book review about the fault in our stars

The Fault in Our Stars

By john green.

From interestingly relatable characters to a captivating storyline, ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ stands out as one of the best realistic fiction romance novels in literature.

Article written by Joshua Ehiosun

C2 certified writer.

‘The Fault in Our Stars’  by John Green eloquently disseminated a heart-wrenching story to the audience and showed them the emotional vulnerability of its characters. The story dived into the ideology of its primary character, Hazel, and showed how her perception of life, cancer, and death affected her relationships.

‘The Fault in Our Stars’   presented a story where its primary character got thrown into a crisis she could never escape. Though her ailment was incurable, Hazel’s story changed for good as she met Augustus. The novel’s inculcation of love into Hazel’s life makes the story dynamic as the reader gets thrown into a state of euphoric agitation. However, the story brings its reader back to reality by revealing that Augustus would inevitably die. 

The novel propelled realism by turning Hazel’s romantic infatuation into sorrow. By losing Augustus, Hazel got thrown into the realization that her fate was ultimately inescapable. However, though she felt broken and torn, a letter from Augustus made her realize that though their love story was short, it was worth every second. The authenticity of the story made it an incredibly relatable tale. Its apt attention to intricate details about the lives of its characters made it a story worth reading.

The characters’ lives got limited to Hazel’s observation. Because the story occurred in the first-person perspective, Hazel’s relationship with the characters was the only way to give an insight into their lives. For one, Patrick got described as an over-optimistic middle-aged man who felt thankful for losing his fertility to cancer. Though some characters had a subtle and happy persona, Hazel still defined the majority as sad people waiting to die.

For the non-terminal characters in the novel, a shadow of sadness clouded them as each had a personal issue that made their life terrible. Peter Van Houten became a mean alcoholic because of the feeling of getting isolated from his family legacy. Both Hazel and Augustus’s parents never felt happy because they watched their children slowly lose to cancer. Some had a spark in their personality; one of them was Kaitlyn, Hazel’s friend from her life before cancer.

‘ The Fault in Our Stars’  dialogues was natural and progressive. The story’s fluidity made them intricately definitive. Though it got narrated from the first-person perspective, its dialogues were not dependent on the story’s narrator; this added to character authenticity. Though, for the most part, the tone had a melancholic affiliation, there were times when dialogues were happy and romantic. John Green’s use of short but precise sentences ensured the story never lost its emotional grip on the reader.

Writing Style and Conclusion

‘The Fault in Our Stars’  employed an excellent writing technique that disseminated story plots progressively. The use of compact sentences with a detailed description of events made the story leave an impression of realism on the mind of its reader. John Green’s use of simple wording made the story compact. 

The novel had a great ending because it expressed the essence of tragedy and love. It ended with Hazel stating that Augustus was the choice she never regretted. Though this proved her love for him, it did not dilute the fact that she was dying; this made the ending realistic. From the story, Hazel always admired abrupt endings, and her story’s ending was a perfect portrayal of an abrupt ending.

Is The Fault in Our Stars a good novel?

‘The Fault in Our Stars’   is a great novel. The characters, dialogues, and themes work perfectly in sync to create a story that draws out emotions from the reader. Because it pays attention to the lives of its characters intricately, the novel makes the reader relate to the story personally.

Who are the primary characters in The Fault in Our Stars ?

The primary characters in  ‘The Fault in Our Stars’   are Hazel and Augustus. Other characters that had an immense influence on the storyline are Peter Van Houten, Hazel’s hero; Fannie Lancaster, Hazel’s mom; Isaac, Augustus’s friend; Kaitlyn, Hazel’s friend; Lidewiji, Van Houten’s assistant and Dr. Maria, Hazel’s doctor.

What killed Augustus in The Fault in Our Stars ?

Augustus died from cancer. After he went for a checkup, it got discovered that his cancer had returned and spread throughout his body. On returning from Amsterdam, his health began to decline, and after some time, he gave in.

What is the last part of Augustus’s letter to Hazel?

“You don’t get to choose if you get hurt in this world, old man, but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices. I hope she likes hers.”

The Fault in Our Stars Review

Book Title: The Fault in Our Stars

Book Description: In 'The Fault in Our Stars' Hazel's life transforms through love and pain after meeting Augustus.

Book Author: John Green

Book Edition: First Edition

Book Format: Hardcover

Publisher - Organization: Dutton Juvenile

Date published: January 10, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-525-47700-1

Number Of Pages: 313

• Writing Style
• Lasting Effect on Reader

‘The Fault in Our Stars’  is a novel that tells the story of a sixteen-year-old girl, Hazel, who meets Augustus Waters. Hazel begins a journey that leads her to meet her hero, fall in love, and experience intense pain.

• Incredible story
• The novel has great characters
• Dialogues are fluid
• The characters are relatable
• The ending was inconclusive about Hazel

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The fault in our stars, common sense media reviewers.

Heartrending love story told by teen dying of cancer.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Will build vocabulary and awareness of literature,

Hazel not only provides teens with insight about w

Hazel is a smart, funny narrator, and readers will

There is no out-and-out violence here, but sensiti

The two main characters, who are in love, do have

Some mature language that seems realistic given th

The main characters drink champagne, etc., on a tr

Parents need to know that The Fault in Our Stars is a story about teens fighting cancer, and sensitive readers might be uncomfortable with the subject matter and sometimes graphic descriptions of what it's like to die. Hazel has some near-death experiences and also copes with Gus as he vomits uncontrollably,…

Educational Value

Will build vocabulary and awareness of literature, as the book makes references to Shakespeare, etc. (including the title, which comes from his Julius Caesar ("The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,/ But in ourselves, that we are underlings."). Can inspire discussions about fate, the meaning of life, thoughts about dying.

