Love on Paper

by Danielle Parker

From the author of You Bet Your Heart comes a heartfelt romance about two aspiring teen novelists finding love, good food, and a little bit of mystery at an exclusive writers' retreat. Perfect for fans of K.L. Walther!

The daughter of two prestigious writers, Macy Descanso has decided to take her own writing seriously. So what if her mother pulled some strings to get Macy into a prestigious writing retreat? Macy belongs here. But when she arrives, she learns that the theme has been changed to romance, per the bequest of the late, prolific romance author Betty Quinn. Though a cynic, Macy lives for a challenge.

What she’s not prepared for is to be partnered with Caleb Bernard, also the child of two prestigious writers. The Descansos and Bernards notably have beef—a rivalry that has lasted generations. With something to prove, Macy and Caleb decide to put their family squabbles aside to work together as critique partners.

But this retreat is anything but ordinary. According to lore, every year, authors leave easter eggs behind for new students to find. Macy and Caleb are eager to solve Betty Quinn’s mystery. And in the process, Macy and Caleb find that they have a lot in common. Still, will their connection be enough to surpass their families’ feud? Can the relationship they’ve built continue after the retreat?

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Audiobook, Books About Books, Young Adult Romance, Writing

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 21, 2025

Reviews

[angelpompom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Love on paper - 2.5 stars

Ugh…you know those books you find rlly cute but at the same time cringy and annoying? Well that is this book. I honestly only liked Macy’s dad and Caleb. Even they were a bit much at sometimes.
And the romance? Just came out of thin air. No omgosh our family hates each other *inset passionate kiss* no it was more like wow, your pretty and I’ve been spending a lot of time with you *insert boring kiss* x10 about halfway through the book randomly.

[LoveBooks]

𝐝𝐧𝐟 at page 64.
- I have a feeling that if I continue reading this I'm gonna die of boredom!!

౨ৎ𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: new arc-read!

[Anniek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved I Bet Your Heart, and this is again super cute! The setting of a writing retreat was so much fun, especially with the added mystery. I loved seeing the growth the main character went through in connecting with her mum and finding her own voice when writing. The romance and friendships were also really sweet! The audiobook was a great way to go for this.

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

•𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐏𝐄𝐑

1. If you’re a fan of YA that leans towards the younger side (think 14 or so), then this one’s for you!
2. Have you ever wanted to attend a writing retreat? I have! Check this one out because the setting is absolutely perfect!
3. I love a good mystery, and this one involves a scavenger hunt for a missing manuscript!
4. Enjoy romance but on the less spicy side? Pick this one up!
5. We all love a good family feud, right? This one involves two rivaling families of prolific writers!

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Macy Descanso is a writer. Who cares if her bestselling-author mother pulled some strings to get her into a prestigious writing retreat? Macy belongs here. Even when the coordinators unexpectedly announce that this year’s theme is romance, Macy—a total cynic—is up for the challenge.

But she’s not prepared for her critique partner to be fellow publishing nepo baby Caleb Bernard. While Caleb may be what most romance writers would describe as “swoony,” he’s off-limits, because the Descansos and Bernards have beef.

With a chance at publication at their fingertips, though, Macy and Caleb have to put aside their issues. But is four weeks enough time to fight through writer’s block, step out of their parents’ shadows, and find the courage to create their own love story?

[emily *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both of Macy's parents are well known authors and with aspirations to also be an author she is sent to a prestigious writing camp. On the first day she is forced to pair up with Caleb- the son of her parent's rivals. When their tension turns romantic can they have a relationship or will their parents issues get in the way. such a cute YA romance i enjoyed this one!

thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you so much to Danielle for sending me a physical proof copy and to netgalley for the digital arc!!!💕💕

✍️Plot:
Macy Descanso has a lot to prove. She’s the daughter of two famous writers, but this time, she’s stepping into the spotlight herself. Sure, her mom may have pulled some strings to get her into a prestigious writing retreat, but Macy knows she’s got what it takes to shine—until she finds out the retreat’s theme has been switched to romance, a genre she’s not exactly sold on. And to top it off, her critique partner is none other than Caleb Bernard, the son of her parents’ biggest rivals. Awkward, right?

✍️The Chemistry and Friendship:
The tension between Macy and Caleb is delicious. They’re forced to work together despite their families’ infamous feud, and watching them go from butting heads to building trust is so satisfying. Caleb is charming and grounded, a perfect counterbalance to Macy’s cynicism and determination. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry is undeniable, and every scene between them feels like a tug-of-war between staying loyal to their roots and forging something new together.

Macy's friend/roommate, Fern, also played a big role in balancing out the fmc's worries with fun and carelessness with focus whenever necessary. The book consists of multiple means of communication which makes it even more fun, email, voice notes, text messages, letters etc.

✍️Betty Quinn lore:
But this book isn’t just about their romance. There’s a layer of intrigue woven in with the retreat’s lore. The late, iconic romance author Betty Quinn has left clues hidden throughout the retreat for the students to discover. For someone who ends up finding these clues correctly and completely, it can result as the biggest literary plot twist of their life. Macy and Caleb’s hunt for these Easter eggs adds a fun, adventurous twist to their story, giving them the perfect excuse to spend time together (not that they need one, honestly).

