The Fault in Our Stars Summary

At the insistence of her mother, Hazel Grace Lancaster, a seventeen-year-old with cancer, frequents a support group where she meets a boy, Augustus Waters, who is there for their mutual friend Isaac. Hazel, who has thyroid cancer that has spread to her lungs, and Augustus, who had osteosarcoma but is now cancer-free after losing his leg, share a bond over their experiences. They exchange favorite books and Hazel introduces Augustus to "An Imperial Affliction," a novel about a girl with cancer that she finds relatable. The book abruptly ends leaving its characters' fates unknown, intriguing Hazel. Soon after, Augustus manages to get in touch with the book's reclusive author, Peter Van Houten, and they start corresponding via email. Van Houten alludes he could only answer Hazel's inquiries about the book's ending in person.

Subsequently, during a Dutch-themed picnic, Augustus surprises Hazel with news that a cancer charity is fulfilling his wish of taking them both to Amsterdam to meet Van Houten. Despite her initial excitement, Hazel is hesitant about her growing feelings for Augustus, likening herself to a grenade that could hurt him when she dies. But after a health scare lands her in the ICU, she learns that Augustus never left her side and is even more determined to go to Amsterdam. Her parents and doctors are initially against her traveling due to her health, but they finally agree after persuasion from her familiar physician, Dr. Maria. However, their meeting with Van Houten is disappointing as they find him to be a bitter drunk. Despite the setback, they visit Anne Frank's house, share a romantic moment, and make love for the first time. The next day, Augustus reveals that his cancer has returned and spread.

Heading back home, Hazel witnesses Augustus's health deteriorating rapidly, and she shifts from calling him Augustus to Gus, as his parents do. Gus arranges a prefuneral for himself where Hazel and Isaac give heartfelt eulogies, expressing their love for him. Gus passes away eight days later, and to Hazel's surprise, Van Houten attends the funeral. She learns that Gus and Van Houten had kept in touch, and that Gus had been working on a sequel to "An Imperial Affliction" for her. Van Houten, under the influence of alcohol, confesses that the story was his way of dealing with his daughter Anna's death from cancer. Hazel encourages him to get sober and write another book. Later, she discovers that Gus had wanted Van Houten to use the pages he'd written to create a eulogy for her. Reading Gus's words, she agrees with his sentiment that while pain is inevitable, we can choose whom we allow to hurt us, and he was happy with his choice. The story ends with Hazel affirming that she too is content with her choice.