I love when a romance can pull in elements other than the romance, without losing its direction. Paper Hearts manages to maintain a nice balance between the meetcute and the relationship between Felicity, her mother and her sister. I look forward to more installments in the series.

The second book in The Heartbreak Chronicles explores the relationship of Felicity and Alec, who is a member of the Heartbreakers band. They meet at a masked ball where he mistakes her for someone he knows. Felicity, whose sister Rose disappeared four years ago, has one goal: making her mom happy, by going to Harvard and becoming a lawyer. When she discovers that Rose has been writing her letters since she left and her mom has been hiding them, Alec and Felicity, along with her friends Asha and Boomer, hit the road to find her.

I liked the story but I didn't feel like it fleshed out the characters as well as I would have liked. I felt like I got to know the players better in the first book of the series, The Heartbreakers. Alec still remained very elusive. However, I absolutely love the fact that he was such a gentleman and showed care and respect. When the break came, it seemed out of character for him and the ending seemed a little rushed. I felt a little flat at the end. I gave it 3 stars on goodreads. However, I realize that some editing may have happened after I read the ARC. I hope it added a little more depth to the end.

overall rating: 4.1/5
characters: 4
relationships: 4
plot: 4.5
writing: 4

i read ali novak’s the heartbreakers a while ago and really enjoyed, so when i found paper hearts on netgalley, i had to request a copy! i actually didn’t realize it was a sequel (oops) to the heartbreakers, but that kinda raised my expectations. although paper hearts was definitely an enjoyable read, i thought the first book was significantly better.

the main characters in paper hearts are likable and interesting, but i wish there was more development. i felt like there were a lot of character tropes, which made me feel kinda eh. there are also clichés with the relationships and the plot, which i wasn’t a huge fan of. however, i did like the romance (even though there is some instalove)! the family relationships are also pretty interesting, but i felt like everything was resolved too easily. as with the characters themselves, i wish all the relationships had been developed better, which could have added a lot of depth to the story.

the plot is interesting and definitely kept my attention! it wasn’t that i couldn’t put the book down, but i wanted to find out what happened next, which made me keep reading. the beginning and middle of the story are paced well, but i think the end is too rushed, and some events throughout the story also seem really sudden.

despite everything, i really liked the writing style! ali novak’s writing is very real, and i can feel felicity’s personality through her narration. the writing feels alive and honest without being convoluted or too simple.

overall, paper hearts is an enjoyable read, even though it uses some clichés and tropes.

Paper Hearts is the second installment of the Heartbreaker Chronicles by Ali Novak, a series that follows the up and downs of a boy band group named the Heartbreakers as they deal with fame and love. I really enjoyed the first book in the series (The Heartbreakers), and Paper Hearts is sure to satisfy. Since each book follows a different member of the band, reading in order is not totally necessary, but you do get to know the characters better that way.

Paper Hearts follows Felicity, a driven girl who meets a masked boy at a benefit she’s working at. They hit it off, and it isn’t until the end of the night that he’s revealed to be one of the members of the band, Alec. Felicity is dealing with graduating high school and coming to terms with the fact that maybe she can take an alternate path than the one she’s always dreamed of. With emotional family ordeals, Paper Hearts tries to explore the idea that not everything in our pasts is what it can seem like.

Overall, Paper Hearts can be a little unbelievable, but a good, quick read with solid writing. The characters are endearing, and the plot moves along without stalling over unimportant points. It isn’t centered around the band as much as Heartbreakers was, so it definitely isn’t just a rehash of an earlier tale. While i did enjoy The Heartbreakers more, this one definitely didn’t disappoint.

This book was a fun, swoony, and sweet read. I loved Alec's character and enjoyed seeing into the life of a famous rockstar. Felicity's friends were loyal and funny but I sometimes wanted them to go away so we could see more Felicity and Alec alone time. In all, I loved the characters and had a great time reading the story.

If you're like me, you've been waiting for Paper Hearts from the moment you finished The Heartbreakers. I fell in love with the band and couldn't wait to spend more time with them.

