This book is an antidote to the awfulness of the world right now. I dare you to read this and not feel hopeful & inspired.

A beautiful magical realism & romance that shows that even a small touch of kindness & goodness can touch and help people in ways you couldn’t even imagine. The way connections between those you’d never expect are shown just took my breath away. I really can’t say enough about how much I loved this book. And how much I bawled through the last few chapters.

This is also the second book this year that I absolutely love which had origami play a major part. Guess that’s a niche I love now lol

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for providing the ARC for my honest review!

As a child, Chloe became best friends with her pen pal, Oliver. It’s now been 20 years since Olive disappeared and Chloe’s life has quickly gone off course. She loses her job, isn’t sure how she will pay rent, and has a maybe boyfriend? Leaving herself pick-me-up notes in her origami flowers has kept her busy, but when one winds up in a neighbors hand and brings them joy, Chloe decides to spread her kindness beyond her circle. Meanwhile Oliver has made a success of himself after his upbringing, but is suddenly surrounded by yellow origami roses.

This book is a fill your cup kind of read. I started listening while driving to a friend’s, and immediately started it again on my way home and didn’t stop listening until it was finished. The audio was truly so perfect. The way Chloe’s yellow roses helped people was just so heartwarming and wonderful. It had a small bit of magical realism, which is the way I love my magic, so it hit the spot for me! While the romance was exactly what you expect, this book captured me and I enjoyed every second.

Please enjoy my VERY BAD attempt at an origami rose, and my second, mediocre attempt at an origami rose. LOL I tried!

Thank you to @atriabooks and @simon.audio for my gifted copy of this book!

This book was a sweet and fun bit of hope during a dark time in this world. The characters were lovely, the story was uplifting, and the added bit of magical whimsy in the storyline made for a fun read.

My only complaint is that I would have liked more detail to the story. This book could have been an additional 100 pages for me, with more intricacy to the story and characters and I would have eaten up every page. But, as it stands, I would still recommend this to anyone looking for a lighthearted story or personal growth, finding hope in darker times, and love.

Chloe is a small town, kind-hearted soul that has been sharing her positivity and encouragement as a high school counselor in New York City. Giving her students advice in the form of notes folded in yellow origami roses, her life is upended when she is laid off. Oliver works in finance at a large investment bank and has given his all to move on from turbulent young adult years dealing with his destructive mother. When he accidentally bumps into Chloe, his best friend and first love from twenty years ago, he doesn’t know how to react and dismisses the interaction. But then their paths start to cross courtesy of yellow origami roses that have spread all over the city. Will destiny, kindness and love weave their fates together?

This novel is filled with so much easy to read goodness that I devoured it in just a couple sittings. It’s a light romance blended with perseverance, self discovery and healing. It was totally refreshing to read something so lighthearted and ultimately good - - like a self love mental break to all the other things going on in the world. The author does a great job with the story telling and even throws an Easter egg reference in there to a previous young adult duology of hers. I definitely enjoyed this one. 5 stars.

This is an honest review based on a digital Advanced Readers Copy provided by Atria Books and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye is an incredible story.
The writing is amazing and the characters truly make you feel.
The description was so vivid and this book kept me up all night.

Thank You NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I’m always looking for novels that include magical realism— so when I heard of The Incredible Kindness of Paper, by Evelyn Skye, I couldn’t resist. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Evelyn Skye’s other novels and enjoyed this one as well.

I loved the story and multiple points of view— however I Felt this novel felt a bit younger and read bit more YA.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book!

📜Quick Summary: When Chloe is in elementary school, she had no idea that her pen pal Oliver would turn into her first love. As a child, she didn’t always know how to express what she wanted to say, so she simply whispered into her note. Little did she know, magical touches would help her words to Oliver’s ears. As they grow up and face their own challenges, Chloe wonders if she will ever find her way back to him…

❣️Initial Feels: I feel like I am wrapped in a warm blanket and getting a hug from a best friend.

👀Trigger Warnings: may cause you to smile

🌶️Spice Level: not that kinda novel!

📖Read if you want: feel good story, magical touches, doing good for others, second chances, many point of views, a book about friendship

🙋🏼‍♀️Moving Character: Ugh, I loved Oliver!! Something about him just made me smile. His authenticity, his strength, his love…I enjoyed him so much!

