After reading The Fault in Our Stars, I was totally convinced that John Green was the best author ever to set foot on this planet. Determined to read everything he has ever written, I started with a copy of Paper Towns. Then, my love for him started to fade.
Paper Towns is the story of Quentin, a normal teenage kid who has spent most of his life in love with the wild and restless Margo. Childhood friends no longer close, Margo intertwines their lives once again by climbing into Quentin’s room one night and dragging him on a night of adventure he will never forget. Then, she goes missing.
Let’s get one thing straight from the beginning, I am not John Green hater and I will read some more of his work (I just won’t be buying it). In my opinion, the reason I didn’t like this book very much is because I have gone past the whole YA phase of my life. However, regardless of the genre, there was just no emotional pull for me here – and the ending sucked. I guess it was hard for me to enjoy the ending when every character was boring, even the crazy Margo. I hate to compare to TFIOS but Paper Towns, in my opinion, was missing everything that made people a sucker for the former.
However, to conclude, I feel that, while I didn’t enjoy this book, there could have been something I was missing. We all know that John Green is an intelligent man. Did his intelligence go right over my head? Am I that out of touch with the youth that I didn’t get the message or meaning of this book? Please let me know. Help me feel young again!
Joyful Antidotes 
I read An Abundance of Katherines first and then Paper Town and then The Fault in Our Stars. The first was like being on a hyper road trip. The second was okay, kind of a mystery. The third penetrated. I gave them all four stars on goodreads, but they are extremely different books, just in emotional resonance alone. I don’t want to say we’re suckers for the sentimental, but maybe it was because TFIOS was partly based on someone Green knew that he was able to bring that character to life so vividly and maybe it was less of an intellectual exercise? I don’t know. Great review, btw! 🙂
Hey! I think you could be onto something there. There was just something a bit more magical to TFIOS. I’ll give some of his others a read to see if I come to the same conclusion.
Nice review! I felt the same – enjoyed TFIOS but have struggled a bit with the other’s of his I have read. I think they are just aimed at a different audience than me!
Thanks! I feel the same. It really takes something special in a YA book these days to grip me. Sign of the age I guess ha.