Who Dies in The Fault in Our Stars, and How Does It End?
Augustus Waters dies in The Fault in Our Stars. Hazel Grace Lancaster, the narrator, survives to the end, and the book closes with her reading the eulogy he wrote for her.
Caroline Mathers, Augustus's earlier girlfriend, and Anna, Peter Van Houten's daughter, died before the story begins.
| Who | How | When |
|---|---|---|
| Augustus (Gus) Waters | Dies of cancer | Eight days after his "pre-funeral" |
| Hazel | Survives | |
| Isaac | Survives, now blind | |
| Caroline Mathers | Died before the story | Gus's ex-girlfriend |
| Anna | Died before the story | Van Houten's daughter |
Does Augustus die?
Yes. In Amsterdam, Gus tells Hazel that his cancer has come back and has spread. After they return home, his health fails quickly. He asks Hazel and Isaac to give eulogies at a "pre-funeral" so that he can hear them while he is alive. He dies eight days later.
↑ Back to the topWhat happens with Van Houten?
Hazel has wanted to ask the author Peter Van Houten what happens to the characters after the abrupt end of his book An Imperial Affliction. When they meet in Amsterdam, he turns out to be rude and drunk, and answers nothing. To Hazel's surprise, he turns up at Augustus's funeral.
↑ Back to the topWhat is in the letter Gus wrote?
Hazel finds out that, before he died, Gus tore pages from his notebook and mailed them to Van Houten, asking him to use them to write a eulogy for Hazel. Van Houten's assistant, Lidewij, makes him send the pages back. Reading them, Hazel finds Gus's last words to her.
↑ Back to the topHow does The Fault in Our Stars end?
The book ends with Hazel reading Gus's pages and answering him in a few words. She is grieving, but she has accepted that the time she and Gus had was worth having, even though it was short. The ending does not say how long she will live.
Isaac, who has lost his sight, remains her friend. The book closes on Hazel's reply to Gus, in a few words.
↑ Back to the topMore about The Fault in Our Stars
This guide covers the book only. Film and TV versions differ in places.