Positive Messages

Hazel not only provides teens with insight about what it is like to know you are dying -- and to lose someone you love -- but her story is also about deciding to love and be loved, even when you know it will cause pain.

Positive Role Models

Hazel is a smart, funny narrator, and readers will appreciate the flawed but loving characters throughout. Most notably, readers will be amazed by her parents, who try to be truly supportive to their daughter always, even though their hearts are breaking and they don't always agree with her choices.

Violence & Scariness

There is no out-and-out violence here, but sensitive readers should know that there are graphic descriptions of what it is like to suffer through cancer. Hazel has some near-death experiences and also copes with Gus as he vomits uncontrollably. Characters lose eyes, legs, control of their personalities, and more. Also, characters play violent video games and read books and watch movies with high body counts.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

The two main characters, who are in love, do have (safe) sex, though it is described only briefly.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Some mature language that seems realistic given the age of the main characters: stuff like "bull----," "bastards," "nuts," etc.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

The main characters drink champagne, etc., on a trip to Amsterdam, and Gus puts cigarettes in his mouth (but doesn't smoke them). Some discussion of fictional cancer drugs. An adult character is an alcoholic who begins drinking early in the morning.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Fault in Our Stars is a story about teens fighting cancer, and sensitive readers might be uncomfortable with the subject matter and sometimes graphic descriptions of what it's like to die. Hazel has some near-death experiences and also copes with Gus as he vomits uncontrollably, etc. Characters lose eyes, legs, control of their personalities, and more. Also, characters play violent video games and read books and watch movies with high body counts. There's some swearing and drinking, and the two main characters, who are in love, do have (safe) sex, though it's described only briefly. This is a mature and powerful story: Hazel not only provides teens with insight about what it is like to know you're dying -- and to lose someone you love -- but her story is also about deciding to love and be loved, even when you know it will cause pain.

Where to Read

Community reviews.

• Parents say (43)
• Kids say (495)

Based on 43 parent reviews

Crass at times

A romantic, emotional and sensitive story for young people must not involve them having sex in their young and immature relacionship just cause they've got a terminal illness, what's the story.

Hazel knows she is dying of cancer, and even when she makes an instant connection with survivor Augustus Waters at a youth support group, she is determined not to start a romance with him ("I'm a grenade and at some point I'm going to blow up and I would like to minimize the casualties, okay?"). Even so, when he uses his Wish to take her to Amsterdam to meet a reclusive author she loves, it is impossible to deny that he loves her -- and she loves him. And though she soon learns that Gus has a painful secret, Hazel learns that loving others is worth it, even when it leaves a "scar."

Is It Any Good?

Be prepared: This is a tearjerker dealing with dying -- and surviving the death of a loved one. Parents who read this book along with their teens will be particularly moved by Hazel's parents, who soothe her anxiety by telling her about their plans for after she has died ("Even when you die, I will still be your mom, Hazel ... how could I stop loving you?"). Green wrote this book after making a friendship with a teen with cancer, and his attention to detail is remarkable, from descriptions of equipment to what it feels like to be stared at by well-meaning strangers. Readers may be perplexed about an alcoholic author who begins making appearances in Hazel's life, and may be unsure if he is really there or just a symbol. This decision seems a bit out of step with what is otherwise a realistic and emotionally harrowing book about love and loss. But Hazel's honest narration and her strength to love despite the consequences will capture teens' attention most. In the end, this is a painful book, but well worth it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about what it would be like to know you are dying. Would you do anything differently? Why does Hazel say she feels like a "grenade" and tell her parents she wants to "minimize the casualties" by staying away from people?

Also, the author's other books, such as Looking for Alaska , are often called edgy. What makes a book "Young Adult," and when does it crossover into being an adult story? Does it have to do mostly with the age of the narrator, or something else?

Book Details

• Author : John Green
• Genre : Coming of Age
• Topics : Great Girl Role Models
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Dutton Books
• Publication date : January 10, 2012
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 14
• Number of pages : 336
• Last updated : November 4, 2019

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Book Reviews

'the fault in our stars': love in a time of cancer.

Rachel Syme

The Fault in Our Stars

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In his Pulitzer Prize–winning book The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, Siddhartha Mukherjee writes that as recently as the 1950s, cancer was so feared and taboo that the New York Times refused to print the word in a support-group advertisement. It was the second-leading cause of death in the United States then — just as it is now — but it was as mysterious to most people as mortality itself. There is something monstrous about a disease that kills by wanting to live; cancer's goal is to grow and prosper, with absolutely no regard for its host. It makes sense that people couldn't speak about it — it's not easy to commiserate about a nightmare.

And yet, human instinct tells us to band together to fight our enemies, even on the cellular level. Gradually, with scientific breakthroughs and education, cancer became less of a mum word and more of a buzzword. Hollywood jumped on the drama surrounding the disease, and soon films like Terms of Endearment and Beaches were keeping tissue companies in business. Novels and magazine articles highlighted survivor stories; television started adding characters afflicted with illness. Even Sex and the City 's carousing Samantha had her share of chemo.

In recent years, the trend has gone one step beyond talking about cancer — the goal now, at least for pop culture, is to find the humor in it. Fortunately, John Green is the kind of writer to deliver it.

John Green is the New York Times best-selling author of Looking for Alaska , An Abundance of Katherines and Paper Towns . Ton Koene hide caption

Green writes books for young adults, but his voice is so compulsively readable that it defies categorization. He writes for youth, rather than to them, and the difference is palpable. He doesn't dumb anything down. His language is complex, his syntax adult. He freely references Kierkegaard and William Carlos Williams alongside bloody video games and action movies. Add to that a raw and real glimpse at childhood illness, and his latest, The Fault in Our Stars , may be his best book yet.