✍️Writing and Characters:
Danielle Parker's writing is witty and heartfelt, with characters that feel real and relatable. The vocab used for this book is so fun, lol. Macy's journey- figuring out what she wants, finding her voice, and learning to let people in -hits all the right emotional beats. So does Caleb's journey of finding the truth. Caleb is the kind of love interest you'll be rooting for from the start, with just the right mix of charm and vulnerability.

✍️Recommend for:
By the time you reach the final page, you'll be as invested in Macy and Caleb's connection as you are in whether they can break free from their families' past. It's equal parts romantic, funny, and thoughtful-a must-read for fans of rivalries that turn into something way more. If you love books about writers, love-hate partnerships, and a sprinkle of mystery, Love on Paper should definitely be your next read!
.
.
I wasn't really expecting this outcome of events in the ending

[ᴄᴀᴛ · Rating 1 out of 5]

I will say that it took me a longgggg time to finish this book. (About a month, which is much longer than it typically takes me to finish books) I originally picked it up at the library because I thought the cover was pretty, maybe if I had read the description I would've known what I was getting into but no, I went into this blind. There were multiple times when I picked up a book I checked out from the library to read and my younger sister had to tell me multiple times to finish Love On Paper and not read other books. A few times I did think to dnf the book but I just decided to push through and finish the book.


But his book was pretty confusing at times
Like one chapter they were doing
something and the next there was no talk
of it at all


I feel like the first problem I had with this
book was probably when Macy and Fern
just met. Like they were acting like best
friends that have known each other all
their life when they've really just barely
met each other?? Idk maybe it's me being
a weird homeschooled person who
doesn't know how to talk to people
properly but it just seemed unlikely to
happen irl.
Buttttt think the main thing was when
Fern said their preferred pronouns (they/
them), which like nothing wrong with that
BUT like a paragraph later 𝘩𝘦𝘳 was used.
"I'm Fern Alvarado. My pronouns are 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 and 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. Please call me Fern." Then skip down a little and it says 'Fern makes a heart with 𝘩𝘦𝘳 fingers' which like yes, mistakes happen but I feel like that should've been fixed in the editing stage or something?? That is the only time I noticed her being used and not they/them but🤷‍♀️ (page 11)

Honestly didn't really like any of the characters, Caleb might've been the best and even then he was....okay?

I noticed that there was a lot of extra letters in words
ex. Luuuuuuke, Daaaaaaaaaad, ooof, waaaah, hiiiii (honestly not judging on this one because I do that too but still)
Like I have a habit of using extra letters in my words to not seem rude, but I guess I'm just not used to it in books?


There was also quite some like trending stuff mentioned/genz slang
Boba, hello kitty (luv her but still), DoorDash, Stanley Cups
"Okay, go off. We love a productive king" and "womp womp, kinda mid"

Didn't really enjoy the book but it might just not be for me. I'm mighttttt be willing to give You Bet Your Heart a try, not too sure yet.
The ending of the book wasn't that bad honestly but all in all it just wasn't a favorite book of mine. Of course I'm not a writer of any sorts or anything so maybe the things I find wrong about this book is really nothing at all to get pressed about but I dunno

[Ryan Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Danielle Parker and Joy Revolution for an advanced copy of Love on Paper. While I was provided this ARC it was in exchange for an unbiased review. This book was absolutely a 4 star read. It was really a coming of age story where a girl finds herself at a writing retreat. Throw in a little mystery, a little love, and a whole lot of healing, you’ve got a recipe for happily ever after. It was sweet and charming, and a little silly at times. It’s a YA just over 200 pages with nothing more than a kiss or two. It’s appropriate for kids and a quick palate cleanser for adults.

Macy is the daughter of famous authors who is trying to find her own voice. Imagine her surprise when she’s at a writing retreat for young adult authors aspiring to be romance writers when she’s never been in love. With the help of her friends, an author’s mysterious life, and a budding romance, she’s able to find her voice and heal some of her personal traumas.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

macy and caleb.
i think this book would’ve been a 2⭐️ if the author didn’t fix it in the epilogue. suppeerrr cute and for some reason it gave me malory towers vibes but more mature. and that book series was my childhood. i actually loved it and it got me out of my book slump

[Myrna ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s some books with sentences in them that are really poetically, artistically written. When you read them, you have no choice but to sit there, process them, and just go “wow.”

This was not that.

