Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley) a 16-year-old cancer patient meets & falls in love with Gus Waters (Ansel Elgort) a similarly afflicted teen from her cancer support group Hazel feels that Gus really understands her They both share the same acerbic wit & a love of books especially Grace&s touchstone " An Imperial Affliction" by Peter Van Houten When Gus scores an invitation to meet the reclusive author he & Hazel embark on the adventure of their brief lives