I really enjoyed reading Paper Hearts. Ali Novak's writing was just as amazing as it was in her first two young adult novels. Paper Hearts was fun, cute, and filled with just the right amount of teenage angst. Being back with the band was exciting, and the new characters introduced fit right in with them.

Paper Hearts was written from Felicity's point of view. It was really more Felicity's story than Alec's. Felicity was a smart young woman who hadn't recovered from her sister running away four years ago. Her goal in life was to make her mother happy in a way her missing sister couldn't -- even if it meant giving up her own dreams. Felicity was determined to go to Harvard until she met Alec and discovered there was more to her sister' disappearance than she thought.

I loved seeing the world through Felicity's eyes. She knew the value of both money and friendship. Felicity took neither for granted. Her coming of age journey was emotional. She was the perfect person for Alec to fall for because she was so down to Earth. His celebrity status didn't faze her.

Alec seemed like a very sweet young man. I didn't get to know him as well as I wanted to. He was a little bit of a mystery, which added a great aspect to the story but left me feeling like I didn't really get to know him. I would have loved to see inside his head.

Felicity and Alex together...Honestly, I'm not sure I can say I loved them together. I didn't get to see enough of their relationship. It was in the beginning stages during Paper Hearts, and they were still trying to find their footing with each other. They seemed like a good pair based on their initial conversations and their friends' thoughts. I do have a feeling I would have loved them together if the story included more of their relationship after the book's ending.

One thing I wish Paper Hearts included was more time with the rest of The Heartbreakers and Stella. When all the band members are together, there's a magic that happens. Everything becomes fun and exciting. I lived for those moments in Paper Hearts. I loved the way Felicity, along with her friends Boomer and Asha, fit in so well with the members of the band. Every character was cool and fun on their own, but together they were entertainment gold.

Paper Hearts was a great YA contemporary romance. It's filled with an exciting celebrity romance, crazy friendships, and an exciting and emotional adventure. Fans of The Heartbreakers will love catching up with their favorite boy band.

Fun, lovely, and the type of book that will put you in a great book.

3.5 stars

“Paper Hearts” is a perfect summery read for a YA romance. Felicity and her mother are a strong duo, having been abandoned by her father when she was little and older sister who ran away from home at 18. Felicity is determined to save up money so that she can attend Harvard and become a lawyer- a dream that she thought was hers but may be more her mother’s. Along her quest, she knows she needs volunteer hours, which is why she has been working for a charity holding a masquerade ball fundraiser. She really wants to attend and luckily, her manager agrees- she has even made her own mask for the occasion. The dresses were all more than she can afford, so she’s devastated when a slightly older teenage boy spills soda all over the dress for which she had left the tags on. He begins to strike up a conversation and they have a great evening.

It gets stranger when they take off their masks at the end of the night, and he turns out to be Alec, the bass player for the world famous boyband, The Heartbreakers. In what gets even more surreal for Felicity, he wants to continue hanging out with her and seeing her. Felicity’s world gets even crazier when she learns her mother has been keeping secrets from her- namely, a bunch of letters from her older sister who she thought had completely abandoned her years ago. Somehow, Alec is on board to help, and they embark on an epic road trip- with Felicity’s two best friends, Asha and Boomer.

Overall, it’s a really sweet and fun read that moves quickly and lightly through what could be some pretty serious events. I was surprised by how quickly the two main characters fell into ‘like’ with each other, and it did seem a little insta-love. There was a misunderstanding later that just felt really forced and kinda silly to me. Aside from that, I liked Felicity as a character a lot- she’s strong, motivated, and smart- a good female lead. Her friends were a little annoying and felt a bit teenagery/immature, but they take an overall backseat to the whole story.

