This was an easy to read, YA fiction, with a theme of belonging and friendship. I enjoyed the references to books and authors and the fact that the protagonist - Tabby - enjoyed reading. It was a light, feel good book, which discussed issues such as bullying as well as mental health.

Ok, so I'm going to be honest; the main reason I wanted to read this book was because of it being written by the lovely Lucy Powrie (if you've lived under a rock in the book world, she's a booktuber and creator of #ukyachat and is just generally a very good bookish person to be aware of!) and because I wanted to support her and to not be the only person not reading this book. The synopsis, whilst fairly good, just sounded too...happy for me. But,

OH. MY. GOD.

I hold my hands up; I was wrong. So completely and utterly wrong.

The Paper & Hearts Society is now one of my favourite books of all time, and if I can throw it at people and make them read it I will. Yes, it was fluffy and happy, but it also had all the feels that make a perfect teen/young adult book! This is exactly the book that I needed when I was a teenager. It makes you feel like you belong and captures exactly how it feels to be a teenager or, in my case, an adult who still feels like a teenager!

The Paper & Hearts Society members are like a little family of people who I instantly took to and they all bring something unique to the group. Please hear me out on the next bit; I've tried to word it right! The one thing I was worried about going into this book was having heard about the diversity and I wasn't sure how that was going to be handled - I like diverse books, but I don't like it to be the sole focus of the book or character. Personally, for me, it needs to just be a fact of life that doesn't detract from the main story but adds depth and realism to the characters.

Lucy has mastered this perfectly.

I love how you get to know a character without any judgement and the diversity that's included in the story is written sensitively and in a way that just makes it normal and accepting, which is how it should be.

So, what are the main things that I took away from this amazing read? Number one has to be the fact that it's okay to be different and unique and to be passionate about something that you love! Secondly, you have no idea what people go through behind closed doors. Take the time to get to know people, and try not to judge too quickly. We all have our own battles and sometimes not everyone can see that. Finally, books! Above all, this is a book about books for bookworms and I saw books I love, and books I hate, feature throughout this book. It really reignited my love of books.

Now, if you don't mind me, I'll be impatiently waiting by my postbox for my preorder and my Paper & Hearts Society member pin to arrive...

This was a fun debut about book lovers that would be perfect for teenagers feeling unsure about their place in the world. I loved the themes of friendship and thought the representations of anxiety were brave and realistic. I’d have liked to have spent more time in each of the road trip locations to really feel like I was there but the book packed a lot in so I understand why this wasn’t done. I hope this brings some peace to those who read it and expect there will be some for whom this comes at JUST the right time.

Review written by Emma Perry, My Book Corner
The Paper & Hearts Society, the debut Young Adult novel from Lucy Powrie, is a huge hug in book form - perfect for book lovers and introverts everywhere.
Meet Tabby, she's staying with her Gran over the summer holidays. She loves that, but this summer is different - at the end of it she'll be staying as Mum and Dad are moving up too. Gran thinks she really should try and get out, meet new people even try the Zumba class - but to be honest Tabby would much rather curl up on the sofa and tuck into a great book. Only problem is, she's left her favourite one at home... so she heads to her local library.  And that's where things start to change for Tabby - when an invite to a new book club for teenagers falls out of the library copy of The Bell Jar.
We really sense Tabby's vulnerability as she finds the inner confidence to meet the group, Powrie conveys this brilliantly. Tabby battles with feelings of social anxiety,  she's keen to fit in. Why? A past friendship has left her bruised. The same past friendship won't leave her alone, and threatens to ruin everything. Join Tabby as she experiences as summer of huge ups and downs as she finds 'her tribe'.
Be prepared to finish the book with a wonderfully eclectic TBR pile of delicious books, and a HUGE yearning to embark on a book road-trip. 
The Paper & Hearts Society deserves to be at the top of your summer reading list.

I was honestly so excited for this book when the book was first announced. First of all, it was written by a person who is also a part of the bookish/bookstagram and all in all bookish community and I'm so happy for her achievement. Secondly, the premise of this story was intriguing too and absolutely relatable for a bookworm like me. I had a pretty high expectation going in this but find myself getting disappointed gradually. I just thought that don't worry and lets remain neutral until I finish this book but it was just that. It was overall a pretty decent read, nothing much spectacular about it.

My favourite parts were when Tabby and her friends in the book club were talking a bookish stuff. Like I could totally understand their excitement, giddiness, and happiness whenever they're around books and bookish friends. If anyone wants to know and feel exactly how it feels to be obsessed with books, you should read this book because it is pretty accurate definition of every book lovers out there.

I too get frustrated whenever Tabby's bully has managed to get to her. I don't get people like her who would go to such length just to make others' painful, its not worth it and definitely stupid. I hope karma gets to her.

It is scary to move into a new place and try to get situated just find and nice. The introvert in me could never just make friends easily and so fast and though not everyone is like this, especially having go through what Tabby went through, her friends really should show more compassion towards her. They friendship really is sweet and Tabby didn't need to worry about nothing much because just as much as they accepted her into their group, she should have the effort made and meet them halfway.

