This book is totally unique. I have never read a book close to this. As far as John Green books go, this one is not too inappropriate. It definitely feels like it comes from a real teenager’s experience and is relatable on so many levels. I thouroughly enjoyed this mix of mystery and teen “romance”. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!!!

I’m starting to think that any book by John Green is perfect. Paper towns is just heartwrenching and such goals. At least for me, everyone kind of wants to experience once that crazy love, 1 in the morning, and what are they doing? Breaking into an aquarium. This is a rollercoaster of life and love. Paper towns definitely one of my favorites.

I am unashamed to say that I am a self-proclaimed John Green nerd. I basically lived off of his books in middle school and I loved them! I own a copy of every one of his books, he is one of my favorite authors of all time. I was first introduced to John Green with his book, “The Fault In Our Stars”. I loved his writing style so much that I quickly purchased “Paper Towns” and read it soon after.
I loved this book as a preteen and while I still really enjoyed and appreciate this book now. More than anything, I loved the experience of seeing the same piece of writing from a different, older, and more mature perspective. This is not my favorite of John Green’s books, but it is still a strong addition to his repertoire. This was a good read then and is a good read now.
I gave this book a 3/5 star rating. Giving this book 3 stars physically pains me. I loved the nostalgia I felt while reading it and I think that everything John Green writes is pure gold but I felt like the book got a little too slow at points. It was never boring, per say, the plot just felt a little stagnant in certain areas.
The highlight of this book, for me, is the characters. Each character seems genuinely youthful. They are believable teenagers. Other YA (young adult) books often showcase teenaged characters who are hyper-articulate and adult-level problem solving skills. I feel like John Green does an excellent job of capturing the teenage experience in this book.
The side characters are fantastic! They share a lot of witty and fun dialogue throughout the book and they are the true highlights. Lacey, Ben, and Radar are all very well developed and are likable. I really liked the friendship/bond that Lacey and Q had as well, even though that wasn’t explored very much. Margo was a bit overdone to me. I felt like she had a god complex and her whole character seemed a little too fantastical for me. Quentin could be a whiner and was a more than a little irritating at times.
Even though there were some aspects about the book that I would change, I did enjoy reading this book.

Paper Towns is a fantastic, interesting and unique novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. Our protagonist is Quentin ‘Q’ Jacobsen whose life is turned upside down when the stunning, mysterious Margo Roth Spiegelman moves in next door. To the young Q, she’s an adventure. As the years pass by, our two main characters, now in high school, drift apart and hardly speak until one night, Margo climbs into his room and invites him to join her on a mission of revenge. But when Q wakes up in the morning, she has vanished. The main plot follows Q and his friends as they try to uncover the cryptic clues Margo left behind… His desperate search for Margo leads him in and out of abandoned subdivisions, what the girl once called ‘paper towns’. Along the way, he realises that his search is not just for Margo, but the real Margo, the girl nobody really knew, perhaps not even himself.

This is a very cleverly written plot. The trail of clues gives the book a driving force. It balances the comedy and the diary like stories with the mystery brilliantly, mixing them together. John Greene has done a remarkable job at balancing the metaphors and philosophical discussions with well developed, intricate characters and some really funny comedy. Paper Towns has convinced me that jaded adult readers need to start raiding the Teen’s section at the book store. Greene taps into the cadence of teenage life with sharp and funny writing, but transcends age with deeper insights. His symbolism and ability to synthesise imagination and reality are masterful and he ponders the interconnectedness of imagination and perception, of mirrors and windows, of illusion and reality. Some ambiguity also leaves room for some exciting theories about what happens to the characters after the last page has been turned.

John Greene’s purpose for writing Paper Towns was to show that people often mis – imagine and, as a result, dehumanise those that they have romantic or platonic feelings for and that these fantasies are incorrect. People are people. They have dimensions and they aren’t made of paper, they can’t be folded into shapes and coloured in just the way you want them to be.

I wholeheartedly recommend Paper Towns. It is incredibly well written and enjoyable, and the characters are remarkably lovable and realistic. The story is truly moving and the messages are powerful. It’s funny, mysterious and deep and, as a result, it appeals to several different literary preferences that you may have all at once. The story is briskly paced and loaded with casually brilliant observations that will really make you think.

I love the book for the same reasons I hate it; I think that is the definition of good writing.

This is the best book I´ve ever read ( besides Harry Potter 🙂 ) and I have no words to describe it. Paper Towns made me truly happy and I hope some day i´ll get the chance to meet John Green and … Nat Wolff !
P.S : I know that Nat Wolff is an actor and he`s not part of the book, but he gave life to Quentin and helped me falling in love with his character while I was wathing the movie .

i like it

It’s just an ok read.

Very upset by the ending

I feel the mystery around Margo was dragged on too long causing it to become a bit bland, only to have a cliché ending of boy and girl fight but then kiss and make up to live “happily ever after.” All in all good start, good characters, but the mystery aspect was lacking.