Why ‘The Fault In Our Stars’ Trailer Won The Internet

It’s no secret that “made-for-teen-but-consumed-by-adults-too” literature is having a real moment right now. And John Greene’s The Fault in Our Stars is clearly no exception. On the heels of such zeitgeist-y box offices hits like the Twilight series, The Hunger Games saga and, most recently, Divergent (which also stars FIOS actress Shailene Woodley), the film adaption of the wildly popular young adult novel has become the most watched Youtube trailer in history with nearly 18 million viewers since its January 2014 release and more than a quarter million “likes.” (Get out the way, Harry Styles!)

You want to know why? It’s, like, really freaking good.

With well over a million copies in circulation and being named Time‘s #1 fiction book of 2012, The Fault in Our Stars follows the story of 16-year-old Hazel Grace Lancaster (Woodley) in her quest to find meaning in a life limited by thyroid cancer. In her support group, Hazel meets fellow cancer patient Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort) and the pair quickly strike up a powerful friendship.

I’m not 100% sure this is cool to say as an adult woman, but Augustus Waters is basically the perfect guy—especially for dreamy-eyed high school girls who just want to have love notes shoved in their locker. He’s that rare breed of romantic, wise-beyond-his-years teenage boy that doesn’t actually exist in the real world (I hate to burst anyone’s bubble here, but most 17-year-old guys sit around still burping for sport).

Every teenage girl has felt a bit like Hazel at one time or another: “unextraordinary.” Like many girls, she’s a pessimist when it comes to love stories and rejects the idea that life’s problems can be solved with the perfect musical overlay (tell that to One Republic!). And it’s Gus that is resolute to change her mind. Isn’t that what every girl wants? Someone to tell you that you’re beautiful even when you’re perpetually attached to an oxygen tank. Someone to sit in the waiting room for days on end because leaving your side isn’t an option. Someone to convince your parents to let you fly to Europe together even though you’re both teenagers. Someone to put a boom box over his head and stand outside your bedroom window because he’s so desperately in love (I’m interchanging my teen love stories here, but Hazel would get my reference).

This trailer still makes my heart flutter the same way it did when Edward Cullen first sauntered into that lunchroom. But the difference between the two? Gus could actually happen. I know I said his brand of perfection doesn’t exit, but it could. He’s not a vampire, he’s not a werewolf and he’s not living in the post-apocalyptic United States. He’s a flawed, human boy who desperately believes in love at first sight and will fight for his girl.

Sigh.

This trailer is basically a live action video of my 16-year-old self’s greatest fantasy. And, like the countless teenager girls (and adult women) around the country, I will be at the theatre on June 6 with my popcorn, my Kleenex and maybe even a boom box.

If you’re not one of the 18 million people who watched the trailer (or if you’re ready for another hit of perfection) here are the 2 minutes and 29 seconds that broke the Internet.