Paper Towns Movie Review

As usually just left the theater and came straight home to do a review. Before I get started on all the juicy details there are two things I want to go right ahead and get out of the way. First, yes, WE GET BLACK SANTA!!!! and Two the cameo that was hinted at is as perfect as people said. Seriously when "it" happens everyone in the theater died. So happy, so cheeky, so John Green. Loved both of these things. 

On too the movie and the review. If you don't know Paper Towns is about a boy named Q who is just floating through his last few weeks of high school. He mainly just hangs out with his two closet friends, pining over his crush from childhood from afar, and living within the comfort zone he has made for himself. That is until his crush, Margo, sneaks into his room one night asking him to come with her to right 9 wrongs. 

First casting for this film was spot on. We know that Nat Wolff (Q) is going to be adorable, sweet, and entertaining. It's a given, he's just so charming. He nails awkward teen boy right on the head. We know Cara Delevingne (Margo) was going to be fun to see for her first "real" on screen performance. And yeah, she was great to watch... But there is no doubt in my mind who really stole the show. Justice Smith (Radar), Austin Abrams (Ben), and Jaz Sinclair (Angela). These up and comers really made this film. Especially Austin Abrams, who brought so much comic relief to this film. The moments he is on screen are so hilarious. There wasn't a second he was present that I didn't find myself laughing. Both Austin and Justice brought so much life to Radar and Ben. If anyone else would have been casted I don't think the film would have been as fun as it was. Nat, Justice, and Austin have so much on screen chemistry there's no way you wont fall in love with these three. They're the perfect band of misfits. All these characters managed to capture all the teenage angst you're hoping for. 

Paper Towns is a coming of age story that manages to avoid labels therefore avoids a lot of the usual cliches. Don't stress though it is for sure a John Green film. It's relate-able, fun, and of course packs a powerful message.  The pace of the film matches that of the book. It starts off with a bang, levels out in the middle, then delivers a strong ending. Like TFIOS, Paper Towns stays pretty close to the reading material it's based off. Though there is one big change from the book to film, there is no question as to why it was changed. It gave the story more of a push (in my opinion) to a more a proper ending. Even the small/"big" changes were perfectly done and I feel readers of the book wont be disappointed in the things that are altered. If you're not a reader than the ending might be something you wont see coming...the story ends in a way that manages to defy expectations and eschew the "teen-movie-romcom" norm. The ending was personally my favorite part of the film. The prank scenes are fun and will have you laughing, the little details are much appreciated, and the heavier moments hit hard much like the book.

Paper Towns isn't my favorite John Green book... because lets be real, nothing compares to TFIOS. I think the film surpassed the book, and for that I'm thankful. Paper Towns is a film about living each moment, about seeking a great perhaps, and about seeing people for more than face value. All these wonderful values are laid out for us and delivered so strongly. Really satisfied with the film and it has me very excited about seeing the soon to be Looking for Alaska. The casting, direction, and soundtrack were all stunning. Very happy with the way this sweet film played out and I don't think John Green fans will be disappoint. Great summer film.

9/10 Stars 
-Angela 

Bringing Sexy paperBack

These are the intelligent, charming, witty, and handsome men that write YA. We know in this genre women reign and we here at SBSR wanted to shine a little light on these fellas.

We decided to start off with our personal favorite.... Pierce Brown. The 26 year old author has been getting a lot of buzz lately. If you are into books at all then there's no doubt you've heard about his Red Rising series. At just our book store alone he is on at least 5 different favorites tables, it's insane... With just two books currently out and it even only being January people are already saying that Golden Son will probably be the best book out this year (I fully agree with this). Brown actually wrote 9 books before having Red Rising picked up. Red Rising is also set to become a movie, and we couldn't be more excited about it.With casting and dates still up in the air, well be waiting hand and foot for more details.
Pierce Brown is just oozing with talent, and we can't wait to continue too follow his career...
It also doesn't hurt that he has a super love for Harry Potter.

John Green. How can you have a YA list without this man not being mentioned?! Ya can't! Within the last few years he has became a house hold name. With a writing style all of his own, there's no questioning why so many love him. Green is the only man who can get away with killing off your favorite character and it just making you like him more. And books aren't the only thing he's ruling in... He has mastered the ranting YouTube video and has also brought so much attention to YA with his book to screen movie The Fault in Our Stars. With countless book awards under his belt and with Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska in the works to become movies, it's no surprise why he made this list. No one does teenage angst quite like this man. 

Ransom Riggs. He's debut novel Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children hasn't gone unnoticed. It's currently in production to become a movie, with both a bigger director and big actors set to star in it. He has brought something really interesting and new to this growing genre by incorporating pictures into his work. Creepy, Creepy pictures... He is the husband of one of our favorite authors Tahereh Mafi and they are without a doubt one of our favorite book couples. He is another author that post videos on YouTube, and is very active on his instagram.  With an amazing sense of humor, we can't get enough of Ransom Riggs... and Yes that is he's real name.

J.D Netto... What you haven't heard of him?.. Well you're about to be schooled. He is the author of the new-ish series Whispers of the Fallen. This Brazilian-born talented man is steadily rising up in the Ya book scene. During his senior year in High School, J.D.Netto had an idea "What if Lucifer had a Diary? What if the Diary was a secret? What if the secret was a reality", this idea and were sure many others are what brought you this series. This man isn't just a talented author he is also a talented graphic designer... You can get a small glimpse at that on his instagram page. One of the main reason were loving this man is because besides having interesting reads he is also super involved with his fans.. And nothing is more charming than being grateful. 
 

Theo Lawrence is a graduate of Columbia University and the Juilliard School. He is the writer of the Mystic City series, which is a series we recently started.  As all the other men on this post writing isn't his only gift... Ya boy can sing. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Off-Broadway. Lawrence is still and up and coming Ya author that we can't wait to watch and learn more about. Plus the covers of his books ARE AMAZING!