Pip is a 32 year old woman, she’s a single mum who’s living at home with her parents whilst working at the sandwich shop at the local gas station, everything is ordinary on the outside on the inside? Not so ordinary.

Getting pregnant as a teen with strict parents ended with her parents taking change and pushing her to the side and her having more of a sister bond with her child.

Life hasn’t always been so ordinary for Pip, she had dreams, big dreams before she fell pregnant. She had dreams of going to collage, she had a boy who she loved with her whole heart, a boy she dreamed of growing old with a boy that was ripped away from her and sent away when they found out they got pregnant. Her heart was taken away the day he went now pip just lives to get by.

Meeting a random stranger at her sandwich shop who quickly becomes a friend makes Pip realise how much she’s letting things go without standing up for herself and so she finally takes charge of her life which was brilliant to see.

Pip’s character growth has been so beautiful, she went from this timid woman always going along with what people say and never putting herself first to a strong resilient woman that will do anything to help those she loves out. I loved seeing her shine.

Paper Hearts is a book about growth and finding one’s steps. It’s about second chances and self discovery. It’s a beautiful read.

Pip made one mistake when she was 16 years old and at 32 her life has become smaller and so contained. My heart ached for Pip who has become trapped in a life where she has no real control. Her parents have a house at the end of a long narrow road. It’s dangerous to walk into town and Pip does not drive so she has to rely on them to take her anywhere. They know her every movement. Her confidence and self esteem is so low.
Her world revolves around her 16 years old daughter, Bella who doesn’t really feel like her daughter as her own mother has taken over that role. Her one true love, Jamie was sent away to England after Bella was born and Pip hears very little about him or his new life.
Pip busies herself with her Origami, Art and Poetry something her teenage self wanted to pursue. Her job, making sandwiches at a garage deli does not stretch her but gets her outside the house.
And then Jamie returns as his father is in trouble.
When she sees Jamie, “She hears all the Origami girls she has created over the past fifteen years yelling at her from their boxes, held captive with their secret desires and yearning to be free. She hadn’t even been able to tell him how happy she was to see him.”
From this moment I was on the sidelines just wanting Pip to be brave and reclaim her life.
Paper Heart was full of poignancy. There is a sadness for a lost love and the loss of an ordinary fulfilling life as a mother. I loved the ending and had to reach for the tissues.
Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in return for an honest review.

Loved this book, it was different from her last two novels but it really had me hooked. Pip is stuck in a tiny controlled world with her parents and teenage daughter she conceived when she was 16 and her parents never let her forget it. The story develops and the question is can she get out of that life and have one of her own? Great concept.

This book took me a little while to get into, the origami girl I found a bit strange. However, once I was into it, I was sucked in, and I was team Pip all of the way.
I was really rooting for her, the character development was just right.
Its probably not my favourite books by this author, but I still really liked it.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

A slow burner but if you can get past the hopeless character stuck in an endless cycle, this has a good ending.
Such a typical Ahern book in the end, a love story with a bit of magic revealed at the end.
A good read just not one of best.

This book was a slow starter for me, it took a while for me to get into it and to connect to Pip but when I did, I was gripped! A proper rollercoaster of emotions that tugs on your heart strings. I will be recommending and Ahern fans will not be disappointed.

This was a book which the folding of the origami in the special way, was based on Pip's life. She was 'unfolded' until she had a baby at 16 years old, and her mother (whom I disliked intensely) took over her life. She took over Pip's job as a mother, her life as a daughter and the essence of her being. This tale is the story of how Pip unfolded herself - found friends both male and female, and gradually unfolded. The ending of the book proved that all things are possible and that sometimes you need a push to unfold yourself and let you be who you truly are. Really enjoyed the book, but wish something more had happened to that mother!

Cecelia Ahern’s Paper Heart is a tender and uplifting story about healing, second chances, and finding courage. Pip’s journey from self-doubt to self-discovery is moving, with beautiful metaphors tied to origami and the stars. While the pacing can feel slow at times, the emotional depth and hopeful tone make it a rewarding and memorable read.

This book took a while to get into but turned out to be really interesting. The tale of a young couple in love getting pregnant and being separated by their parents and the girl's mother taking over as the baby's mother was hard to read and all through the story I wanted to tell the girl to fight back. The lives of the characters were not easy ones and I was uncomfortable reading about the abusive characters but was glad of the happy ending.

I adore all of Ahern’s books and the genres she writes. This book returns to more of a romance theme, but she continues to weave deep, complex characters that you can’t help but fall in love with a root for. I very much enjoyed Pip’s story and was hooked throughout. Thank you so much for this arc.

Really enjoyed Paper Heart and felt invested in the characters and their story from the very beginning.

Pip is 32 and living at home with her controlling mother, father and 16 year old daughter.

She is forced to live under her mums rule, insisting that Pips daughter call her mum, Pip is completely down trodden.

