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nitzanschwarz's review against another edition
4.0
The second installment in the Heartbreakers Chronicles follows a similar pattern to the first - it's a cute, fun, sweet, short read following a member of the popular boy band "The Heartbreakers", who falls in love with a girl who is "normal".
Which is, again, one of my favorite tropes.
It helps that our hero is my favorite member of said boy band; Alec. Let's just say, his reign as my favorite boy shall continue onward. I simply love his intuitive silence, imploring gazes and sweet, quiet nature. This boy doesn't have a mean, disloyal bone in his body, and you can always trust him to be the voice of reason and everyone's confidant. That's just... who he is.
Novak does a good job convincing you that he has met his match in Felicity. What I loved the most about her is that she felt like a real girl, and she even occasionally freaked out about the fact she was with Alec Williams. THE Alec Williams. It was adorable. She was adorable, and sweet, and well-meaning... even as her entire world (as she knew it) was falling apart. Actually, one of the things I wanted more of this book was the repercussions of that, especially with her mother, since it didn't really feel properly resolved.
But really, even though these books give you some darker themes, those are not what the novels are about. The novel is, quite frankly, about the romance that blooms between Alec and Felicity. And yes, that love blooms quite quickly. It was more noticeable in Paper Hearts since the setting is a week-long road trip, but at the same time the novel kind of makes you forget this small detail.
I think part of the reason this works better in Novak's books than in some others I've read is that the characters don't rush to define their relationship in big absolutes like "love". Instead, she lets the reader draw their own conclusion on the status of their feelings through their actions and words. Which works far better for me than being told.
I'm really curious to see which band member will get the next novel - Xander or JJ. I am far more interested in JJ's story (he's my second fave), but I also feel like, for the sake of the flow of these novels, he should be the last to find love, both considering his personality and his role in the group.
Which is, again, one of my favorite tropes.
It helps that our hero is my favorite member of said boy band; Alec. Let's just say, his reign as my favorite boy shall continue onward. I simply love his intuitive silence, imploring gazes and sweet, quiet nature. This boy doesn't have a mean, disloyal bone in his body, and you can always trust him to be the voice of reason and everyone's confidant. That's just... who he is.
Novak does a good job convincing you that he has met his match in Felicity. What I loved the most about her is that she felt like a real girl, and she even occasionally freaked out about the fact she was with Alec Williams. THE Alec Williams. It was adorable. She was adorable, and sweet, and well-meaning... even as her entire world (as she knew it) was falling apart. Actually, one of the things I wanted more of this book was the repercussions of that, especially with her mother, since it didn't really feel properly resolved.
But really, even though these books give you some darker themes, those are not what the novels are about. The novel is, quite frankly, about the romance that blooms between Alec and Felicity. And yes, that love blooms quite quickly. It was more noticeable in Paper Hearts since the setting is a week-long road trip, but at the same time the novel kind of makes you forget this small detail.
I think part of the reason this works better in Novak's books than in some others I've read is that the characters don't rush to define their relationship in big absolutes like "love". Instead, she lets the reader draw their own conclusion on the status of their feelings through their actions and words. Which works far better for me than being told.
I'm really curious to see which band member will get the next novel - Xander or JJ. I am far more interested in JJ's story (he's my second fave), but I also feel like, for the sake of the flow of these novels, he should be the last to find love, both considering his personality and his role in the group.
booksofkings's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sparksofember's review against another edition
2.0
It was better than the first book in the series but definitely reads like teenage fanfiction. The characters go road-tripping all over the Pacific coast without parental permission which, I don't think would have bothered me as a teen but reading as an adult I was a bit skeptical. Especially when they stayed overnight at the mansion - how old are these singers compared to the other characters? But I enjoyed the romance - Alec is one of the two Heartbreakers I thought was likeable so...
kamelleruano's review against another edition
2.0
Genuinely I wanted this to be better than the first book, but this gave needed context to Alec and his father that I missed in the first book. The pacing of this felt a little like a roller coaster ride where the first part builds to your apex, in this case, Felicity meeting Aaron and then getting some publicity around their dynamic. My only wish for this would have been to allow Rose's character to have time with Felicity in reunion. Like anything would have been better than trying to only focus onto what was happening around Alex and Violet's business at the same time.
alidy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
lindsaystenico8821's review against another edition
5.0
Paper Hearts is the continuation of Ali Novak's series, The Heartbreakers Chronicles. It tells the story Felicity who leaves home with her two best friends and Alec, bass player for The Heartbreakers, in an attempt to find her sister who has been missing for the last four years.
