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narteest's review against another edition
4.0
Read as a Your Choice Book for the Quarterly Book Club 3rd Quarter Read (Paranormal/Mystery/supernatural)
Okay so I gave this 4 stars primarily because in comparison to the last book I read, this one was so much better. Once the story started flowing (thankfully within the first 50 pages), I really started getting engaged, and it didn't take me long to finish this at all! (It does help that I had a to-and-back train ride to read.)
The Plot
The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.
For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.
With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.
Paper Valentine is a hauntingly poetic tale of love and death by the New York Times bestselling author of The Replacement and The Space Between.
For a book like this, I think it was well done over all. If I compared to this another book, I'm not sure I would pick out any flaws, because there aren't many--or maybe it's better said that compared to the last book I read, I had a lot more to like in this book in comparison. The plot is pretty average, pretty straightforward. It takes a moment to get used to the idea of the ghost hanging around, but you know what? I think the ghost's relationship with Hannah is the most outstanding part of this novel. The actual mystery plot was pretty predictable, but at the same time, not very. I didn't exactly spot it until later on. Still, it was a nice twist. I was expecting it though!
The Characters
Hannah Wagner is the main character and focal of the whole story. On the whole, she's a quiet girl who always seemed to be overshadowed by her best friend, the now dead Lillian. For a moment, I thought this story would twist their relationship and burn it after ripping up all the history between the two, leaving me with a story about a girl who actually didn't realise her best friend didn't like her that much and was only haunting her because she was the only girl who was too chicken to do anything. BUT. Yovanoff didn't do that. What she did though was paint the story of a girl who had taken her own life and another girl, the one left behind, and wove a beautiful story of friendship between them. The ups and the downs, the anger and the sadness. THe loneliness and the grief. Yovanoff exposes it, and spoon feeds you as the reader, guiding you on a coaster of paranormal mystery. I really love the things that Hannah realises about herself and also, about everyone else around her, and mostly, about Lillian. It was also interesting to compare the inner voice of Hannah and her actual physical appearance. She's described as small, and wears a lot of bright coloured dresses (influenced by Lillian), something I often forgot, since her inner voice never seemed like someone who would wear a brightly coloured dress.
Oh Lillian who I can't remember despite just finishing this, what her last name is. Lillian is the ghost of the story. She is literally a ghost, and she is currently haunting Hannah. Or rather, more specifically, she's watching over her (something that isn't entirely evident until later on). She is definitely a colourful character. Certainly, a much more outstanding social voice than Hannah, yet before this book starts, she suicided, and it absolutely devastated Hannah. Yet she's still alive six months later, albeit as a ghost, and she's haunting Hannah. If Hannah is the main character, then Lillian is the second. And I really loved how her character developed. I really loved how much the pair mean to each other. The declaration of their friendship is so much more than the small romance in this book--the romance is nothing in comparison! It's cute yeah, but your eyes and mind will be on Hannah and Lillian.
Other characters, all had evidently important/key roles in the story. Although with one character, I did want to kind of see what happens after the ending scene of this book, but that's just one small desire compared to whole of the book. One small tie which well, quite frankly, it was nice to see Hannah snapping at that girl! Finny was an interesting love interest. Though, their romance was a very small aspect of the book. Ariel--love her as Hannah's sister! As for other primary characters, they were all interesting! Specially who turned out to be the murderer in the end.
Setting
The City of Ludlow.
And also predominantly Muncy Park where most of the killings take place. At times I forgot to worry about what era this was set in, because even though it's set in contemporary I often forgot because Hannah was always wearing some brightly coloured vintage thing. Another thing about Hannah.
The Writing
On the whole I liked the writing. First person, plain and not overly embellished with pointlessly dense metaphors. And yeah, that's all I have to say about the writing. It was very simple, but not overly simple. It brings out the emotions which I like the best about the writing. Other than that, yeah!
Overall
I suggest this as a suggestive read. I liked it. (Even if my opinion is a little biased based on what I just read yesterday--[b:A History of Glitter and Blood|17831753|A History of Glitter and Blood|Hannah Moskowitz|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1427901241s/17831753.jpg|24948406].) It's not bad for a paranormal mystery. Simple, quick, easy, and not at all disappointing (though maybe if I'd read this another time, after a series of spectacular books, this book's good stuff might have been dimmed in comparison).
