Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published August 12, 2025.

This is my first book by this author. I was originally drawn to the title and the beautiful book cover but the plot appealed to me as well since I’ve had a pen pal since first grade.

I had to get past moments of disbelief to enjoy the bigger picture: Chloe was spreading kindness via her yellow origami roses.

We meet a cast of characters who stumble upon a rose and find a hand-written message that is perfectly suited for them and actually changes their life.

This isn’t a rom-com. It’s more “rom-magical” if that’s a category. There are some emotional ups and downs as there are many subplots but overall I was left with this message: KINDNESS WINS. 💛

I had my doubts about The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye because it seemed to have a theme too similar to others I have read. However, as I progressed with this quick read, I began to lose those doubts and settled in to enjoy the story.

Chloe and Oliver were childhood best friends whose relationship was about to blossom when they were 16 years old, until Oliver suddenly left town with his family and without any communication with Chloe. Another 16 years have passed, and Chloe has just lost a job she loved as a high school guidance counselor for being "too soft" on students. Working part-time jobs to pay her rent, she initiates an unexpected sensation by fashioning yellow origami roses with random encouraging messages inside, which she and her new friends begin leaving all over town. Soon it is apparent that, in many cases, those finding the roses have received just the message they didn't know they needed. And, as you may have guessed, there is a magical realism element to the story.

Oliver has had a traumatic life since his mother's plight caused the family to always be on the move and in hiding. He landed on his feet as a mathematical director for a financial company, but his demeanor is gruff and antisocial. Whether the two childhood friends can overcome the years-long rift in their relationship and discover their real purpose in life is what the plot is all about.

I found Chloe too trusting and Oliver too stiff, but it was fun seeing them navigate what life had in store for each.

My thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

If you are looking for a warm and fuzzy story that may add a little bit of hope to an otherwise tumultuous present time - The Incredible Kindness of Paper is it! Chloe was such a relatable and likeable character and her optimism at a time when it is hard to remain optimistic was lovely to read. I have never read an Evelyn SKye book before but I would definitely read another.

The premise of the story was unique and I really appreciated that. This was definitely not more of the same as it can be when reading a romance.

4 star read!

You know that TilTok challenge where one bestie takes a chance and kisses their bestie…and like the risk is worth it, and that is the moment to end all moments and start a million new ones? Well, that’s kinda what this book is, that, and so much more.

Synopsis: Chloe Quinn has just been unceremoniously fired from her job as a high school counselor and in an attempt to remedy a hurt soul she makes a yellow origami rose with a message of kindness. Her simple act catches on the wind of serendipity mixed with a touch of magic, and hearts all around NYC find purpose and healing. Oliver Jones, investment analyst and math genius, is quite a curmudgeon for 32, but he carries a disastrous family story that hinders his heart, so math become is safe place…well, until one of Chloe’s roses finds its way to him.

This is a super sweet story:
Magic, redemption, and community all rolled into a quick less than 250 page read. Some of the “magic” feels contrived; the book wants to capture the underlying magic of coincidence, but doesn’t fully allow that to happen, and that’s kind of a miss; but who cares, it’s a sweet story with lovely messages of understanding, second chances, and hope.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Chloe and Oliver were childhood friends who were on the verge of something more when Oliver and his family suddenly disappeared without a trace. Fast forward 16 years and Chloe is 32 and in NY. She loses her job as a school counsellor and spends her days making yellow origami roses with inspirational messages to pass the time. The yellow roses find their way to people who need her encouraging words and she starts a movement to bring joy to others. Eventually she crosses paths with Oliver again but is it too late?

Unpopular opinion, but this book was not for me. It was too whimsical and unrealistic. It started out promising but I lost interest halfway through. Chloe was too naive and Oliver too grumpy. Reminded me of Sarah Jio’s writing style.

“What a beautiful book! A very lovely story full of emotions. This book has a bit of everything: romance, fantasy, suspense, humor, but above all, the message of bringing joy, hope, and love to everyone.”

I’m a sucker for secondhand romance and this book gave me everything I wanted it to. Oliver and Chloe were childhood sweethearts, who shared handwritten notes with each other. When Oliver disappears, Chloe never really let go of what those notes meant to her. This book focuses on their past as well as mending the hero now with small acts of kindness.