The real tragedy of cancer may be that it affects people of all ages, and children suffering from the disease are often hit hardest. Robbed of any semblance of a normal life, "cancer kids," as Green's narrator, Hazel Grace Lancaster, calls them, mark their time in days and weeks.

Hazel, 16, has been battling thyroid cancer since age 13, and only through the use of an experimental drug is she still alive. She carries an oxygen tank with her everywhere, and hasn't attended traditional school since her diagnosis. Depressed and lonely, she tries a support group, where she meets the handsome — and deceptively sick — Augustus Waters, a 17-year-old dreamboat who quickly proceeds to turn her life into an adventure. Green graciously avoids the typical will-they-or-won't-they of most teen reads, as cancer victims don't have the luxury of time to dawdle with their affections. Instead, Augustus and Hazel become fast friends.

Green's novel is elegantly plotted, and as sad in places as one might expect a book about adolescent cancer to be. But it's also brimming with joy. Hazel and Augustus have a zeal for living and for each other that, cancer or not, is rare, and it's a delight to see their plans unfold and relationship flourish even as they both face death.

Green has a powerful online following: He is a YouTube video star with an army of fans he calls the "nerdfighters," a group mobilized "to fight to increase awesome and decrease suck." His draw is so magnetic that just by asking his devotees to donate money, he raised over $100,000 for charity. When he offered signed copies of Fault in a pre-sale last year, the novel leapt to the top of Amazon's list of best-selling books in a single day, and it has remained in the top 20 since.

The Fault in Our Stars proves that the hype surrounding Green is not overblown. He tells his story with such gumption and tenderness that he almost adds a new genre to cancer-lit: romantic teen angst jumbled with big existential questions. Green shoves adolescent-crush jitters and musings about the afterlife into the same story, and yet it all makes sense. As Hazel says to Augustus, "Some infinities are bigger than other infinities ... There are days, many of them, when I resent the size of my unbound set. But Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity."

You will be thankful, too, for the little infinity you spend inside this book.

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Book Review

The fault in our stars.

• Contemporary , Drama

Readability Age Range

• Dutton's Children's Books, a division of the Penguin Group

Year Published

This book has been reviewed by Focus on the Family Thriving Family , a marriage and parenting magazine.

Plot Summary

Seventeen-year-old Hazel Grace is dying of cancer. Although a new drug has bought her an undetermined amount of time, it hasn’t put her disease into remission. Tethered to an oxygen tank to help her breathe, Hazel has become rather depressed and reclusive.

Her mother forces her to attend a cancer support group, hoping that she might make a friend. Hazel loathes what she sees as the false optimism of the group, but she attends to keep her mother happy. One afternoon, she meets Augustus. He has been in remission since the doctors amputated his leg, but is attending the meeting as support for his friend Isaac, who has been told that he will soon lose another eye to cancer.

Augustus and Hazel are drawn to each other almost immediately, and Hazel visits his house after the meeting to watch a movie. Hazel, an avid reader, tells Augustus about her favorite book, An Imperial Affliction , a story about a teenage girl with cancer. Hazel relates to the book’s main character, Anna, in every way. Not only does Anna have cancer, but her thoughts and philosophies are similar to Hazel’s. The great draw of the book, however, is that it doesn’t conclude. The story just ends.

Hazel surmises that it’s to show that Anna became too ill to write, or died. But the ending has always plagued her. She wants to know what happened to the other characters in the book. Augustus promises to read the book and gives her his favorite book in return. It’s a novel based on his favorite video game. Augustus and Hazel soon become close friends. Together they help their friend Isaac get through the pain of his girlfriend leaving him and the loss of his sight. After reading An Imperial Affliction , Augustus becomes obsessed with finding the author, Peter Van Houten, so they can know what happened to the other characters.

Hazel tries to keep Augustus at a safe distance because she knows she is dying. She considers herself a time bomb and doesn’t want to hurt anyone when she explodes. Augustus, however, is committed to Hazel, so much so that he tracks down Van Houten through his assistant’s email address. The author responds, which prompts Hazel to write him so she can ask him her questions. Van Houten responds several days later. He regrets to inform Hazel that he won’t answer her questions in a letter or telephone conversation for fear she might try to write a sequel to his story. He flippantly tells her that if she is ever in Amsterdam, where he now resides, she should visit him.

Several days later, Augustus tells Hazel that he has contacted the Wish Factory, an organization that helps grant the wishes of sick children. Hazel had already been granted a wish when she was 13 and thought she was going to die, but Augustus never used his. The Wish Factory agrees to send Augustus, Hazel and a responsible adult to Amsterdam to meet Van Houten.

Before they can leave on their trip, Hazel’s lungs fill with fluid, and she is rushed to the hospital. Unconscious for several days, she wakes up in the intensive care unit. Augustus has been waiting to see her, but only family is allowed into ICU. The good news out of this latest trauma is that Hazel’s latest scans show no new tumor growth. She will have to use a machine at night to force more oxygen to her lungs, but other than that, the doctors are optimistic that the new drug she’s on is holding off her cancer. More good news arrives when her doctors give her the OK to fly to Amsterdam.

On the first evening of their trip, Augustus and Hazel are given an exquisite dinner. The spring air is filled with floating tree blossoms, and the waiters treat them like newlyweds, even giving them champagne. Peter Van Houten, they are told, is paying the bill. The following day, the two take a cab to Van Houten’s apartment, only to discover that the author didn’t know of their coming and doesn’t welcome their visit. His assistant, Lidewij, had set the visit up, hoping to coax her employer out of his self-imposed exile.

Van Houten is rude and obnoxious to the teenagers, refusing to answer their questions for the sheer reason that his characters aren’t real. They don’t continue to exist after the book is finished. Their story ended with the death of Anna. He has never imagined what happened to them later. He then belittles Hazel and Augustus, saying that they are only living because others pity them and pay for their treatments.

