I really enjoyed this book. I loved Chloe and her values and kindness. The world really does need more kindness. She also made me want to get back into origami because it is something I used to love that I no longer do. It was quite the journey but I really loved the ending, it made me feel warm and fuzzy. Chloe shows a lot of personal growth throughout the book and so many of the messages she shared are good reminders for ourselves. I really encourage you to read this book if you are in need of an inspirational story and depiction of how small acts of kindness can turn into something much bigger and more impactful. Kindness matters and I hope that this book leaves you with the motivation to be kind to strangers because you never know who could use it!

This book hits stores on August 12 and is so worth a read! For reasons I won’t spoil, this books felt a bit like the movie Past Lives to me. And the main characters grew up in Lawrence, Kansas, where I currently live, so it was fun to be able to picture all the places because they are literally down the road from me! This is a quiet, lovely story, with characters entwined and entangled and I absolutely adored it! Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for this sneak peak!

After losing her job and unsure what she’s doing next, Chloe decides to take some time spreading joy through paper flowers with hidden messages of positivity. What she doesn’t expect to happen is serendipitously running into her childhood bestfriend would-be-sweetheart, whom left without a word as a teenager. Now she has to confront the feelings she has for the man she’s been seeing, and the man she’s missed all these years. Meanwhile, her paper flower project gains more attention then she ever expected.

This was SUCH a cute book! For fans of Sarah Addison Allen’s “Other Birds” or Shelby Vob Platts “Remarkably Bright Creatures”, “The Incredible Kindness of Paper” has similar themes of found family with just the right amount of magical realism for a whimsical nature. Chloe and Oliver are like “Trolls” Poppy and Branch come to life, a very specific form of sunshineXgrumpy. I really enjoyed this story and it left me feeling happy and hopeful for a world in which people are kinder to one another. I have already began to recommend to my friends and family!

really tender, sincere, and well-written book with some great plotting, great story aspects, and overall good vibes. 5 stars. tysm for the arc, would recommend.

The Incredible Kindness of Paper
By Evelyn Skye
Release Date: 8.12.2025

Thank you, Atria Books, for an e-ARC of the Incredible Kindness of Paper!

This story follows our main character Lena, who has recently lost her job as a school counselor trying to find her place in the world. Covering a dual timeline of Lena in present day in New York, and back when she was a kid/teen in Kansas. Her past intersects with her present while pursuing a passion project of spreading kindness through origami flowers that each hold a statement of hope.

For fans of light romance, a hint of magical realism, human connection, and short stories. The female main character was giving me Jess from New Girl vibes with her style, personality, and former job working with students. Go into this story with an open mind and embrace the airiness and be ready for the cutest ending.

I gave this four stars instead of five because I had issues with the lack of recognition of a character. I didn't quite get that part and why it wouldn't be obvious. I also had issues with the mom and her interactions later in the story.

The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye is a beautifully tender, multi-POV novel that spans many years. It’s a soothing, character-driven novel full of warmth and emotional depth.
I enjoyed the multiple POV format and the way the author let us into the minds of the characters who didn’t often have the same information at the same time. The dramatic irony creates both tension and poignancy that makes this story a page turner. While the story feels whimsical, it gives readers an invitation to reflect on the transformative power of even small acts of kindness.
The Incredible Kindness of Paper is perfect for readers looking for a hopeful, heartfelt novel that restores faith in people. It’s a wonderful palate cleanser between heavier reads, and one I’ll be recommending to anyone looking for a read that is smart, soft, and full of grace.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars rounded up.

This book overall was really sweet and hopeful. However, until about 2/3 of the way through it lacked anything that propelled me forward. I WANTED to love it, I wanted to be thrilled by it as the premise was so sweet.

Once Chloe and Oliver begin to reveal more, I’m further engaged. After they have their suspicions, I’m definitely interested.

Honestly the sweetest premise of a book with a hopeful message and uplifting moments.

Advanced reader copy provided by Atria and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

Characters:
The chapters follow two main characters (Chloe and Oliver) but also dips into single chapters of other people in the story that are affected by the paper roses.

Chloe: The heart, sunshine, just a soft and compassionate person trying not to let life's difficulties change her away from that.
Oliver: Math nerd, grumpy, family trauma. I think out of both characters that I maybe connected with him more? At least I understood his rationale in most of his decisions.