She seeks comfort and solace spending time alone in her bedroom, ‘her fingers find the shapes, the shapes form feelings she can’t express in any other way.

After meeting a new comer to town and bumping into her old boyfriend, Pip reevaluates her life, can she take back control and begin to really live again.

Can she unfold her heart and flourish.

Loved this book, a quick, light read with deep emotions.

Really connected with the characters and felt anger on Pip’s behalf for the life her mother deprived her of.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The story was sad but had a happy ending. The characters were all believable, some likeable, some not. Well worth a read.

I loved reading this book and found the story was very unique. Pip is 32 and had her daughter Bella at 16. As a result, Pip is controlled by her own mother as she still lives at home. Her mother acts more like a mother to Bella than Pip. Pip is trapped in her small world until she meets someone at the local observatory and looks up to the stars. Gradually, she can start to make changes to her life and stand up for herself. Worth a read.

Pip is thirty-two, but has no autonomy. Her mother controls everything in Pip's life since she had her daughter, Bella, at sixteen. Pip escapes from the smallness of her existence through origami and poetry, creating her life in paper and allowing her emotions to vent through her artistry. It is an emotionally charged story grounded in reality, set in a contemporary world, that explores environmental and social issues through its characters. Pip is a character you invest in; you want her to have the courage to find the life she wants, particularly with respect to her daughter. The meeting with IO is understated but significant and otherworldly. It's a lovely, gentle and ultimately uplifting story, which is frustrating and heartwarming in equal measure. I enjoyed the characters, Pip's self-realisation, and the unexplained yet vital supernatural element that affects her life and gives her the courage to change it.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I absolutely loved this story. I've been a fan of Cecelia Ahern's writing since being pre-teen and reading Where Rainbows End and PS I Love You for the first time and this did not disappoint. I loved Pip's story and whilst rooting for her and Jamie I found myself rooting for Pip more as her own character. I love stories of characters overcoming their challenges and finding their voice and this was heart warming to read with the familial relationships and watching Pip take back her control

@currentlyreading__
Book 44 of 2025

I was very happy to receive an e-ARC of Cecilia Ahern’s latest book ‘Paper Heart’ and even happier I am going to see her in conversation later this week. I started this one whilst on holiday and devoured it over a couple of days.

Cecilia writes such relatable characters and our main character Pip is no exception. Pip is thirty-two and after becoming pregnant at sixteen, she has been controlled by her mother and treated like a child. Living in the small town of Ballybeg, her parents were embarrassed by Pip’s ‘mistake’ and had the father of the baby shipped over to Liverpool.

Now Pip’s daughter Bella is sixteen and wants her own freedom. Pip realises that she has to make changes for both her and Bella. So, after meeting an astronomer at the local observatory Io, Pip is encouraged to step outside of her comfort zone and look up to the stars.

A beautiful book full of wisdom and hope. This was published on Thursday and if, like me, you love a hopeful story which has you smiling on the last page, this is for you.

#bookworm #iamreading #bookreview #kindle #bookreviews #bibliophile #bookreview #mustread #bookobsessed #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #netgalley #irishfiction#ceciliaahern #paperheart

Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Pip's life has been controlled by her parents since she had her daughter Bella at 16. After meeting an astronomer at the local observatory, she slowly learns to take back control of her life.

Cecelia Ahern is one of my favourite authors, and this book perfectly highlights why. The setting of the novel is a small community in Ireland, and the way that the old traditions clash with the new ways of living is perfectly depicted throughout the story. While not often described, these traditions are a big part of Pip's isolation. The story of Pip finding her own way and finding the confidence to stand up to her parents is beautiful.

The ending is apt: not every storyline is perfectly wrapped up, but they are the storylines that do not directly concern Pip, so it's a great way of showing how much Pip changes.

I really enjoyed #PaperHeart. A beautifully written story about second chances, family dynamics, love and self discovery.
It’s an rollercoaster of emotions read. So immersive, tender and moving. It just tugs at your heartstrings.
Pip is such an inspirational character. I loved how she grew and stood up for herself. All the characters felt so real and engaging and your drawn right into the story. I couldn’t put this book down. I really enjoyed the origami notes and poems which added depth to the story.
An enjoyable lighthearted easy read. I definitely recommend. I look forward to reading more from this author.
With thanks #NetGallery #HarperCollinsUk @harperfiction for an arc of #PaperHeart in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 28 August 2025

Paper Heart by Cecelia Ahern

There’s something uniquely moving about Cecelia Ahern’s writing, and Paper Heart is no exception. This story is deeply emotional, with Pip standing out as an especially inspiring character. Watching her grow, find her courage, and step into her own is both powerful and uplifting- a journey that stays with you long after the last page.

Really struggled to get into this book. However I did persevere and managed to finish it. Wasnt my fave book of this author but was an ok read.