Scan barcode
creolelitbelle's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Reread: Upon a second reading of the book, I still enjoy it and the life lessons and metaphors imparted by the story and various characters. I can think back to my teenage mind and imagine how exciting Margo's adventures and running away from everything could feel. Q is a dense, though, with no clue as to how fruitless his obsessive search really is, even after having the premise of Moby Dick explained to him. The road trip is the fun part of the book for me still, and I understand why things conclude how they do with Margo and Q.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Toxic friendship, and Sexism
fanboyriot's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Read For:
Road Trip
Small Town
Good Friendships
High School Setting
Missing Person/Runaway
I loved the writing style of this book. The adventure and mystery was so entertaining to read. It felt a bit ridiculous but it was so enjoyable to read. Though the ending wasn’t as satisfying as I was hoping for.
Release Date: 16, October 2008
POV: First Person
Spice: n/a
Rep: BIPOC (SC)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Bullying
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Sexual content, Homophobia, Bullying, Fatphobia, Cursing, Sexism, Suicide, Death, and Mental illness
leilaliw's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Death
Moderate: Sexism, Bullying, and Car accident
Minor: Ableism and Toxic relationship
anaguana's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Suicide, and Ableism
Moderate: Animal death, Car accident, Homophobia, Racism, and Sexism
rachel_here's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
Paper Towns is kind of a funny book to me. We follow Quentin, an average high school guy who embarks on a one-night adventure with his neighboor and childhood crush Margo Roth Spiegelman. But the following day Margo has gone missing, and Quentin figures it is up to him to gather the clues that will lead him to her - and possibly help him understand who she really is.
The story was pretty entertaining. There is a mystery, clues that lead Quentin from one place to another, a road trip, american highschool shenanigans... But I can't say I enjoyed the book all that much.
Quentin as a main character isn't exactly likeable. He's judgmental, a bit of a snob, and assumes he knows people better than they do - which often leads him to devalue them or put them on a pedestral, as he does Margo. Which isn't a problem in itself because he has an arc to go through to grow as a person. Except I don't think his story arc was really all that conclusive.For someone who was supposed to learn how to see Margo as a real person instead of this inaccessible, grand mystery he had to figure out, he sure kept seeing her as a metaphor or a poem or whatever-else until the very end. And since we only ever see Margo through Quentin's narration, where he never really listens to her or take to heart what she's trying to say but thinks he does, it kind of defeats the purpose of showing that she is her own person unrelated to him - which itself isn't exactly groundbreaking, or at least shouldn't be.
For what it is, it's a fun mystery / coming-of-age story. But it still is overly stereotypical, both with its characters (especially the side cast) and the way some of the themes are written. Some casual remarks treated as facts or "boys will be boys" also made me raise an eyebrow, but it was otherwise pretty okay. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
The story was pretty entertaining. There is a mystery, clues that lead Quentin from one place to another, a road trip, american highschool shenanigans... But I can't say I enjoyed the book all that much.
Quentin as a main character isn't exactly likeable. He's judgmental, a bit of a snob, and assumes he knows people better than they do - which often leads him to devalue them or put them on a pedestral, as he does Margo. Which isn't a problem in itself because he has an arc to go through to grow as a person. Except I don't think his story arc was really all that conclusive.
For what it is, it's a fun mystery / coming-of-age story. But it still is overly stereotypical, both with its characters (especially the side cast) and the way some of the themes are written. Some casual remarks treated as facts or "boys will be boys" also made me raise an eyebrow, but it was otherwise pretty okay. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Suicide
Moderate: Bullying, Fatphobia, and Sexism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Toxic relationship
februaryfriday's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
this was a weird one for me.
i liked the premise, but i did not care about the characters at all. i thought quentin and his friends kept sexualizing margo and other girls, which made me super uncomfortable at times and in my opinion, margo herself was pretty unlikable and entitled too.
i couldn’t bring myself to care about them and the overall plot line was not enough to make up for it.
unfortunately, this one was not for meZ
i liked the premise, but i did not care about the characters at all. i thought quentin and his friends kept sexualizing margo and other girls, which made me super uncomfortable at times and in my opinion, margo herself was pretty unlikable and entitled too.
i couldn’t bring myself to care about them and the overall plot line was not enough to make up for it.
unfortunately, this one was not for meZ
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism and Suicidal thoughts
More...