🗨️Thoughtful Words: “Random things could change your life, if only you were open to them.”

“If you don’t dream it, you can’t achieve it.”

“The paper flowers are supposed to be like a little gift,” Chloe said. “Something kind in exchange for nothing, in a world where there’s a price on everything else.”

💡Final Sentiments: If you need a reminder that there’s kindness in this world, this book is it! It will give you a pick me up on a dreary day, and wrap you up in a warm hug. This is a perfect palate cleanser between a heavier novel or thrillers, because it’s something you can easily devour in one sitting. Each character is intertwined and has some connection to someone else, and it’s a simple reminder of how small this world truly is. Grateful for this beautiful book!

🌟Overall Rating: 4.5 stars

🔉Special thanks to Evelyn Skye, Atria Books, and NetGalley for this arc of The Incredible Kindness of Paper.

📘Grab yourself a copy on August 12, 2025!

This is a wonderful, delightful story that would have been easier to finish
the last page had I not possibly been just a bit tearing up, while also
laughing a little. What a life affirming story with a perfect ending. This
is perfect for a long flight since I read it today, with snacks and Diet Coke
so I did not put the book down.
Chloe and Oliver are perfect, the storyline just delightful and these
characters evolved well during the adventures.. Jennifer was not
redeemed in my eyes, though Olive did a sweet bit in his attempts
to (again) be free of her in his life. The conclusion is perfect.
My thanks to Atria Books and Emily Bestler
Books for the copies of this book for review purposes.

Chloe and Oliver form a special connection as childhood pen pals, but their budding friendship is abruptly cut short when Oliver and his family mysteriously vanish. Over twenty years later, Chloe, now a struggling guidance counselor in NYC, copes with life’s challenges by creating and sharing uplifting messages folded into yellow origami roses. Meanwhile, Oliver, now a successful but haunted financial analyst, unexpectedly receives one of these roses rekindling a long lost connection and setting the stage for a possible reunion.

I really enjoyed this novel! It’s an uplifting story of kindness, found family, with a touch of magical realism. While it felt a bit cheesy at times, I appreciated the overall message about the importance of everyday kindness.
I absolutely loved Chloe, her big heart and compassion made her easy to root for from the start. And even behind Oliver’s cold and guarded exterior, there’s a deeply caring and thoughtful person just waiting to be seen.
This was such a heartwarming read and a beautiful love story!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

Happy pub day to this sweet novel! 💛

If you’re a sucker for a grumpy/sunshine and/or friends to lovers trope, you’ll enjoy this enchanting and sweet novel about two childhood best friends/first loves. Chloe Hanako Quinn and Oliver Jones were elementary school pen pals turned best friends turned first loves, until the day that Oliver & his family disappeared without a trace. Twenty years later, Chloe is at a crossroads in her life after recently losing her job as a school guidance counselor in NYC. To encourage herself, she writes uplifting messages on yellow origami paper that she folds into roses. When a neighbor in need of cheering up finds one of her roses unexpectedly, Chloe turns her attention to her desire to spread kindness and optimism around the city.

Unbeknownst to Chloe, Oliver is also in NYC, after picking himself up from the difficult circumstances that caused his family’s disappearance. When a specific rose finds its way to Oliver, will it change his life forever?

I love a book with a sprinkle of magical realism. And in a world that feels full of cruelty, anger, and greed, it was nice to escape into a novel that focused on kindness and optimism. It unfortunately made me realize how little kindness is currently present in our society, but it did give me hope that anyone can make a difference no matter how small their contribution.

The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye is out today, August 12th! Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this delightful novel!