It’s a fast read and tough to put down. The writing style flows very well. I read the whole thing and had trouble leaving it alone, but there were a few things that made me roll my eyes, so I had overall mixed feelings (which is why I am giving it 3.5 stars). However, it did make me want to check out more of this fun series, and I think it will be the perfect summery/light read!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Felicity attends a masked charity ball and connects with a masked guy who ends up being a singer in a famous boy band. He drives her up the coast in search of her missing sister and they fall for each other along the way. Of course you are going on a road trip with a celebrity you just met! The author does a good job of portraying the celebrities as ordinary people. When Felicity first meets the other members of the boy band, they have a water gun fight. This book reminds me of the "fan fiction" I use to write as a teen (back before it was called fan fiction). That being said, it has every cliche you can think of which also makes the story line very predictable. It also touches a little on underage drinking, drugs, and skirts around sex without going into detail (I would let my 8th grader read it).

When I first heard about this book on NetGalley, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! After all, I did read The Heartbreakers and loved it so much! I honestly thought Paper Hearts would pull my heartstrings in the same way... but it failed to have the same effects as its predecessor.

Don't get me wrong! There were times when I seriously loved the book, like when it would go into Felicity and Rose's relationship. I really liked the emotional and physical journey Felicity went through to understand her sister's point of view. It was something she needed to do in order to move on with her life and not be so stuck, for lack of a better term. While the healing process in Felicity's family is far from over, by the end of the book, you could tell that there is some effort to make amends, which sounds really promising!
Instead, it's the romance that takes centre stage in this story. While I understand that the romance was meant to be a main part of the novel, it didn't stop me from almost zoning out at times when all these misunderstandings would happen between Felicity and Alec. It also didn't help that I kept comparing them to Oliver and Stella, who were so much more interesting to read in the first book! Or maybe it was the fact that while Felicity and Alec as a couple were okay, they didn't make me want to happy dance or root for them...

As for the plot itself, it was really interesting at first, but then slowed down in the middle to the point where a whole evening took multiple chapters... I know that there was probably a point to what seemed like a huge filler, but I just couldn't get on board with it, wanting to know what happens afterward.

Well, that's all I have to say about Paper Hearts by Ali Novak! It wasn't as good as the first book for me, but I'm sure anyone who loves a slightly lighthearted contemporary will like this book!

Not enough substance to the relationship. Teens deserve more.

I loved everything about Paper Hearts. The author Ali Novak rocked the story! I devoured Paper Hearts in 2 days! In fact, I just purchased two more of her books to keep my fix going! I enjoyed the whole Cinderella at the masquerade ball concept and how she meets her Prince Charming. Felicity is no damsel in distress, however. She's strong and sticks to her own mind despite the ups and downs of discovering who you can trust, and who might have ulterior motives. The Heartbreaker boy band, well, they're totally swoon worthy for their looks, but also for how they care about each other. Of course, my heart fell for hella-hot Alec most of all. He only has Felicity's interest at heart. I enjoyed how the book they share plays into the plot as well as the paper hearts. Excited to read more from this author.

The Heartbreakers is one of my favorite contemporary novels, so when I found out there was a sequel with Alec, I almost freaked. Alec was my favorite character in the first book and I fell in love with him even more in this one. He is the sweetest man with such great manners and a soft personality. Felicity was a great partner for him. She's been through a lot when it comes to her family -- enough to sound like a daytime soap opera. But she still hangs out and fights through. She's very passionate and educated. Her two best friends, Boomer and Asha, were great sidekicks and comedic humor.

I'll be honest, though. The book isn't the best one every written, nor is it the most realistic. But it's fun and exciting. This series helps you take your mind off the real world and just focus on the fun that all of these amazing characters are having together. It helps you realize that though your life isn't going the way you'd want it to, you still have your friends who are there to help you through it. And having fun every now and then and acting like a kid isn't going to hurt anything.

I highly recommend this book to any romance or contemporary lovers out there. This really is one of the best series out there and it needs more love.

eds to be... 

Paper Hearts is a young adult contemporary romance set in the Heartbreakers Chronicles world. You don't need to have read the first one to understand or follow along. (The story of  the first book is hinted at, so you may want read them in order if you hate even the threat of a spoil.)