Positives:
+ Grumpy + Sunshine trope.
+ I really enjoyed the chapters from other peoples perspectives. You got to catch a snippet of some other people's everyday concerns and worries. It really connected you to how the small bit of hope and magic could really make a positive mental shift that actually helped. Humanity NOT at its worst; this was a nice reminder.

Final Thoughts:
You know that feeling you get when you watch romances from the 90’s and you get all warm and squishy and “awwwww”? This gave me 90’s romance movie vibes. The story was short, sweet, and hopeful with a sprinkling of magical realism. I liked the ending best of all.

A really beautiful story but the love triangle lost me - I wish the focus was on the second chance couple rather than the other guy.

Thanks to Atria Books for the ARC of this book! I have read a few books by Evelyn Skye and I love the way she tosses in a little magic to her books. This book was such a sweet story of childhood sweethearts who make their way back to each other via some magical origami roses and sweet notes and fate. The book follows Chloe, a high school counselor living in NYC. When she unexpectedly loses her job, she embarks on a sweet journey of folding origami flowers with sweet messages inside, much like fortune cookies. The flowers find their way to people who really need them including her childhood love, Oliver, who abruptly left her life while they were in high school. His departure still remains a mystery to her and she still thinks of him often as the one who got away. Their journey back to each other is not a linear one but I enjoyed reading it. The flashbacks of them growing up also helped fill in the gaps of the story. I would definitely recommend this one, though I wish I could have read a little bit more of them falling back in love. I will definitely be reading more from Evelyn Skye in the future.

The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye is a warm and hopeful story about kindness, connection, and second chances. Chloe and Oliver were childhood pen pals who lost touch. Now adults, Chloe is a school counselor struggling with loneliness and job loss, while Oliver is a successful analyst feeling lost in his busy life. When one of Chloe’s kind messages finds its way to Oliver, their lives begin to change. The story has a gentle touch of magic and shows how small acts can make a big difference. Skye’s writing is soft and emotional, and the idea of spreading kindness through paper notes is lovely. Some parts of the book feel a little slow, and a few characters could have been explored more deeply. But overall, it’s a comforting read that leaves you feeling hopeful.

3⭐️ This was a sweet story about reconnecting with a lost love. Chloe and Oliver were childhood sweethearts separated when his family moved away.

Their story is told in alternating chapters by Chloe and Oliver going back and forth past and present. Both end up in NYC. Chloe finds herself unemployed and starts folding small yellow origami roses with feel good messages that “choose” their recipients. Oliver has a job at a high powered firm. Of course their paths cross!

This really is a feel good story and Chloe is almost too nice. The magical realism with the found roses is a little stretch. The expected happy ending is just as expected. But it was a quick read and a nice break from anything too tragic or heavy.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Incredible Kindness of Paper by Evelyn Skye was an absolute delight to read. This book masterfully blends emotional depth with a touch of real-life magic, creating a story that’s both heartwarming and thought-provoking.

At its heart, this novel is about the ripple effect of kindness—how one small gesture can grow into something much larger than we ever imagined. It struck a beautiful balance between heavy and light themes, making me both laugh and cry. Most of all, I fell in love with the characters, and I know I’ll miss them for a long time.

Evelyn Skye has crafted something truly special here: a story that reminds us of the power we each have to impact the world around us, even in small ways. If you’re looking for a heartfelt, character-driven read that leaves you with hope, this one’s for you.

This book felt like a warm hug from the universe—or maybe like the universe gently handing me a cup of tea, tucking a blanket around my shoulders, and whispering, “You are seen.”

The Incredible Kindness of Paper is a modern fairy tale in all the best ways: grounded in reality, but with just enough sparkle to make you believe that maybe—just maybe—kindness really is magic.

Chloe is the kind of protagonist you immediately want to befriend. She’s quietly funny, deeply kind, and trying so damn hard to keep it together even as everything around her wobbles. Her origami roses? Literal magic. The kind of joy-spreading whimsy we all wish would show up on our subway commute.
And Oliver? Oh my heart. There’s something so achingly tender about their connection—past and present—and the way it unfolds through grief, hope, and a whole lot of yellow paper.

The magical realism here is gentle and gorgeous, never over-the-top, but enough to make your heart do that little fluttery thing. If you liked The Authenticity Project or The Midnight Library, this one will absolutely be your jam. Bonus points for found family, second chances, and a satisfying emotional arc that doesn’t feel rushed or saccharine.