Augustus and Hazel leave the house angry and upset. Lidewij follows them out, after having resigned her position as Van Houten’s assistant. She brings the children to Anne Frank’s house and pays for their admission. The house has no elevators, so Hazel must lug her oxygen tank up a myriad of stairs. The exhaustion she suffers is worth it as she and Augustus share their first kiss at the end of the exhibit. The other tourists around them applaud.

Hazel and Augustus return to their hotel where they make love in his hotel room. After breakfast the following morning, Hazel’s mother leaves the two alone to talk. Hazel and Augustus return to Hazel’s room where he tells her that his cancer has returned and is attacking every part of his body. It is intimated that they again have sex.

They return home where Augustus immediately begins radical chemotherapy treatments. The drugs do little to stop his cancer, but they do make him tired and sick. Isaac visits and tells them he hasn’t heard from his former girlfriend since the operation that took his sight. Angry, Augustus decides they have to retaliate. Hazel drives them to the store where she buys a dozen eggs. She then takes them over to the girlfriend’s house.

Augustus coaches Isaac on where to aim the eggs and several of them manage to hit her car. After that, Augustus’ health quickly declines. Hazel stays with him, even as he is mortified at how feeble he’s become. As his death draws closer, he asks Hazel to meet him one night at the church where the support group meets. It is after hours and no one is there but Augustus and Isaac. Augustus wants to hear the eulogies that they will give at his funeral. After hearing them, he dies eight days later.

Hazel is shocked when Peter Van Houten attends Augustus’ funeral. She and her parents give him a ride from the grave. He tells Hazel that Augustus wrote to him after they’d left Amsterdam. Because Van Houten still acts pretentious, Hazel makes him get out of the car.

Several days later, Isaac asks her if Augustus ever gave her the paper he was working on. Hazel gets in her car to drive to Augustus’ house and is shocked to find Peter Van Houten in the back seat. She tries to get him to leave, but he insists on riding with her to Augustus’ house. Along the way, he tells Hazel about his daughter who died at age 8 of cancer.

Hazel realizes that his daughter’s death was the reason he became a miserable alcoholic. She eventually leaves him on the side of the road. Hazel scours Augustus’ computer, room and house, but can’t find anything that he wrote. She eventually figures out that he must have sent something to Van Houten. She writes Lidewij to ask if she saw anything. Lidewij responds the following afternoon after visiting the returned Van Houten and obtaining Augustus’ letter.

It is a eulogy for Hazel. Augustus asked Van Houten to take his words and turn them into a worthy essay for Hazel. Van Houten told Lidewij that he could add nothing to Augustus’ words. The story ends with Hazel reading Augustus’ letter. In it, he speaks of his love for her and the way she lived her life.

Christian Beliefs

The cancer support group meets in the basement of an Episcopal church. The basement is shaped like a cross, and the group leader, Patrick, talks about them being within the very heart of Jesus because they sit in the middle of the cross. Patrick recites the Serenity Prayer at the end of the meetings as well as listing off the names of those in the group who have died.

Augustus’ mother talks about how when he initially underwent treatment, the Lord brought encouraging people into her life to help her cope. His mother puts motivational plaques and needlepoint work around the house. One over the toilet says to bathe daily in the Word. A character comments that good Christian girls wait until marriage to have sex. Augustus’ father tells Hazel that he thanks God for her every day. After Augustus’ death he tells her he prays for her every day. Van Houten told his daughter that she would go to heaven when she died and that he would one day see her there.

Other Belief Systems

Hazel comments that Van Houten’s book, An Imperial Affliction , is her Bible. Van Houten is rather fatalistic in his philosophies. He believes that there will come a time when everyone and everything will disappear into oblivion. Nothing will be remembered.

Hazel, Augustus and Isaac all make snarky comments about Patrick’s observation that they are “in the heart of Jesus.” It’s obvious from their comments that they do not have a Christian faith and have little respect for those who do. Augustus later says that he believes in Something, but not the God of his parents. People have souls, but they don’t go to heaven. He is afraid of dying without having either lived or died for a greater good.

While visiting Anne Frank’s house, Hazel sees Anne’s name on a list of those who died in the Holocaust. Underneath are listed four Aron Franks. Hazel promises to pray for them, even though she doesn’t believe in an omnipotent God. Hazel’s father tells her that he believes that the universe itself wants to be noticed, as if the universe is a sentient being that looks for people to notice how brilliantly it is laid out.

Authority Roles

Both Hazel’s and Augustus’ parents are loving, caring, and long suffering. Augustus’ parents make him watch television in the living room rather than in the basement when he first brings Hazel to his house. Hazel’s mother has devoted herself to taking care of her daughter. She insists Hazel attend the support group when she thinks Hazel is depressed. Later, Hazel discovers that her mother has been taking courses from a college and that she will soon get her degree in counseling so she can help other families in similar situations to theirs. Although Hazel’s mother accompanies them to Amsterdam, she has no hesitation about leaving Hazel and Augustus alone. In fact, they have sex in his hotel room while she explores the museums.

Profanity & Violence

The dialogue is laced with profanity. H—, b–ch, bulls–t, b–tard and a variation of the f-word are used. A– is used alone and with bad, hole and clown . God’s name is used alone and with d–n and oh my . The phrase sweet holy Lord is used as well as sweet Jesus Christ . Other objectionable words are p—, p—ed, sucks, freaking douche, dumbbutt crap, gosh dang, boobs and boobies .

The only violence in the book is in the descriptions of the video game that Augustus and Isaac like to play. There are some fairly graphic descriptions of Hazel’s and Augustus’ illnesses. When Hazel is in the ICU, Augustus describes the black cancer fluid being drained from her lungs. Augustus soils the bed and vomits on himself as his body deteriorates.