#netgally #atriabooks #theincrediblekindnessofpaper #kerireads #bookstagram #readersofìnstagram

What a beautiful story 🥺 I really loved reading all the little connections and encounters that are tied in a neat little bow at the end! An easy read with a sweet ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for this eARC! 🖤

I am a big fan of childhood friends and second- chance romance tropes. The synopsis drew me in and I knew right away that I would like this book. The Incredible Kindness of Paper was such a delight and it had such a positive little spin that I adored. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a cute little love story with an unusual twist. I really loved the concept and Chloe just generally made me feel happy. The themes in the book are beautiful, and I really liked discovering how all the different threads intertwined. However, the story left a lot of big question marks in my head. I didn't really buy into the reason for the years-long separation of Oliver and Chloe. I didn't understand how the magic flowers worked. I don't understand why Zac was in the book. The writing is kind of choppy, and the story feels shallow; for a story that is based in emotion and ends in a resurgence of long lost love, I expected to feel something, and I just didn't. Oliver has a bit of a redemption arc, but Chloe, as loveable as she is, just feels stagnant. The ending was also very abrupt and left me unsatisfied.

It is a light, cute, quick read... it just left me wanting something more. 3 stars.

This book will be released on August 12, 2025.

Thank you Atria Books for my #gifted copy of The Incredible Kindness of Paper! #AtriaInfluencer #atriabooks #AtriaPartner #EvelynSkye #TheIncredibleKindnessofPaper

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲𝐧 𝐒𝐤𝐲𝐞
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟰.𝟱★

Oh my heart! This book was like sunshine on a cloudy day and I could not have read this one at a better time! I loved the message about kindness and love and feel like this book is so timely right now. Evelyn Skye, you and this book are an absolute gem! I was lucky enough to participate in a virtual origami event with Evelyn in May and I also received a handmade card to share from her about a month ago. Her kindness radiates on and off the page and I have loved my experience with this book!

This is such a hopeful novel with hints of magical realism that will leave you with a smile on your face as you finish the last page. Chloe and Oliver were elementary school pen pals turned friends until their connection ended when Oliver’s family disappeared. Now, 20 years later, Chloe, a high school guidance counselor in NYC, just lost her job. Desperate, she starts giving herself pep talks by writing uplifting messages on yellow origami paper that she folds into beautiful roses. When one lands in the hands of a neighbor cheers them up, Chloe starts leaving them all around town to spread kindness. One of those yellow roses happens to land in the hands of Oliver, who is now a successful financial analyst. The small origami rose sets of a chain reaction that could reunite two lost friends and change the rest of their lives.

💛Magical Realism
💛Multiple POVs
💛Dual Timelines
💛Yellow Origami Roses
💛Second Chances
💛Pen Pals
💛Heartwarming

Posted on Goodreads on August 11, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around August 11, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on August 12, 2025
**-will post on designated date

If you need a reminder that there's good in the world, please pick this one up. It feels like a warm hug. I genuinely don't know how to do this book justice. It's soft and heartfelt. It's a yellow rose that reminds you that hope can never be fully extinguished. Magic realism is a large part of this story, but the true magic is the message reminding you of how kindness spreads.

Unlike Chloe, you don't always see the ripples caused by your kindness, but I think it's important to believe that it can make a difference. Your kindness matters.

Read if You Like:
🍀 Second Chances
♾️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🍀 Magic Realism
♾️ Childhood Friends to Lovers
🍀 Pen Pals
♾️ Red Thread of Fate/Invisible String
🍀 Butterfly Effect

"The Incredible Kindness of Paper" unfolds as a delightfully enchanting tale of serendipity and second chances. When Chloe starts spreading hope through yellow origami roses across New York City, she never imagines one might find its way to Oliver—her childhood pen pal and first love who mysteriously disappeared from her life decades ago.

The magic begins in elementary school when young Chloe whispers notes into her letters that Oliver somehow hears, creating an extraordinary connection that transcends typical childhood friendship. This touch of magical realism (reminiscent of the atmospheric wonder in "Divine Rivals") weaves beautifully throughout their story, making their eventual reconnection feel both destined and miraculous.

What makes this novel truly special is how Skye masterfully balances the present-day narrative with glimpses into their shared past. Each dual timeline reveals another piece of their complex history, building delicious anticipation for their inevitable reunion. The contrast between optimistic Chloe and guarded Oliver creates perfect grumpy-sunshine chemistry that had me grinning through every interaction.

Complications arise with Chloe's ongoing situationship, adding realistic tension to an otherwise fairytale-like premise. Yet the heart of the story remains the transformative power of kindness—how Chloe's simple paper messages ripple outward, touching lives across the city before ultimately bringing her back to Oliver.