This was written for people who need a reminder that they matter. That their words matter. That sometimes the smallest act, like a message on a slip of paper, can change everything.

Oh my goodness gracious, this was amazing.

This was a wonderful book. It made me so happy, it was wonderfully sweet, cozy, and adorable. I loved that, while there was a romance that I was totally rooting for, the book didn't feel centered on the romance. It was a story about people trying their best and spreading kindness, which was truly amazing. It was short and sweet, and I also appreciated that. It's maybe not a book for everyone, but for me, it felt like an utter treat of a book. I had such a hard time putting it down to go to sleep, and I woke up to finish it the next morning.

This book is a perfect mix of magic, romance, and the good of humanity. If that sounds like something you would enjoy, I would absolutely recommend this book to you!

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for this arc!

I love Evelyn Skye's writing. It's full of charm and a dash of magic. As children, Chloe and Oliver were pen pals then best friends until they are forced to go their separate ways. As Chloe's life has taken a turn and in an effort to spread happiness she starts making yellow origami roses. Oliver is now a successful financial analyst, but the past plagues him and he has a more pessimistic outlook, until one day a special yellow flower finds it's way to him.

This was so uplifting and sweet. I love that Chloe demonstrates that you don't have to be loud and the center of attention to be strong. Her quiet determination carries her though, and I really connected with that. She's sunshine to Oliver's grumpy demeanor. Their friendship and conflict was so well done. Overall I just really loved the hopeful message of this: that little acts of kindness can make a big difference. The characters are endearing and I enjoyed the "six degrees of separation" everyone had to the Chloe.

The description of this on NetGalley really drew me in—comparisons to Matt Haig and Claire Pooley? lets freaking go. But this is way too treacly sweet and cheesy for my taste and I just could not anymore. I like uplit, but this was too much.

“The Incredible Kindness of Paper” by Evelyn Skye is a story about kindness and human connection. The premise is, two best friends from small town America, destined to be life partners are ripped apart in their youth only to find each other as adults is told in the most unique way. You must suspend your belief or disbelief in magic and just let it go, as the moral of the messages and the magic are incredibly powerful. The ability to overcome life’s trials by the power of small acts of love and kindness feels pretty important in these current times. I loved this warm hug of a book, the messages will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you NetGalley and Altria for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Meet Chloe and Oliver, childhood friends with a high school budding romance when sudden events 16 years ago caused them to be separated against their will. Chance brings them back together as adults in increasingly unexpected ways in this sweet story, but will they be able to move on from the events of the past?

This was such a lovely story about hope and the beauty and value of human interconnectedness. I was charmed from the start, and it was such a fun ride to watch adult Chloe and Oliver orbit one another in unexpected ways (which was a really nice theme throughout the book). There are multiple POVs (including a lot of side characters), which had the potential to be confusing but only enhanced and deepened the story since the main POVS were still Chloe and Oliver. Chloe and Oliver were the epitome of grumpy-sunshine, almost exaggeratedly so. I did find both of them very likable, although Oliver was a little difficult to warm up to initially since he was peak grump (understandable given his experiences as a teen). I'm such a sucker for a childhood friends-to-lovers story and this one was so sweet, especially with them both finding each other again as adults. The thread of magical realism throughout the story was very compelling, and was a very nice touch. This was a quick read that I wanted to last much longer than it did. It actually ended a little abruptly for my tastes, I would have loved an epilogue. A new-to-me author, I would absolutely love to read her again! 4.5 stars. Publishes August 12, 2025. This review is based on a complimentary eARC of the book, all opinions are my own.

Chloe and Oliver become cross town pen pals in elementary school. Over the years their friendship changes from the few exchanges of letters to best friends. They are inseparable and even combine their names to "CLOVER" reflect their bond. One day Chloe wakes up and Oliver and his family are gone. Years pass and Chloe is a guidance counselor in New York that finds herself out of a job because of budget cuts. She tries to give herself some encouragement by writing a message inside of an origami rose. Her rose travels into the hands of someone else and they in turn receive her words of encouragement. Chloe begins to fold roses in the park and spread words of kindness through her origami roses. Oliver, who Chloe has not seen in 16 years, also lives in New York and happens to find himself with one of the roses.

As each new character finds themself with a rose, you get a little story with an uplifting message. I enjoyed those chapters where the messages meant so much to those that received them and how it changed their current situations.