I thought Paper Hearts was a cute and compelling read. Felicity, the super-ambitious main character who feels like she has the world on her shoulders, is easy to relate to and identify with. Her tension with her family feels real, and I loved the fierce relationship between Felicity and her best friends. The female characters talk about more than just boys; they talk about life goals and dreams and, you know, the things girls talk about with each other. They also all talk like real people. Hooray!

The romance is total wish-fulfillment, of course, but it's also rooted in friendship and respect. I didn't find Alec super dreamy, but I liked his shy, serious personality. Alec and his bandmates are also depicted as real friends with a shared history, not as some musical bad boys treating everyone like garbage.

I have a real weak spot for road trip stories, but sometimes they can get plodding. Teens are just out driving around forever with no regard to time or budget. What I enjoyed about the road trip story in Paper Hearts is the ticking clock. The group on this road trip have limited funds (even though they are driving with a wealthy pop star, he isn't funding their expedition) and a certain time they need to be back home. 

This was my first Ali Novak book, and I enjoyed it so much. Sourcebooks keeps putting out one great book after another, and I thank them for the opportunity to read Paper Hearts!

Let me start off by saying: I love books that occur in the same world but don't really count as sequels. To clarify, I have not read "The Heartbreakers" which is technically first in the series. Even though I haven't read the first book I did not feel as though I was jumping in to a story already in progress. Did the main characters from the first book show up in "Paper Hearts"? Yes. Would I have understood their dynamic better if I had read it? Maybe. Did I feel like I was missing anything? No. The shift in focus was enough to separate the two stories without any misunderstanding.

Changing tone a bit to be a bit more critical, I felt like the characters in this book were not teenagers. Or, at least, no teenagers I've ever known. Spontaneous road trips with friends that your parents don't know? Not going to happen. Felicity can get away with it sure, but Asha and Boomer? Somehow I don't think that would have gone as smoothly. These kids aren't even in their senior year, emphasis on the word "kids."

At the end of the day, I did enjoy this book even if the story was far fetched. Meeting a teen celebrity is enough of a stretch but the ensuing shenanigans is almost more unbelievable. That being said, it is every fans dream and for dream fulfillment for the reader? A+.

Bio:

“I’m sorry,” he said, slowly untying the ribbon that held his mask in place. “It’s just—I didn’t want you to think of me any differently.”

Somehow I kept my mouth from falling open. I knew his face, but my mind couldn’t accept that he was the person looking down at me.

“My real name is Alec.”
Felicity has her entire future planned. Ever since her older sister ran away, she’s had the full weight of her mother’s expectations on her shoulders. So she works hard to get straight As and save for college.
Except sometimes the best things in life are unplanned—like when Felicity meets a handsome, masked stranger while she is volunteering at a charity masquerade ball. She never thought he’d flirt with her. And she certainly never thought he’d turn out to be a member of the world-famous Heartbreakers band, Alec.
Then Felicity uncovers a shocking family secret. Suddenly, she, Alec, and her two best friends are off on a road trip to find Felicity’s missing sister. And she’s about to discover that unexpected turns have a peculiar way of landing her right where she needs to be…
Review:

Man what a cute little romantic love story. Felicity at times was annoying because she assumed a lot of stuff without even trying to get answers, but all in all, she was a great character. One of my favorites.

This was book two in a series, but it can be read as a stand alone. I look forward to reading the first book now. I fell in love with the heart breakers.

Ali has a way of writing that brought the story alive for me. It was truly enjoyable from start to finish.

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ five hearts

Ali Novak is a favorite author in my middle school. Girls absolutely love My Life with the Walter Boys and The Heartbreakers. Paper Hearts is a good story, engaging and fun to read, but it won't be added to my library due to the mature content. I enjoyed reading it but I'm also disappointed that I won't be able to recommend it to my readers.

I was so excited to read this, I loved the Heartbreakers last year and I was hoping this one would be just as good. There was something missing from this one, was it the connection I felt with the characters, the usual tropes that added to the already huge one, something was missing but it was still an enjoyable book.