The journey starts when hazel allows herself to be vulnerable and exchanges books with augustus. they agree to read each others favorites books. hazel’s favorite book is called “an imperial affiliation”, the book is about a girl who has cancer whose experience is close to her own, but the story ends in mid-sentence and hazel wants closure. augustus is able to track sown the author of an imperial affliction van houten and tries to get answers for hazel. hazel gets sick and has to be hospitalized, during her hospitalization augustus never leaves the waiting room and reveals to hazel that he has planned a trip for them to go to amsterdam to get answers from van houten. some doctors don’t think hazel is well enough to travel, but one doctor that is familiar with hazel gives the ok and says hazel needs to live her life. while in amsterdam augustus and hazel find out the author is not a genius but merely a drunk and are very disappointed. while in amsterdam augustus and hazel live life to the fullest they explore the city, party, have their first kiss and make love for the first and only time. augustus then reveals to hazel while she was hospitalized augustus found out his cancer has returned and eight days later augustus passes away.