The Paper & Hearts Society is a beautiful name for a book club-of bookish discussions, movie marathons, dance party, roadtrips and a whole lot of fun adventures. There is so much to learn in this one and so full of hope about friendship and seeking help because its okay to do just that. There is so much potential in this debut author and I'm hoping that the books will get even better than this.

I've been looking for to the publication of The Paper and Hearts Society for months so jumped at the chance to read an advanced copy. And it has completely lived up to expectations.

Book lover and new girl Tabby picks up a copy of The Bell Jar (which is also my favourite!) and finds a flyer for a new book group.

With Olivia, Cassie, Henry and Ed, Tabby goes on a bookish journey of self-discovery and finds out just how resilient she really is.

I loved the characters and would have loved to been part of this group when I was their age. They story is perfectly set up for the sequel. A fantastic YA read!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for a review!

This is a very sweet story of new friendships/relationships and a love of reading. I really enjoy books sprinkled with references to other books and this was a good example of that.. The main character Tabby bravely puts her fears of rejection aside in favour of the common ground of reading shared by her new pals. Still haunted by previous toxic friends, Tabby slowly unlocks secrets within her new group, as well as coming to terms with, and walking away from, her past. This book had a very genuine and innocent narrative, which made for a delightful read. I look forward to the sequel!

Paper and Hearts Society

I knew I’d love this book. It’s the sort of book that has an energy about it before you even jump into the world.
What I wasn’t expecting was to feel so utterly at home with the characters that I wanted to sign up and join the society and mourned the ending more than any book I’ve read this year.
I had to pause part way through due to issues regarding my mental health; these characters dealt so real to me that I pulled away from them in fear that my negativity would infect them.
Tabby is our eyes into this inclusive literary world. She takes a leap despite her reluctance and it gives her a group to call her own. And while she holds back on incidents in her past, she is still that relatable girl who questions her value when it comes to deserving friends.
The plot is a delightful origins story for what I hope is going to be a new series about friendship, belonging and love in various forms. There will be aspects that can lead you to suspect how the plot will unravel, which gives the book a suspenseful tone that the cover totally doesn’t prepare you for.
The book ends with a heartfelt and fulfilling resolution. It ensures the book works as a stand alone, but it’s the characters that will have you begging for more.

Is there anything better than books about books?!

I loved this story of Tabby, a bookish girl who feels like an outsider, connecting with other's who share her passion, and how she's worried about losing them if she's honest about her past.

Lucy Powrie's love of reading shines through every page and the end result is a gorgeous story about a girl who wants to find her tribe.

Roll on book 2!

I have watched the twitter hype surrounding this book and was very keen to dive in. I am so glad that I did. I really loved this YA novel and highly recommend it. It deals with the hugely sensitive issue of bullying and it allows us a glimpse of the permanent scars it can leave.

This book was so much more than I was expecting. Tabby is the main character and she is a normal teenager, suffering from spots, confidence issues and finding her way in a new town. As we learn more about Tabby, we can see she is suffering from a hideous amount of bullying from a former best friend. She suffers from panic attacks and a massive lack of self esteem.

Luckily for her, she finds a notice about a teenage book club in the local library and her lively, fun Gran insists she attend. What I feel is a whirlwind friendship develops between Tabby, Olivia, Ed and Henry. Cassie is also a friend, but she takes longer to warm up to Tabby.

And so the Paper and Hearts Society is born and the group meld together wonderfully until the past begins to catch up with Tabby. She begins to worry about losing her new friends and wishes she could confide in them.

It isn’t until they are on a bookish road trip that everything comes to light. It looks as though the past has ruined the future for Tabby.

This book teaches us about the importance of speaking up and seeking help when being bullied. It teaches us to have perseverance and to be true to yourself. True friends would never treat you in such a hideous way.

A wonderful book and I would love to become an honorary member of The Hearts and Paper Society!

This book is a love letter to book lovers, but it is also so much more than that, it is a book for anyone who feels ostracised, is bullied, or generally feels like they aren’t good enough. It’s YA contemporary at it’s best - friendship, humour and a sprinkling of swoon-worthy romance. It’s a book to be whisked away by for pure pleasure. And let’s be real, don’t we all wish we had teenage adventures that were this cool! In ways it feels like the UK’s answer to Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and I can think of so many students I want to share this with (and look forward to doing so when I buy a copy for our library.) Also, The Paper and Hearts Society may be the coolest bookclub ever and I look forward to stealing some of their ideas for the two book clubs I run.

An extremely enjoyable and relatable YA story about friendship, self-acceptance and finding your space in the world. Lucy deals with the trials and tribulations of the teenage world with skilful ease from exploring sexuality and anxiety to found family and toxic friendships. This book is exactly what I would have wanted when I was younger, struggling to find my people and second-guessing everything about myself. I can't wait to see what Lucy has planned for the rest of the series and I can, without a doubt, see it becoming an iconic cornerstone in YA.
Much like Hogwarts, The Paper and Hearts Society will always be there to welcome any book lover home.