First and foremost, when you go to the movies to see The Fault in Our Stars, bring tissues. A lot of them. And if you think you won’t cry, think again.

The Fault in Our Stars is a movie adaptation of a novel written by John Green (yes, I know what you’re thinking- another young adult novel adaptation? But bear with me). It centers on teenager Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley) who has had thyroid cancer since she was 13. But the story isn’t about cancer- it’s just a backdrop for the real story that will make you laugh, love, and cry. At a support group for cancer kids, Hazel meets Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort), who is only at the support group for his friend Isaac (Nat Wolff). Right then and there, Hazel is torn out of her monotonous life in which all she does is watch reality TV and read the same book, An Imperial Affliction, over and over again, and she is thrown into a roller coaster of a life with Augustus that only goes up… kind of.

The Fault in Our Stars is incredible not only as a book adaption, but also as a movie in general. It had received an 82% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and 93% of people said they liked it. It is currently #1 at the box office. The film balances heartbreak with happiness, is filled with wit and intelligence, and has a cast of both newcomers and all-stars that bring the characters to life perfectly. Woodley, Elgort, and Laura Dern (who plays Hazel’s mother), give performances with all of their heart, and it pays off so brilliantly that you forget that they aren’t actually kids dying of cancer or a mother with a kid dying of cancer.

It is a heavy movie, bringing up questions about life and death and love, and I’ll be honest- I cried like a baby for about half of the movie, and I feel no shame about it. But, as it is with life, there are many times to break apart the gloom and inevitable end, and “it will make you feel alive” (Inside Entertainment). There’s a reason that both Woodley and Elgort said they would do anything to be a part of this movie, and that John Green (author of The Fault in Our Stars) admitted he cried almost every day on set- the story is extremely powerful and encompasses so much about life outside of cancer. I would definitely see it again even if it makes me emotional, and I recommend you see it, too.