Quentin, a band-geek wannabe, happens to live next door to the ever-fabulous Margo. After a spontaneous adventure in the dark, Quentin learns a tiny bit more about the way Margo works, leaving more mystery than anything. After she disappears, Quentin sees signs that maybe she left clues just for him.

Green absolutely nails the teen psyche once again - the "not caring about popularity and friends" while deeply caring about popularity and friends. While this book moves a little more slowly than his others, the suspense kept me interested, and I wanted to know what had happened.

I prefer open-ended endings, and I felt it was appropriate in this story - it makes sense that we don't know what ultimately happens to Margo in the end. We know her plans, but like we've seen on the night she and Quentin explored, we don't know how it will actually pan out.

Green's use of literature and the idea of a Paper Town is incredible - though I imagine some might find this a weakness. He understands the written word deeply, and it's always a pleasure to read and watch how the classics can affect a person. Great thoughts for a book discussion.

I'm curious as to whether some readers might've found Quentin's drive to find Margo an obsession. I think it gets close, but ultimately, I think he just wants to find her for her own safety. Quentin is 'the good guy', and that's why he gets that way.

My only critique was the spontaneous road trip. I just didn't find it believable, but I understand that for the story arc, the road trip had to be sudden and a sacrifice for the suspense. This was the next appropriate sacrifice after prom.

Comparisons: Perks of being a Wallflower, The Fault in our Stars