Okay so I gave this 4 stars primarily because in comparison to the last book I read, this one was so much better. Once the story started flowing (thankfully within the first 50 pages), I really started getting engaged, and it didn't take me long to finish this at all! (It does help that I had a to-and-back train ride to read.)
The Plot
The city of Ludlow is gripped by the hottest July on record. The asphalt is melting, the birds are dying, petty crime is on the rise, and someone in Hannah Wagnor’s peaceful suburban community is killing girls.
For Hannah, the summer is a complicated one. Her best friend Lillian died six months ago, and Hannah just wants her life to go back to normal. But how can things be normal when Lillian’s ghost is haunting her bedroom, pushing her to investigate the mysterious string of murders? Hannah’s just trying to understand why her friend self-destructed, and where she fits now that Lillian isn’t there to save her a place among the social elite. And she must stop thinking about Finny Boone, the big, enigmatic delinquent whose main hobbies seem to include petty larceny and surprising acts of kindness.
With the entire city in a panic, Hannah soon finds herself drawn into a world of ghost girls and horrifying secrets. She realizes that only by confronting the Valentine Killer will she be able move on with her life—and it’s up to her to put together the pieces before he strikes again.
Paper Valentine is a hauntingly poetic tale of love and death by the New York Times bestselling author of The Replacement and The Space Between.
For a book like this, I think it was well done over all. If I compared to this another book, I'm not sure I would pick out any flaws, because there aren't many--or maybe it's better said that compared to the last book I read, I had a lot more to like in this book in comparison. The plot is pretty average, pretty straightforward. It takes a moment to get used to the idea of the ghost hanging around, but you know what? I think the ghost's relationship with Hannah is the most outstanding part of this novel. The actual mystery plot was pretty predictable, but at the same time, not very. I didn't exactly spot it until later on. Still, it was a nice twist. I was expecting it though!
The Characters
Hannah Wagner is the main character and focal of the whole story. On the whole, she's a quiet girl who always seemed to be overshadowed by her best friend, the now dead Lillian. For a moment, I thought this story would twist their relationship and burn it after ripping up all the history between the two, leaving me with a story about a girl who actually didn't realise her best friend didn't like her that much and was only haunting her because she was the only girl who was too chicken to do anything. BUT. Yovanoff didn't do that. What she did though was paint the story of a girl who had taken her own life and another girl, the one left behind, and wove a beautiful story of friendship between them. The ups and the downs, the anger and the sadness. THe loneliness and the grief. Yovanoff exposes it, and spoon feeds you as the reader, guiding you on a coaster of paranormal mystery. I really love the things that Hannah realises about herself and also, about everyone else around her, and mostly, about Lillian. It was also interesting to compare the inner voice of Hannah and her actual physical appearance. She's described as small, and wears a lot of bright coloured dresses (influenced by Lillian), something I often forgot, since her inner voice never seemed like someone who would wear a brightly coloured dress.
Oh Lillian who I can't remember despite just finishing this, what her last name is. Lillian is the ghost of the story. She is literally a ghost, and she is currently haunting Hannah. Or rather, more specifically, she's watching over her (something that isn't entirely evident until later on). She is definitely a colourful character. Certainly, a much more outstanding social voice than Hannah, yet before this book starts, she suicided, and it absolutely devastated Hannah. Yet she's still alive six months later, albeit as a ghost, and she's haunting Hannah. If Hannah is the main character, then Lillian is the second. And I really loved how her character developed. I really loved how much the pair mean to each other. The declaration of their friendship is so much more than the small romance in this book--the romance is nothing in comparison! It's cute yeah, but your eyes and mind will be on Hannah and Lillian.
Other characters, all had evidently important/key roles in the story. Although with one character, I did want to kind of see what happens after the ending scene of this book, but that's just one small desire compared to whole of the book. One small tie which well, quite frankly, it was nice to see Hannah snapping at that girl! Finny was an interesting love interest. Though, their romance was a very small aspect of the book. Ariel--love her as Hannah's sister! As for other primary characters, they were all interesting! Specially who turned out to be the murderer in the end.
Setting
The City of Ludlow.
And also predominantly Muncy Park where most of the killings take place. At times I forgot to worry about what era this was set in, because even though it's set in contemporary I often forgot because Hannah was always wearing some brightly coloured vintage thing. Another thing about Hannah.