I loved this book so much. I am grateful to have gotten to read an ARC from netgalley. Nostalgic, hopeful, and emotional in so many ways. In a world where people are longing for connections, Chloe makes connections happen. She's optimistic, despite all of the struggles she's had. Losing her job leads her to long for something more so she writes messages on origami roses. These messages start finding the people that need them, changing hearts and lives. Oliver is a pessimist (or a realist, depending on if you ask him or not). He doesn't believe in magic because his whole life was upended when his mother ripped them from his teenage life with Chloe. Fast forward to adulthood and they both still struggle with that disconnection. Oh, I loved it.

Very cute and sweet. Reads almost YA. Nevertheless, it was a fun, quick read. I do like it when characters are all somehow tied together.

WOW. That’s the first word that comes to mind after reading The Incredible Kindness of Paper. This enchanting novel left me deeply moved, as it beautifully explores the themes of kindness, healing, and the power of second chances. As someone who always strives to spread kindness in a world that often feels lacking in it, I found this book to be a heartwarming reminder of the impact small, thoughtful acts can have.

The story is captivating from the very beginning. I couldn’t help but get lost in the world Evelyn Skye created—one filled with both magic and realism. The idea of using origami roses as a way to spread positivity and connection is so unique and heartwarming. Chloe’s journey of personal growth, alongside Oliver’s emotional struggles, really drew me in. Their shared past and the way their lives ultimately intertwine through these simple acts of kindness felt incredibly profound.

I connected deeply with Oliver's character, especially his complicated relationship with his mom. The way he navigates his pain, learns from his past, and ultimately transforms his life into something meaningful was inspiring. It’s a beautiful reminder that no matter how tough our circumstances are, we have the power to overcome and find our way to where we’re meant to be.

I found myself wanting to rush through the book because I was so eager to see how things would unfold, yet I also wanted to savor every moment, allowing the emotions and lessons of the story to fully sink in. Evelyn Skye does a brilliant job of balancing the magic of the narrative with real, heartfelt moments that resonate long after the last page.

This novel is a must-read for anyone who believes in the power of kindness and the profound effect small acts of love can have on people’s lives. If you’re a fan of stories about personal transformation, reconnection, and spreading positivity, this one is for you. I highly recommend it!

The Incredible Kindness of Paper
By: Evelyn Skye
Pub date: August 12 2025
Publisher: Atria Books
4 🩷 🩷 🩷 🩷

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a sweet, feel good love story about yellow paper origami roses with inspirational messages inside. It takes place over several years and has a way of magically bringing the main characters on a journey back together. Chloe and Oliver started off as childhood pen pals who blossomed into more before Oliver disappeared. Fast forward to adulthood where they cross paths on multiple occasions as they rekindle the bond they once shared.

The book is not only about these paper yellow roses with inspirational message inside. It's about a connection between two main characters, giving people joy, and other things. Chloe and Oliver have known each other since their elementary school years. Oliver and his family were forced to leave. He didn't say goodbye to Chloe. As adults, they’d reunited a few times while living in New York.

Do you ever wonder if the words you whisper make a difference? Chloe and Oliver were friends when they were children until one fateful day when Oliver disappeared the day after promising Chloe his heart. Left broken hearted and questioning, Chloe never forgot her first love even into adulthood.
The Incredible Kindness of Paper is a beautiful story about a small act of kindness. If you took the time to write a note of encouragement to someone- to anyone- would that make a difference? Told in multiple perspectives and timelines, a complete picture unfolds regarding how each small act positively impacts another.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Atria books for this ARC.

This book was absolute perfection! The main character, Chloe, is instantly likable and will have you rooting for her thru out the entire story! This book will make you believe in the kindness of humans and magic! I loved this story and wish it were real life so I could run up to the characters and give them a great big hug!

This book will be available in August of 2025 and I will be recommending it to all of my reader friends!

Thank you so much for this advanced readers copy!

From the moment I started reading I was hooked on this novel! An absolute unique way to grasp a readers attention with paper notes via origami roses! There are some people and places in life that change you forever and some you aren’t meant to get over’

This book allowed me to feel so much nostalgia for long lost parts of my life and made me wish there was a fad of origami roses around the world spreading joy !

The cover of this book got my attention and I’m so glad it did. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Chloe and Oliver and their journey back to each other. The Incredible Kindness of Paper is a fantastic read!

I have read every book that Evelyn Skye has written and I am incredibly lucky to call her my friend. So this review might feel biased, but here's what I am going to tell you: if you haven't read any books by Syke or even if you have this is the one you want to read. This book is magic.

Each of Skye's books, while varying widely across genres, has her signature writing style which is visual, painterly and has elements of magic and whimsy. They all have memorable characters. But one, this one is a gift.

