Ella Fitzpatrick was in a bad car accident after her high school’s Valentine’s Day dance. The accident gives Ella retrograde amnesia; she cannot remember the 11 weeks of her life leading up to the accident. One year later, despite searching for answers, Ella still can’t remember how she got in the accident, why she left the dance early, why she broke up with her boyfriend, what she changed her passwords to, where the cute picture of herself was taken, and who gave her the rose she has saved. Before this year’s Valentine’s Day dance, Ella starts receiving paper hearts from a secret admirer who claims to know what happened during those 11 weeks that Ella cannot remember. So, with the help of a cute boy from the library named Andy, Ella follows the clues on the 11 paper hearts in the hopes of remembering what she has forgotten.
This book is best suited for teen romance and mystery readers; particularly people who enjoyed Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum, Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson, and the movie, The Vow. I would recommend reading this book around Valentine’s Day as this is when the novel takes place, but it can absolutely be enjoyed at any time! This book showcases the power of true love and the importance of being true to oneself.
Even though this book was easy to read, I, like Ella, got frustrated at times because I didn’t have all the answers. As a result of not having all the answers, it seemed like Ella was lost or confused for most of the book and she couldn’t seem to move forward with her life. Furthermore, even though the end of the book was satisfying, I was left a bit confused and frustrated because I couldn’t understand why Ella’s family and friends (or her secret admirer) weren’t willing or able to fill in the gap in Ella’s memory sooner. Another critique for me is that the book was on the shorter side; it would have been nice to maybe have had a few more chapters at the end of the book (after Ella gets her answers).
This book was well organised and original, plus I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of this book. I was intrigued and wanted to keep reading so that I could figure out what Ella forgot as well as the identity of her secret admirer. I also loved reading about all the adventures that Ella got to go on while looking for the paper hearts; I especially loved reading about Ella and Andy’s trip to a hidden gem in Central Park called Belvedere Castle. Lastly, I love making book playlists, so I thought that the “paper hearts playlist”, included in the middle of the book, was awesome; the song choices are also perfect for Valentine’s day!
Overall, I thought that this book was cute, romantic, and engaging. 11 Paper Hearts was Kelsey Hartwell’s debut novel; I am excited to (hopefully) read more of her books in the future!
11 Paper Hearts is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
A YA contemporary rom com about a girl who follows a trail of paper hearts from her mystery admirer–and it’s a paperback original perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and the Kissing Booth.
Ella’s life was picture perfect. She had a circle of close friends, a jam-packed social life, and an amazing boyfriend. But then something completely unexpected happened: a car accident after a Valentine’s Day dance. When Ella woke up in the hospital, she couldn’t remember the accident . . . or anything about the weeks before it, including the reason she broke up with her boyfriend.
Now, a year later, she begins receiving paper hearts from a mysterious admirer who seems to have the answers she craves. Ella is intrigued. The hearts contain clues to help Ella remember her life before . . . and take her on a journey she never imagined. Following the paper hearts is the most spontaneous thing Ella has ever done . . . but will she find love?
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