Sexual Content

Isaac and his girlfriend kiss outside the church after a support group meeting. Hazel can tell that Isaac is feeling his girlfriend’s breast while they kiss. Hazel’s friend alludes to wanting to have sex with Augustus. Hazel looks up pictures of Augustus’ old girlfriend on the Internet and sees several of the couple kissing. Augustus jokes that he thinks his grand gesture of including her in his wish should have gotten him laid.

Augustus and Hazel kiss passionately in Anne Frank’s house. Later that afternoon they have sex in his hotel room. It is intimated they have sex the following morning as well. When Augustus learns that Isaac has a computer program that will read his emails, he tells him that he’ll send Isaac porn. After Augustus dies, Hazel and Isaac play his favorite video game but tell the characters to do sexual things like hump the wall instead of actually trying to win the game.

Discussion Topics

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books .

Additional Comments

Tobacco: Augustus carries unlit cigarettes in his mouth as a statement that he knows they could kill him, but he has the choice not to let them.

Alcohol: Hazel and Augustus drink champagne in Amsterdam. A doctor sneaks a bottle to Augustus when he is dying so he and Hazel can share it at a picnic.

Movie tie-in: Producers often use a book as a springboard for a movie idea or to earn a specific rating. Because of this, a movie may differ from the novel. To better understand how this book and the movie differ, compare the book review with Plugged In’s movie review for The Fault in Our Stars .

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'Turtles All The Way Down' Is A Moving Portrayal Of Life With A Mental Illness

Guest Writer

Molly Turpin first read John Green ’s young adult novel, “ Turtles All the Way Down ,” in 2018 when she was in an inpatient psych ward for treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. It was an emotional read because of how strongly she related to the novel’s protagonist, Aza, and her struggles with OCD and anxiety.

“[I] was so moved by John Green’s portrayal of OCD because it was the most accurate portrayal I’ve seen in media,” Turpin, now 27, said.

For many fans, like Turpin, Green’s novel feels personal. Whether they have a mental illness themselves or love someone with one, Aza’s story makes them feel seen and understood. This sentiment isn’t unique to “Turtles All the Way Down.” Green is known for writing stories — including “Looking for Alaska” and “The Fault in Our Stars” — about young adult characters grappling with a very specific scenario. In “Turtles All the Way Down,” Aza is searching for a missing billionaire who happens to be the dad of her crush, which ultimately leads to an internal revelation that touches at the very core of what it means to be human and to grow up. The love people have for these coming-of-age stories has resulted in a passionate fan base of readers who see themselves in the grace that Green’s books offer.

This is especially true for fans of “Turtles All the Way Down,” with many pointing to the text as a key event in their mental health journeys. The deep attachment those fans have felt to the book has increased expectations for its new movie adaptation, which is directed by Hannah Marks from a screenplay by Elizabeth Berger and Isaac Aptaker and stars Isabela Merced as Aza. But can the movie really be as good as the book? Can it do justice to Aza and every reader who has felt like her or loved someone like her?

The overwhelming consensus from fans is yes. The “Turtles All the Way Down” movie is a moving, accurate portrayal of what it feels like to live with a mental illness.

Shannon Parry was diagnosed with OCD in the second grade. Like Turpin, Parry, now 34, was really struggling when she first read “Turtles All the Way Down.” In 2017, she was in therapy, and she credits Green’s novel with helping her as much as therapy did.

“ It was a matter of understanding that there were people out there in the world [like me] and [giving] me a language to be able to describe my OCD to the people around me,” Parry said.

A large reason for that was the imagery and language that Green uses in the book to describe Aza’s thought spirals, which are a series of negative thoughts, feelings or actions that can escalate and become overwhelming.

The trademark orange spiral on the cover, the allusion to a Raymond Pettibon painting of a spiral and the descriptions of Aza’s illogical but inescapable thought patterns all helped Parry.

“I was able to describe thought spirals and point to certain imagery in the book and say that is what it feels like when I’m going down a thought spiral or I can’t get out of a series of thoughts,” Parry said.

Patrick McGrath , the chief clinical officer for NOCD , an online platform that Green is partnering with because of its commitment to make exposure and response prevention therapy (the gold standard of OCD treatment) more accessible, said that everyone has intrusive thoughts, images or urges that interrupt their daily lives.

For example, everyone could drive over a bridge and think to themselves, “I wonder what would happen if I drove off of it,” but “ the difference between people with and without OCD is that people without OCD can go, ‘Oh, that was weird’ and move on, and people with OCD can get caught in a thought spiral ... then they do some kind of compulsion … to neutralize the intrusive thought or image,” McGrath said. He said this compulsion makes people with OCD feel safe, and they think that if they had not done that neutralization, something terrible would have happened.

In “Turtles All the Way Down,” Aza’s intrusive thoughts are usually about germs, bacteria and her microbiome because she is terrified of getting an infection and dying. One of the ways she neutralizes this obsession is by fixating on the calloused pad of her finger: putting a band-aid on it, picking at it until it bleeds and cleaning it with soap or hand sanitizer.

When Parry first saw Aza’s flashing, interrupting thoughts about microbes in the movie trailer for “Turtles All the Way Down,” she cried. On May 2, the day the film was released on Max, she woke up in the middle of the night to watch it and cried again.

“The scene where I knew this movie fully understood and represented me was the first time Aza thought spirals about her cut,” Parry said. “The way the germs flash and she can’t stop thinking about the bandage. I go through something similar with my dermatillomania, or skin picking.”

Because most depictions of OCD focus on people’s compulsions, McGrath, who has seen the film twice, believes it is especially important that the movie shows “the mental stuff” because “finally people will understand that internal torture that occurs with obsessive-compulsive disorder.”