You can read the blurb so I won't repeat the plot but here's what matters most: this book will make you feel warm and happy and hopeful for the world. You will fall in love with Chloe and her ability to hold on to herself and her optimism in a world that is always trying to change us or improve us. Chloe's sense of self is strong, unyielding and makes it impossible not to root for her.

Yes, there's a romance at the root of this story but it's so much more than that. It restores your faith in humanity. It allows you to travel to a place where people are flawed and struggling and finding their way back home and hanging on to their unyielding belief that we can create good and joy in the world even as we are trying to find our way.

This book will make you feel warm and hopeful and like the wonderful hug you needed. I cannot recommend it enough.

with gratitude to netgalley and Atria for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book felt like Divine Rivals in a more modern setting, with a more whimsical plot, and I loved it for that. I won't say much, but it was soft, poetic, and deeply thoughtful which made it easy to breeze through. Although it was a bit difficult to get through at the start(mostly for the writing style), please get through the first 15% and then you'll be shocked by how everything just....makes sense. I promise, this book is a great way to start the new year and a book that is worth the hours it takes to read.

4.5 stars, Metaphorosis reviews
Summary
Chloe and Oliver become best friends when she sends him an origami rose as part of a school pen pal program. But when they're in their teens, they suddenly part ways. Years later, they're both in New York, and their paths cross when she, just fired, begins leaving origami roses around town with messages inside.
Review
This is a book that is unabashedly, enthusiastically romantic and (literally) incredible. There are huge plot holes all over the place, and at times it feels like it was written for the sole purpose of being a Meg Ryan movie. The title is clunky. But that’s all okay; I’m also a romantic idealist, and I loved it.
This is a book that is determinedly upbeat. There are some minor tribulations, and some darker undercurrents, but, like its protagonist, it’s a story committed to seeing the upside of things. You have to be willing to suspend a lot of disbelief for it all to work, but I was willing, and I got teary eyed half a dozen times despite the unlikeliness of it all.
Some of the plot holes, I feel could have been edited out with a little work. Despite being inseparable childhood best friends for a decade, and exchanging countless letter, in later years, one doesn’t recognize the other, and neither recognizes the other’s handwriting. I found both of those hard to accept, despite my investment in the book’s concept. One character’s decisions also fell on the unrealistic side. The premise presented in marketing material (that origami captures sound) barely makes an appearance. I didn’t love that it was a little on the ‘New York is magical’ side. You have to invest in some magical thinking to make it all work.
The book’s theme is relentless, but appealing, especially today – be nice to each other. I have to admit, though, that there’s no little irony in a story that critiques a modern insistence on monetizing everything – as it says, “Why can’t we just do things because we want to?” – put is on NetGalley and in its acknowledgements thanks a public relations firm. Not, obviously, that authors must reflect their characters, but the sentiment does fit a little uneasily in its setting.
There are also some nice touches – clever literary and genre references that generally don’t intrude, even if the author does tend to underline them a bit. Overall, it’s the kind of book that those who insist on gritty grimdark realism may hate for being light and fluffy and sappy. But I like a good grimdark story, and, with all its flaws, I loved this too. It’s just the right mix of determination and hope, and Skye is a good writer; I look forward to checking out some of her other books.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Chloe and Oliver met as elementary school pen pals. Their friendship blossomed through written words and whispered secrets in their shared letters. As time goes on, their friendship grows and flourishes into something much stronger. But just as their relationship takes the next step, Oliver's family quickly leaves town, and Chloe is left with a broken heart and questions she's not sure will ever be answered.

Many years later Chloe is living in a new city, working as a high school guidance counselor, and casually dating a wealthy man. When she finds out budget cuts have left her jobless and her roommate informs her the rent is being raised, she turns to one thing that always helped the students she counseled. She takes out a square piece of paper, writes a positive message on it, and folds it into an origami rose.

Though she created the rose as a pick-me-up for herself, it ends up in the hands of a neighbor who discovers a message within that's exactly what she needs to change her life. Chloe realizes what's happened and soon the city is flooded with yellow friendship roses containing magic messages that somehow find their way to the exact person they're meant for. When one returns to her with a negative response, she begins a new correspondence that unlocks doors that were previously closed and leads her to the truth from her past she'd been so desperate to know.

Full of heart and hope, The Incredible Kindness of Paper is a sweet story that reminds us how impactful even a small act of kindness can be. I truly love the message of this book and found it uplifting and enjoyable. It was just the right blend of magical realism that kept me immersed in the story without it being too cheesy or lacking depth. If you're looking for a good palate cleanser that feels like a warm hug, this is the book you want to read!

4.5 Stars.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC copy of this book.