So, this is the book everyone has been reading. The book everyone has been crying about. The Goodreads darling. I mean... look at that average rating. Majority of Goodreaders adored this book. Me? Not so much. I wish I can be a part of those majority who loves this book unconditionally but apparently the world is not a wish granting factory. 
 Let me start with what I like most about the book. First, the catchy, artsy, beautiful typography cover. I rushed to buy this edition before the publisher change it into movie tie in edition (Why, publisher, why). 
 Second, Augustus Waters. I love how quotable his words are. His fondness of metaphor made me chuckled a lot. He reminds me of someone I know, who is also quite eloquent and loves grand, dramatic gestures, and it's nice to think that I have my version of Augustus Waters in real life (albeit-fortunately-still alive and well and cancer-free). However, for me he also resembled a manic pixie dream guy (if there is such a thing!) who was only there to somehow make Hazel's life better. Their romance was kind of popped out of nowhere (which is quite understandable since they were cancer patients and they didn't have that much time to flirt and nurture their attraction). Augustus kept referring to Hazel as 'pretty', 'sexy', 'attractive', and also did sweet gestures toward her, so it was perfectly understandable why Hazel fell for him, but it was not clear why Augustus himself loved Hazel. Yeah, I know, we don't always need reasons to love, etc. but I think it would be nice if we know more of Augustus as a person, not only as a plot twist in Hazel's life. 
 Then the 'An Imperial Affliction' part. I love how that novel ended mid sentence, I think it's brilliant. Hazel's desire to know the fate of the characters after the novel end paralleled with the theme of her life-- since she knew her living days were numbered, thoughts about what will happened after her death (i.e. 'the end of her story') became more important. I don't know if it was deliberate or not, after the ending of this story (which is quite flat, in my opinion) there are several blank pages after the last page. Some people think, "what a bittersweet ending" but it was so abrupt for me that I think, "WHAT. IS THAT ALL," much like Hazel and Gus' reaction when they read An Imperial Affliction. It was not a pleasant feeling. I reread the ending several times and willed the continuation to appear from the blank pages, a la Tom Riddle's diary. Not working, of course. 
 And finally, the portrayal of teenager with cancer. I'm not going to judge how realistic it is since I don't really know the fact, but I think Hazel's narrative makes her kind of detached from her condition, in spite of her constant pain and use of medical equipment. She made joke about her condition (calling it "professional job of Having Cancer") and insist that she did not need to be pitied. She tried so hard not to 'feel' her condition, in the end I also did not really empathize with her. I like her witty remarks but did not feel her emptiness and melancholy. 
 To be fair, I did cry. When Hazel's mother said something about not being a mother anymore if Hazel died, I shed a tear or two. Every time the story mention about parents and how they should cope when their children died, something in my stomach twisted. But the so-called "pure and innocent love" between Hazel and Augustus left me untouched and mostly tearless. 
 My least favourite part perhaps is the Anne Frank House part. Somehow it feels so... Adam Sandler-ish. (view spoiler)[I mean, kissing in Anne Frank House and having the tourists clapped and screaming bravo around Hazel and Augustus? Like, they take a break a few minutes from their contemplation about horrible fate of Secret Annex inhabitants and the holocaust in general just for, "oh look! Young love, how beautiful." Naaaaah. Not convinced. (hide spoiler)] 
 Overall, for me this book is enjoyable to read, but not particularly thought-provoking or heart-wrenching or anything. I think for a first John Green's book I have ever read, it is quite nice, and I will not delete his books from my TBR pile. I have been warned by several friends that his stories can be formulaic, but I am willing to see whether one (or more) of his formula can work perfectly. Or better than this story, at least.