Kayla Miller, a 21-year-old college senior living in Indianapolis (where the film takes place), doesn’t have a mental illness herself, but she also thinks the movie can help people understand the challenges of supporting someone with one. She appreciates the way it shows Aza’s complicated relationships with Daisy (Cree), her best friend, Davis (Felix Mallard), her crush, and her mom (Judy Reyes).

“People are affected by the mental and physical health of others that they love, too,” Miller said. She found the film to be affirming of the experiences that she’s been through with family members who deal with depression, anxiety and addiction.

Parry said the book helped her parents “to understand in a very tangible way how I experience the world” and thinks the movie can do the same. As soon as she finished watching it, she tweeted, “…Texted my parents that, though my OCD is different than Aza’s, they should watch the movie to understand how I experience OCD.” Shortly after posting, Green retweeted her, saying, “This is our dream for the movie — that it can help not only people feel seen but also be a window for those who love and support people living with OCD and/or anxiety. (Plus, it’s funny.)”

When Green retweeted Parry, she felt like it made her leap to be vulnerable — she wouldn’t normally tweet something like that — worth it. It also emphasized that while the book and movie are a form of entertainment, they are also part of a bigger movement that Green has led to destigmatize mental illness.

Green has been very open about his own struggles with OCD and how a particularly rough period in his life inspired “Turtles All the Way Down.” Every fan interviewed for this article referenced Green’s openness about his mental health, saying it was inspiring and a contributing factor in why they were comfortable sharing their stories for this piece. And all of them hope that, like Green, they can use their experiences to help others know they aren’t alone and work to normalize broader conversations about mental illness.

This is the reason that Ellie Bridges Greenfield read “Turtles All the Way Down” in the first place. It was a summer reading assignment before her sophomore year of high school, included as part of a larger initiative to destigmatize mental illness. When she first read the book, Greenfield didn’t know about her own mental health issues. She could empathize with Aza, but she couldn’t understand her yet. It wasn’t until a few years later, during her first year of college, that Greenfield received a diagnosis of anxiety and began therapy, leading to her empathizing with Aza more deeply.

Like Aza, Greenfield feels like she is still at the beginning of a long journey. Her symptoms have been worse this spring, and she just started medication for the first time. She hasn’t even told her closest family or friends how bad things have been because she’s still learning to accept and manage her anxiety for herself.

For some, like Greenfield, the movie wasn’t an enjoyable watch because the thought spirals were triggering. While she thought it did a good job of depicting what it’s like to have a thought spiral, she was uncomfortable during those scenes because she knows how upsetting it is to experience something like that.

Although Greenfield thinks she will only watch “Turtles All the Way Down” once, she appreciates how hopeful its ending is.

“There is this element of acceptance that we see at the end of the movie that I think is so true,” she said. “Your thoughts are there, but they don’t control you ... and that’s something I always have to remind myself. At the end of the day, I have to remember I have mental authority.”

Without spoiling anything, the ending doesn’t downplay or sugarcoat Aza’s reality as someone with OCD or the challenges it may pose for her in the future. Instead, it reflects something McGrath hopes his patients can learn: mental illness will always be a “constant companion” for the rest of your life, but you can learn to live with it and it can be managed.

The final scene was also Turpin’s favorite part of the movie.

“[When] Daisy is telling Aza that she can be successful and she can build her life, and there will be times when it will be unbuilt but she’ll build it back up … I have found that is accurate in my own life,” she said.

Miller also loves the movie ending with this lesson, finding it hopeful and applicable to everyone — whether they have a mental illness or are supporting someone through one.

She also thinks the film, like the book, is comforting, saying that it’s “a safe place to land, to know that you’re going to struggle and you are going to face some hard things, but in the end there is still love, hope and people to support you through that.”

For these fans, the “Turtles All the Way Down” movie successfully captures the lived realities of being a teen and having a mental illness. But, most importantly, it is a testament to the larger impact of Green’s openness surrounding his own journey with OCD and anxiety.

For Parry, Green has created a world “where it is OK to do something like have an interview like this and share about your own mental health, and it’s OK to have OCD [and be a] skin picker. It doesn’t make you less than or unworthy … and that in fact, by coming forward, you’re probably helping someone else.”

Taken this way, “Turtles All the Way Down” begins to take on a new meaning. Maybe intrusive thoughts and anxieties do beget another turtle that’s sitting on the back of another turtle to create an infinite spiral. But maybe the way the movie and Green’s personal experience inspire fans to share their stories has a similar impact. Maybe self-acceptance and honesty can beget turtles all the way down, too.

“Turtles All The Way Down” is streaming on Max.

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15 Movies Like The Fault In Our Stars You Need To See

• Movies like The Fault in Our Stars offer a mix of romance and tragedy that can be both harrowing and inspiring.
• The emotional yet engrossing story captures the beauty and tragedy of young love in a memorable way.
• Other films like Remember Me, The Spectacular Now, and Paper Towns strike a similar balance in exploring love amidst life's difficulties.

Movies like The Fault In Our Stars may not always be easy to watch, but sometimes audiences are looking for that effective mix of romance and tragedy. The movie is based on the popular young adult novel by John Green and stars Shailene Woodley as Hazel and Ansel Elgort as Gus, two teens who meet in a cancer support group. They fall in love, showing each other the joys of life while they face the reality that they might not have much of it left.

The movie is notorious for its emotional yet engrossing story of young love wrapped in tragedy . It can be harrowing at times, but it can also be inspiring. There are also a number of other movies that have struck a similar balance, delivering love stories that explore the difficult roads in life and how love can make them a little easier. Some have happier endings than others, but these movies like The Fault in Our Stars capture the beauty and tragedy in some memorable young cinematic romances.