I devoured this heartwarming escape in one sitting, utterly charmed by the "You've Got Mail" vibes with a magical twist. In a world that often feels cold and transactional, this novel reminds us that sometimes the smallest gestures carry the most profound magic.

Special thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for my digital copy. As always, the thoughts shared here are completely my own.

Chloe Hanako Quinn starts writing to Oliver Jones, her pen pal in elementary school. Because she is too young to write everything she wants to say, she whispers a note into her letter. Somehow, he hears her. This is the beginning of their friendship that deepens into first love by the time they are 16.

When a disaster strikes, Oliver and his family disappear without a word or a trace. Chloe is heartbroken and devastated. She thinks she will never hear from him again. Twenty years later, Chloe begins folding origami roses as acts of kindness after she loses her job as a guidance counsellor. When Oliver finds one, his life will change forever.

Why Jackie loves it

The message of kindness in this novel makes this a truly feel-good book. The characters have learned to deal with loss in a different way, and their journey feels genuine. I loved the writing and alternated between listening and reading in just one day.

United States Publication: August 12, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

An elementary school pen pal project between Chloe and Oliver turns into a lifelong relationship that is interrupted by circumstances beyond Oliver's control. But he never had a chance to explain to Chloe, and almost 20 years later, both of them are still wounded from the sudden death of their relationship. Not knowing where the other is and trying their best to leave the past in the past, Chloe and Oliver have moved on.

When Chloe, suddenly unemployed and at loose ends, stumbles into a project of spreading kindness, she has one origami rose that keeps finding its way back to her with messages from a cynic. Refusing to give in to cynicism, Chloe continues the discourse with this unknown person, in part because she can't understand how this one rose keeps returning to her like a boomerang - and why.

Oliver is in a new position and working hard to maintain the walls he built years ago when his life fell apart around him, thanks to his con Mom. There's a guy at work who has established himself as Oliver's nemesis, and the city has been taken over by origami roses. They are everywhere, and they are annoying. He opened one and read it and couldn't help himself; he responded to the message inside of it, and then threw it away in disgust. But when the trashed rose reappears with a response to his response, he isn't sure what to think. He also can't help himself, and he responds to the other person's response. How is this rose, that he keeps throwing away, keep coming back to him? How is he able to converse with the other person in this way?

When Oliver crashes into a woman one day on the street, he is shocked to look into her face and realize it is Chloe. But Chloe doesn't recognize him, and he doesn't reveal who he is. The past is suddenly in the present, and Oliver doesn't know how to handle it. When they keep randomly meeting in various places, a friendship that reminds Chloe of Oliver forms. Will Chloe ever figure out that Tolly is her Oliver, and can the two of them reconcile what happened so long ago? It turns out that what brought Chloe and Oliver together so long ago will be the thing that reintroduces them to one another.

The very first sentence of this book made me relax and feel like this story was going to be a giant hug. I was partially correct. Certain parts of this story I loved and were exactly what I anticipated from the summary and even the cover art. But other parts annoyed the hell out of me. I didn't buy that Chloe wouldn't have recognized Oliver. Within the story, the reasoning was that he no longer had his "emo look" that he had in high school. However, she knew him for so much longer than that phase; she knew him when he had his natural hair color, etc. She would have recognized him. I can confidently say this because I have my own "Oliver," and although we're no longer in touch, I would recognize him anywhere at any time. So, that immediately annoyed me. And because that annoyed me and Skye used that to propel certain parts of the storyline, I was put off. I just couldn't, and didn't, buy into that particular part of the story. I did love the origami roses part of the story and Chloe's part in it. Kindness is in short supply these days, and stories of ways to keep kindness alive are always good to take in and be inspired by. What can my "origami rose" be (i.e., how can I do my part in spreading kindness, hope, and joy)?

This book radiates warmth, hope, and a gentle sort of magic. The plot leans toward whimsy over depth. It’s a novel that asks you to lean into imagination and let its sweetness lift you. I just found it ok.

I liked the concept of the book, origami flowers spreading cheer and kindness. I was not all that enthralled with the romance part of the book. It seemed unrealistic that Chloe did not know her best friend and love after all these years. A quick read that was mildly entertaining.