The Writing
On the whole I liked the writing. First person, plain and not overly embellished with pointlessly dense metaphors. And yeah, that's all I have to say about the writing. It was very simple, but not overly simple. It brings out the emotions which I like the best about the writing. Other than that, yeah!
Overall
I suggest this as a suggestive read. I liked it. (Even if my opinion is a little biased based on what I just read yesterday--[b:A History of Glitter and Blood|17831753|A History of Glitter and Blood|Hannah Moskowitz|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1427901241s/17831753.jpg|24948406].) It's not bad for a paranormal mystery. Simple, quick, easy, and not at all disappointing (though maybe if I'd read this another time, after a series of spectacular books, this book's good stuff might have been dimmed in comparison).
missteddybearears's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, an enjoyable read. The friendship between Hannah and Lilli is what really made this book for me.
la_ravenreader's review against another edition
3.0
Hannah, a 16 year old girl, tries to go back to normal after the tragedy six months ago. It's not summer and she is doing her best to feel like her old self, when a string of murders shake her town. She sets out to try and solve the mystery of these murders and with the help of the "bad boy" she lives to tell the tale.
ohtrisarahtops's review against another edition
3.0
This review can also be found here
This was an interesting book for me. Being my first Brenna Yovanoff book I can definitely say that I am impressed. The description is what really drew me in because to be honest I love murder mysteries. And add the fact that the girl is being haunted by her dead best friend really made the story even creepier.
The twists this book really had me on the edge of my seat. I really wanted to know who the killer was and why the ghosts were contacting Hannah. The mystery was definitely enough to keep me interested until the end and the author's writing style definitely made this a quick and easy read.
I loved Hannah. She was so naïve about what was going on. While others would be suspicious she was so trusting. Then there was Finny. Oh jeez, I admit I didn't like him in the beginning. He was a bad boy, I usually like the bad boys but for some reason he really bothered me to begin with. As the story progressed however, I actually began to like him.
I honestly had no idea who the murderer really was. I had my suspicions throughout the book but they were all completely wrong. In a way I'm glad that was the case because it would have been pretty boring if I knew everything that was going to happen.
If you're looking for a quick read that has mystery and supernatural elements then check this one out. The sweet romance that is also involved doesn't weigh the book down but adds another side to the story and makes it really interesting.
This was an interesting book for me. Being my first Brenna Yovanoff book I can definitely say that I am impressed. The description is what really drew me in because to be honest I love murder mysteries. And add the fact that the girl is being haunted by her dead best friend really made the story even creepier.
The twists this book really had me on the edge of my seat. I really wanted to know who the killer was and why the ghosts were contacting Hannah. The mystery was definitely enough to keep me interested until the end and the author's writing style definitely made this a quick and easy read.
I loved Hannah. She was so naïve about what was going on. While others would be suspicious she was so trusting. Then there was Finny. Oh jeez, I admit I didn't like him in the beginning. He was a bad boy, I usually like the bad boys but for some reason he really bothered me to begin with. As the story progressed however, I actually began to like him.
I honestly had no idea who the murderer really was. I had my suspicions throughout the book but they were all completely wrong. In a way I'm glad that was the case because it would have been pretty boring if I knew everything that was going to happen.
If you're looking for a quick read that has mystery and supernatural elements then check this one out. The sweet romance that is also involved doesn't weigh the book down but adds another side to the story and makes it really interesting.
ghostlyreader's review against another edition
3.0
It was a decent book. Definitely not my favorite but I'm glad that I read it.
book_concierge's review against another edition
2.0
2.5**
Hannah Wagner’s best friend Lillian died six months ago. Now Hannah is being haunted by Lillian’s ghost. It’s not as bad as it sounds, really. Lillian gives Hannah courage and helps her come to grips with what is happening in her community. There’s a serial killer on the loose who is targeting young pre-teens.
I admit I picked this book up strictly because of the cover. I needed a book with a heart on it for a challenge and this was prominently displayed on the library’s shelf. Based on the first sentence of the dust jacket, I expected a sort of gothic paranormal tale – totally NOT my genre of choice – so I kept returning it to the library unopened. Finally I decided to just read it. I was actually surprised by the serial killer plot and found it pretty interesting. However, this is clearly written for a YA audience. The sentence structure is relatively simple, and there is a lot of teen angst. Also, I think the plot got away from Yovanoff, and she couldn’t decide on a genre; is it a paranormal book? A romance? A mystery? I would find myself interested in one aspect of it, only to be yanked into a completely different aspect of the story. I did like Hannah, and really loved her little sister Ariel. I also appreciated how she wrote “bad boy” Finny. If I were my 13-year-old niece, I’d probably rate this higher, but for me it’s just a little below average.