The Fault In Our Stars Ending, Explained

The Fault in Our Stars is a sweet and faithful adaptation of John Green's YA novel, and the movie has a compelling ending with some important themes.

Remember Me (2010)

A young man confronts his shattered life with the help of a new love.

Remember Me 's ending has made the movie infamous but it is a romantic drama worthy of a closer look. This underrated movie stars Robert Pattinson as Tyler, a young man struggling with his fractured family after a tragedy tears them apart. He falls in love with a girl named Ally, played by Emilie de Ravin, who lives life with a sense of fullness and optimism that Tyer has lost in his life. As their romance blossoms, Ally helps Tyler mend various aspects of his life.

It is true that the ending can ruin the movie for a lot of people, delivering the kind of sad conclusion these movies can tend to have in a controversial and manipulative way. However, the relationship at its center may hook fans of The Fault in Our Stars as it shows someone struggling with the harsh reality of their life only to be given the spark they needed to find happiness amidst the sadness .

The Spectacular Now (2013)

The fault in our stars' shailene woodley dates party boy miles teller.

Before The Fault In Our Stars' Shailee Woodley cemented her talent and star power in that movie, she made another teen romance movie that fans will also love. Miles Teller stars in The Spectacular Now as Sutter Keely, a fun-loving student known for her partying ways who meets his shy classmate, Aimee (Woodley) and develops a romance with her late in their high school life.

The movie is surprisingly complex and nuanced for its approach to young relationships , which would appeal to fans of The Fault In Our Stars. The central couple is charming and there is a lot of fun seeing their young love blossom. However, there is also a darkness to these two that always threatens to overcloud their fun times. The movie also contains a strong supporting cast, including Brie Larson, Bob Odenkirk, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Paper Towns (2015)

A sheltered boy goes on adventure with his childhood crush.

Paper Towns is a fantastic movie that fans of The Fault In Our Stars will be able to connect with easily. It follows Quentin (Nat Wolff), a buckled-down high schooler who spends one random night on a series of adventures with his lifelong crush, Margot (Cara Delevingne). When she goes missing the next day, he follows a series of clues to discover what happened to her.

Part of the reason Paper Towns will work for fans of The Fault in Our Stars i s because they both come from author John Green's books . The young romance of the story is more one-sided than in The Fault in Our Stars , but both are charming stories of how someone can meet the right person to help them understand more about themselves than they ever knew. There's also a cameo from Ansel Elgort, one of the co-leads in The Fault in Our Stars .

Irreplaceable You (2018)

A dying woman attempts to find a new partner for her husband.

There is a difficult thing to balance in stories like The Fault in Our Stars with uplifting romance and heartbreaking tragedy. That balance is also achieved in Irreplaceable You . This Netflix Original movie stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Abbie and Michiel Huisman as Sam, friends-turned-fiances set to be married whose worlds are rocked by Abbie's cancer diagnosis. In addition to the medical complications, Abbie is bent on finding a new love for Sam once she's gone.

The idea of a couple facing the very real possibility of death together is a heartbreaking one echoed in The Fault in Our Stars . It takes a look at an interesting conflict with Abbie wanting to ensure Sam is not alone and Sam knowing he will always love Abbie. The movie features Kate McKinnon, Brian Tyree Henry, and Christopher Walken, all bringing some humor into the unique love story.

My Sister's Keeper (2009)

A young girl fights her own family for control of her body.

While The Fault in Our Stars takes a look at the tragedy of two young lovers battling a disease together, My Sister's Keeper is even more heartbreaking in its look at a young child dealing with the difficult reality. Abigail Breslin stars as a young girl who has been relied on to help keep her leukemia-stricken sister alive but chooses to push back against her parents in order to have control over her own body.

Unlike The Fault in Our Stars ' story about young love, this is a tale of a family facing similar realities together . It is a complex idea with a lot of love in the family, but different priorities conflicting with one another. It is filled with sadness, but there's also an uplifting and sweet story of these loved ones supporting each other through incredibly difficult times.

One Day (2011)

Two friends become lovers while reuniting every year.

The success of the Netflix show One Day might overshadow the little-seen movie version , but it is still a bittersweet love story worth seeing. This British film, based on the novel of the same name, follows Dexter and Emma, two friends — played by Jim Sturgess and Anne Hathaway, respectively — who reunite every year on the same day, July 15. Their ideals clash even as their romance blooms.

The movie tracks their highs and lows through two decades, showing the different stages of their lives these two characters are in, changing their relationship each time. Even though they will find each other, that's not where the movie ends with the idea of the inevitability of their romance being taken to a heartbreaking conclusion . Yet, like The Fault in Our Stars , the tragedy elevates the romance.

Love & Other Drugs (2010)

A woman battling an illness finds romance with a cocky pharmaceutical rep.

Another movie starring Anne Hathaway — who may give Shailene Woodley a run for her money when it comes to sad love stories — Love & Other Drugs is about Maggie Murdock, who has early-onset Parkison's Disease. She meets Jamie Randall, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, as he pedals pharmaceuticals, including the newly released male performance drug, Viagra

Like The Fault in Our Stars , the movie explores a couple starting a romance in the midst of an illness changing one of their lives . Maggie is initially very closed off but wants to get too close to Jamie as she is unaware of what the future will hold. However, it is a story about how having someone who loves and supports her can make even this terrifying diagnosis feel more manageable. Gyllenhaal and Hathaway have great chemistry, selling the highs and lows of the romance.

Titanic (1997)

A star-crossed romance ignites aboard the doomed ship.

When it comes to stories of sweeping, uplifting yet doomed romances like The Fault in Our Stars , there are few that can surpass Titanic . The fact that the overall story of Titanic is based on real events only helps to enhance the sadness of the moment, which makes this an amazing emotional film. James Cameron tells the story of the ill-fated ship with the fictional story of star-crossed lovers Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet) at its center.