Now, having followed Ali on Wattpad, I had read her Wattpad version of Paper Hearts first. Now that I've read the published version, I can honestly say that they are two completely different stories and that I am grateful that the Wattpad version wasn't the one that had been published. This version makes the characters relatable and has a plot that makes you want to continue reading until the very end. Whereas the one on Wattpad had me rolling my eyes at various points.
Now, having followed Ali on Wattpad, I had read her Wattpad version of Paper Hearts first. Now that I've read the published version, I can honestly say that they are two completely different stories and that I am grateful that the Wattpad version wasn't the one that had been published. This version makes the characters relatable and has a plot that makes you want to continue reading until the very end. Whereas the one on Wattpad had me rolling my eyes at various points.
ipomoea's review against another edition
3.0
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
This is the second in the Heartbreakers series, and like the first, it's a sweet wish-fulfillment story for any girl who's wondered what would happen if they met their favorite band.
Felicity is a defacto only child after her dad ditched the family and her rebellious older sister ran away, and she's spent her life trying to live up to what she thinks her mom's expectations are-- undergrad at Harvard, then law school like her dad (without the leaving part). When she's padding her application with a volunteer shift at a cancer benefit, she meets a masked boy and sparks fly. But when she removes her mask, he reluctantly follows suit, revealing himself as the guitarist for the Heartbreakers. While a waitress at a waffle joint and a rock star might be an impossible pairing, this is YA fiction and nothing is impossible. As she gets ready for a date, Felicity uncovers a shocking family secret, and finds herself on the road with a cute celebrity and her two BFFs who might be more than just friends with each other.
A lot of the conflict in this comes around because of poor communication and assumptions, two things I hate in fiction, but the fun fangirlish story kept me going. I'm too old to be into boy bands, but I was 15 once and remember that feeling, so I can't hate on these books. This is a bit more risque than the first, with sex hinted at and briefly mentioned, but the main characters never get beyond Makeout City.
This is the second in the Heartbreakers series, and like the first, it's a sweet wish-fulfillment story for any girl who's wondered what would happen if they met their favorite band.
Felicity is a defacto only child after her dad ditched the family and her rebellious older sister ran away, and she's spent her life trying to live up to what she thinks her mom's expectations are-- undergrad at Harvard, then law school like her dad (without the leaving part). When she's padding her application with a volunteer shift at a cancer benefit, she meets a masked boy and sparks fly. But when she removes her mask, he reluctantly follows suit, revealing himself as the guitarist for the Heartbreakers. While a waitress at a waffle joint and a rock star might be an impossible pairing, this is YA fiction and nothing is impossible. As she gets ready for a date, Felicity uncovers a shocking family secret, and finds herself on the road with a cute celebrity and her two BFFs who might be more than just friends with each other.
A lot of the conflict in this comes around because of poor communication and assumptions, two things I hate in fiction, but the fun fangirlish story kept me going. I'm too old to be into boy bands, but I was 15 once and remember that feeling, so I can't hate on these books. This is a bit more risque than the first, with sex hinted at and briefly mentioned, but the main characters never get beyond Makeout City.
aashi_reads's review against another edition
3.0
This is a cheesy teenage love story ideal for when u want some light reading just to get your mind off something.
Although this is the second book in the Heartbreaker Chronicles, it still made sense as a stand-alone book
Although this is the second book in the Heartbreaker Chronicles, it still made sense as a stand-alone book
geenamarie7's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
kamarie112's review against another edition
3.0
It was cute, but it wasn't like I can never get enough of you kind of cute.