Hearts on Paper, by E. G. Creel, is a charming story that follows Emery, a witty and thoughtful teenager whose summer break turns upside down when she discovers her father has remarried and forgotten to mention it. Thrust into a shiny new life with a picture-perfect stepbrother named Dean, Emery stumbles through awkward poolside encounters, a stifling country club culture, and a whirlwind of emotional and romantic confusion. The book is packed with sharp dialogue, heartfelt introspection, and plenty of high school drama, but beneath all the sass and swoons, there’s a deeper story about identity, grief, and navigating the awkward gray areas between childhood and growing up.

Emery’s tone makes this book. She is funny in that quietly savage way that makes you want to follow her around just to hear what she’ll say next. Her thoughts feel real–the kind of thoughts you only admit to yourself. E. G. Creel has this knack for nailing teenage awkwardness without making it cringeworthy. The banter between Emery and Dean hits the perfect balance of playful and emotionally loaded. I caught myself smiling during the quieter scenes, especially when Emery is trying to figure out whether Dean is trouble or just a misunderstood golden boy. It never felt overdone or syrupy. The pacing, especially in the early chapters, was smooth and tight. I was pulled in fast and stayed locked in.

There were moments where the story leaned into tropes. Still, I couldn’t put it down. There’s something magnetic about watching these characters slowly orbit each other, even when the plot takes some predictable turns. The writing keeps things light enough to stay fun but serious enough to give the characters some weight. Creel’s prose never talks down to the reader, and that’s a big part of why the story works.

Hearts on Paper is the kind of book I’d recommend to readers who loved To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before or Everything, Everything. If you’re into slow-burn romance with strong emotional undercurrents, rich teenage voice, and a little chaos in your love life, this one will hit the spot. It’s messy and sweet and complicated, just like being seventeen.

Pages: 226 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0F8WB2PPW