The romantic element between Jack and Rose might be dramatized, but that only makes the film easier to connect with and enjoy. The classist divide between the rich and the poor that serves as the primary obstacle therein is as classic as they come, and enjoyable to see unfold — until that tearjerker of an ending, anyway. It is a testament to the impact of the romance that it manages to stand out amid the grand set pieces Cameron brilliantly constructs.

Me Before You (2016)

A tetraplegia man finds romance and purpose.

One of the main themes of The Fault in Our Stars is the idea of love providing hope in the middle of a seemingly hopeless situation . This is also accomplished with the lovely British romance, Me Before You. In the story, Will (Sam Claflin) is paralyzed and seeking death with dignity. However, Lou (Emilia Clarke) comes into his life like a spot of sunshine and wants to change his mind. On the other hand, Will wants to change her life, even after he plans to be gone.

The story has elements of a gender-switched dynamic of The Fault in Our Stars ' Hazel and Gus with Lou being the optimistic and vibrant one who helps Will see the beauty in the world when it is so hard to from his situation. It makes for a small but charming story with great performances from the two leads.

Love, Simon (2018)

A gay teen struggles with coming out.

Love, Simon tells a fantastic story that touches on some truly emotional and important messages. The film is based on a popular novel and follows Simon as he wrestles with elements of his identity, particularly the immense difficulty of keeping the fact he is homosexual to himself. However, throughout the film, he ends up falling in love online with an anonymous person who happens to be a classmate, all while he is being blackmailed by someone threatening to reveal his secret to the school.

It's a very complex movie and it touches on many real emotions and contemporary issues, making this something that people can really connect with. Seeing an LGBTQ+ love story of this kind which gives an honest look at Simon's passions and struggles is very rewarding. While it focuses more on one character rather than The Fault in Our Stars ' story of a couple, it is another romance movie about finding inner strength to face a hard road ahead .

P.S. I Love You (2007)

A woman follows letters left by her late husband.

One of the most famous tragedy romances, P.S. I Love You stars Hilary Swank as Holly Kennedy, who follows a trail of love letters left by her late husband Gerry (Gerard Butler). The words he left behind are a constant reminder of the life together that was taken from them. However, from beyond, Gerry encourages Holly to press forward and be strong.It is a love story replayed in snippets and a movie of self-discovery.

It is the perfect antidote for fans still mourning the loss of Gus in The Fault In Our Stars . It is a movie about grief and tragedy, but it is also a stirring look at life beyond that. Though Butler's Gerry is dead for most of the movie, he still provides that source of light in Holly's life, reminding her to live every moment despite her sorrow.

Everything, Everything (2017)

An isolated teen is opened to the world by a new love interest.

Everything, Everything is perfect for those looking for The Fault In Our Stars , albeit with a twist. Nicola Yoon's YA novel of the same name was adapted into this teen romance with rising star Amandla Stenberg. She plays Maddy, a girl who lives a very different kind of life as she is unable to leave her house due to having an extreme illness. Even while she's trapped indoors, unable to have friends or contact with the outside, Maddy falls in love with her neighbor Olly, played by Nick Robinson.

The movie is filled with some interesting twists that will likely divide viewers, but it doesn't take away from the central romance. Once again, it is the dynamic that worked so well in The Fault in Our Stars with a new love interest offering Maddy a chance to live like never before . However, there is an interesting element with Maddy wondering if the chance at love is worth risking her health.

Perks Of Being A Wallflower (2012)

A misfit finds acceptance among other outcast teens.

Another movie based on an acclaimed novel about teenage struggles , The Perks of Being a Wallflower struck a chord with a generation of audiences in a similar way that The Fault in Our Stars did. The movie stars Logan Lerman as a socially awkward young man struggling with his mental health who finds some acceptance with a group of high school misfits and finds love with the free-spirited Sam (Emma Watson).

There's a great deal of romance, friendship, and learning to mature in The Perks of Being a Wallflower , as incredibly tough and sensitive subjects such as suicide are dealt with. It's a great film to introduce teen audiences to more mature themes. There is plenty of comedy spliced in here as well, which helps to lighten things up and ensure the movie isn't too dark.

A Walk To Remember (2002)

A good girl and bad boy develop an unexpected romance.

For millennials thinking of a movie about star-crossed lovers rocked by a sickness , A Walk to Remember is probably what comes to mind. This classic from the early aughts, adapted from a Nicholas Sparks novel, stars Shane West as a troublemaking teen who is given a shot at redemption with his friendship with a mild-mannered daughter of a pastor (Mandy Moore) which develops into something more.

The movie packs in so much intensity in terms of the romance with these two feeling like such an unlikely couple yet proving that they can bring out the best in each other. However, as can be expected with a Nicholas Sparks story, tragedy comes into their sweet romance that only solidifies the beauty of this relationship and what they mean to each other. While The Fault in Our Stars devastated many fans of the 2010s, A Walk to Remember was the heartbreaking story of young love for the 2000s.

The Big Sick (2017)

An unexpected illness rocks a new romance.

One of the most unique love stories of the 21st century, The Big Sick wraps comedy, romance, and drama all in one with the story of two lovers (Kumail Nanjiani and Zoe Kazan) who face great odds. They're in a relationship that may not be accepted based on race and religion, and she suddenly develops a life-threatening illness that leaves her in a coma. As he deals with this new development in their broken relationship, his love for her begins to develop.

The Big Sick was written by Nanjiani and his real-life wife Emily Gordon, based on their real story, making it all the more touching. It is a very original approach to this idea with Emily spending most of the movie in a coma and yet the relationship is still one audiences are rooting for. It is another sweet romance about the harder realities of life complicating love stories . However, unlike The Fault in Our Stars , there are some big laughs in this movie.