and spend time in the city. They go to visit Peter Van Houten in his house with high expectations. However, they discover the author they have idolised is an alcoholic, and he laughs at their questions about a fictional character. They’re upset, but they continue to enjoy Amsterdam and fall in love.
However, Gus reveals to Hazel that his cancer has come back and is now terminal. They go back to the USA to enjoy the rest of their time together. Then there’s the most heart-breaking scene in the book – Gus invites Hazel and his friends to his pre-funeral to hear their eulogies. It’s so sad, and Gus dies shortly after. But Peter Van Houten attends his funeral, and brings Hazel a letter that he helped Gus write. In the letter, Gus tells Hazel he loves her.
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The best parts of this book
Although the ending of this book is really sad, it still left me with a warm feeling. It was so lovely that Hazel and Gus had found love, even though it was so short. It’s one of these books that really makes me appreciate the fragility of life, and how it’s so important to make the most of every moment. We never know what’s round the corner, so it’s so important to make the most of every moment while we still can.
I also loved the section of this book that was set in Amsterdam. The descriptions of the city were perfect, and it felt like such a romantic place for the teenagers to fall in love. It really inspired me to go to this city and see all the sights that were mentioned in the book. If you’re thinking of visiting Amsterdam, this is a great book to get inspired for your trip.
What I wasn’t so keen on
There wasn’t much of this book I didn’t like. In a way, I’d have liked their visit to the author Peter Van Houten to have gone well. It would have been nice if the author had lived up to their expectations. But then again, it made it feel a bit more realistic that it wasn’t as perfect as they wanted. So many of our dreams and idols end up not being what we expected, so in that way it’s realistic. And I liked that they still had a wonderful time in Amsterdam. If anything, the disappointment brought them closer.
The other part of the book I wasn’t so keen on was the fact that one of the main characters died. It just felt a bit cliche to kill off someone. So many stories about cancer end up with someone dying. And while it’s true that many people with cancer do die, it’s also true that many people survive. And teenagers with cancer have a good survival rate. It almost feels like an easy ending for one of the main characters to die. It keeps Hazel and Gus’s love pure and fresh, without them facing any relationship difficulties that come from long term relationships. The ending of this book was beautiful, but there’s still part of me that would like to read a teenage cancer book that doesn’t involve one of the main characters dying.
Would I recommend The Fault In Our Stars
I’d definitely recommend The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. It’s the perfect book to get inspired for a trip to Amsterdam. After reading this book, you’ll definitely want to visit this city as the descriptions in the book make it sound so magical. It’s also a great book for making you appreciate life and not take anything for granted. Even though the ending is sad, there are some beautiful moments in the book, and it definitely left me with a warm feeling inside.
If you like the sound of this book, buy yourself a copy for this weekend here! (affiliate)
If this book has inspired you to think about travel, it’s time to start planning your next trip! The UK is a beautiful place to travel, with beautiful scenery in Wales and Scotland. Or you could visit some of the amazing cities in Europe, such as Prague, Berlin or Vienna. The USA is full of amazing places as well, like the Florida Keys, San Francisco and the Olympic Mountains. Start planning your travels and live life with no regrets!