Hannah Wagner’s best friend Lillian died six months ago. Now Hannah is being haunted by Lillian’s ghost. It’s not as bad as it sounds, really. Lillian gives Hannah courage and helps her come to grips with what is happening in her community. There’s a serial killer on the loose who is targeting young pre-teens.
I admit I picked this book up strictly because of the cover. I needed a book with a heart on it for a challenge and this was prominently displayed on the library’s shelf. Based on the first sentence of the dust jacket, I expected a sort of gothic paranormal tale – totally NOT my genre of choice – so I kept returning it to the library unopened. Finally I decided to just read it. I was actually surprised by the serial killer plot and found it pretty interesting. However, this is clearly written for a YA audience. The sentence structure is relatively simple, and there is a lot of teen angst. Also, I think the plot got away from Yovanoff, and she couldn’t decide on a genre; is it a paranormal book? A romance? A mystery? I would find myself interested in one aspect of it, only to be yanked into a completely different aspect of the story. I did like Hannah, and really loved her little sister Ariel. I also appreciated how she wrote “bad boy” Finny. If I were my 13-year-old niece, I’d probably rate this higher, but for me it’s just a little below average.
rjdenney's review against another edition
1.0
I tried reading "The Replacement" a couple of years ago... couldn't do it.
I thought I'd give Brenna a second chance... I'm done with her books now.
The premise wasn't very original at all and it reminded me too much of
a BAD 90s YA horror novel.
-R.D.
I thought I'd give Brenna a second chance... I'm done with her books now.
The premise wasn't very original at all and it reminded me too much of
a BAD 90s YA horror novel.
-R.D.
iceangel32's review against another edition
3.0
At the beginning of this book, I was not sure if i was going to like it. However, it drew me in and I could not put it down.
Paper Valentine is a story of a girl (Hannah)who is a good girl with three good friends. She makes her own clothes, is quiet and keeps to herself. Oh did I mention is haunted by a friend who died 6 months before the story starts. It is now summer and there is a serial killer on the loose in Ludlow killing young girls. Hannah has a sister who is at the same age as the girls that are showing up dead so she is originality told she has to walk her sister to her band program every day. This is where Hannah bumps into a classmate Finny, who is the total opposite of Hannah. He is a boy with a record and is known for trouble, but that never stops the heart does it?
This book touches on a lot o issue affecting teens, such as abuse, eating disorders, and depression. It doesn't really go into depth in anyone of them, however I think it goes enough to fit the main point of story. I interpreted the main idea to be that you can put on a facade and you can go around making everyone else happy and hiding who you really are, but in the end you are who you are one the inside, no matter what anyone else says or does.
Paper Valentine is a story of a girl (Hannah)who is a good girl with three good friends. She makes her own clothes, is quiet and keeps to herself. Oh did I mention is haunted by a friend who died 6 months before the story starts. It is now summer and there is a serial killer on the loose in Ludlow killing young girls. Hannah has a sister who is at the same age as the girls that are showing up dead so she is originality told she has to walk her sister to her band program every day. This is where Hannah bumps into a classmate Finny, who is the total opposite of Hannah. He is a boy with a record and is known for trouble, but that never stops the heart does it?
This book touches on a lot o issue affecting teens, such as abuse, eating disorders, and depression. It doesn't really go into depth in anyone of them, however I think it goes enough to fit the main point of story. I interpreted the main idea to be that you can put on a facade and you can go around making everyone else happy and hiding who you really are, but in the end you are who you are one the inside, no matter what anyone else says or does.
marieintheraw's review against another edition
1.0
Most of this book was about the romance and the obsessiveness the main character had with her best friend. It took two seconds to guess who the killer was going to be once I actually started thinking about it. No secondary character was there without some obvious purpose seriously.
Edit: upon recalling this book, i wondered why it wasn't a 2 star when i saw it on my shelf. so i readjusted accordingly
Edit: upon recalling this book, i wondered why it wasn't a 2 star when i saw it on my shelf. so i readjusted accordingly