This was trying so hard to be that, that it managed to come up with some of the worst sentences I’ve ever read in my life.
Including but certainly not limited to:
“He’s gone from a hot 10 to a searing 12”
"I didn’t think someone's writing could make me want to change my status, but caleb's does"
and what was truly the worst
"Caleb and I embrace our own humanity--that desire to we swept off our feet with a single kiss"
Like babes I get it. You have an anthropology special interest. But that just does not work here.
- -
The premise was a really cute concept, I’ll give it that. The combo of mystery, a camp/retreat, and romance could have been so good, but the pacing and the lack of focus on any of the categories just made the execution pretty meh.
- -
2.5/5 rounded down bc it’s closer to 2 than three
Not as bad as my last 1 star rating at least

[Paige (pagebypaigebooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the setting of the writing retreat! The idea of a scavenger hunt leading to a hidden manuscript was fun to read about. I also enjoyed reading from Macy's perspective and learning more about how she viewed writing. I would have liked to see more writing scenes or scenes exploring the publishing world. The romance was sweet but cheesy at times, and I wish there had been more time for the main characters to get to know one another.

[04130307 · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 16%
this book is utter shit and I'm not wasting more time on it. badly written in every way 🤷‍♀️
i am SHOCKED this isn't self published. random house is consistently dropping their standards. how the fuck did this get on any list at all? they really be publishing anything 💀

[zai · Rating 4 out of 5]

so cute i was screaming

[✰ Hailey (Taylor’s Version) ✰ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like this had potential, but it was under developed. The “generational rivalry” between the two families was never explained, and the relationship between Macy and Caleb was weak. I found him to be insufferable. Every time Macy mentioned her family, especially his mom, he would get angry and storm off. I get that they agreed to not talk about their families and how he might be sensitive about the topic of mothers, but I feel like that was too much. Like if Macy mentioned how something they were going together was something she used to do with her mom, or that her mom liked this one thing, he’d get mean. I didn’t see any sort of evidence at all that they cared for each other, and this wasn’t enjoyable at all. It felt extremely under developed and rushed. I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone, I’m extremely disappointed.

[Megan Gallardo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its literally a book about nepo babies in a writing retreat where they proceed to create a cheesy and cringey love story that genuinely had me wishing I had never picked up the book in the first place.

[Arzum · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn’t connect to the story but it wasn’t too bad

[Solène · Rating 2 out of 5]

In my opinion, Macy is someone who truly lacks relational, ethical, and moral reasoning.

[Rayna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been loving YA romance releases lately. I went on a hiatus with the genre for a bit. I had thought maybe I had out grown it but within the last few months I have been picking up absolute winners.

Love on Paper is about Macy, an aspiring writer following in her famous parent’s footsteps. She is attending a prestigious writing retreat in Berkeley.

Enter Caleb, also attending the retreat…also has very famous author parents who very much have a rivalry with Macys parents and of course they end up critique partners.

With the theme of this year’s retreat being romance, and a mystery/quest left by a prolific romance author…Macy and Caleb find themselves not only creating stories but making their own as well.

If you like…
☀️ CA setting
🍼Nepo babies
✍🏻 Books about writers
💖 Coming of age
🤺 Rival Families
🔎Mystery

I adore a CA setting and when it’s set at Berkeley (ummm hello? One of my daughter’s names!!!) it’s a must! It felt like summer camp but make it a writing retreat. The privilege of these two had me pondering about legacy’s. The characters in the book I thought were so fun and each one had their own quirks and personalities. The quest trope 😍 is by far one of my favorites. Tackling a list with a partner you’re crushing on and it’s all so new… swoon.

Thank you Joy Revolution, Get Underlined & PRH Audio for the free copy.

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...

[hare_hearts · Rating 3 out of 5]

honest review🤍

✧I recently finished "love on paper", and I must say the book didn’t really hook me. the plot was cute, and I loved the setting of a writing retreat and the mystery surrounding Betty Quinn’s manuscripts, which was definitely the most interesting part of the entire book!!♡

✧however, one thing I didn’t like was that I felt disconnected from the characters. I didn’t learn too much about their feelings and emotions, and everything felt a bit flat.

✧also, the two main characters, Macy and Caleb, who were supposed to fall in love while searching for clues about Betty Quinn’s past, had no chemistry at all. their love story started and ended suddenly. I was really intrigued by the plot of two rival families who despise each other, with their children falling in love, thinking it would be like a modern "romeo and juliet". but the accent of the book was more on Macy’s relationship with her mother, which I enjoyed, though it felt quite random.

✧in the end, I liked the epilogue, which I won’t spoil. overall, it was an easy read that I enjoyed, but I’ve had better reads this year.

[Crystal Cichanowicz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, quick summer read.
The setting is a college campus and it takes place over the summer. The main characters are off to college in the fall, but they read younger to me. The students are there for a writing retreat and the activities they engage in sound fun, but the main draw in this book was the additional scavenger hunt that they went on to find a hidden manuscript. I liked that Macey was trying to find her own way, become her own person away from her famous parents. I liked the summer rivals to lovers vibe, and while there was some chemistry, they was also something hindering it. Every time something with Macey’s mom came up I groaned; even in the end, I did not like that woman. Her dad was fun though. The dialogue was alright, but did feel mid-YA rather than upper YA.
Overall, I would recommend this book to a mid-YA crowd, despite it being near-college aged students, trying to break out of their shell and discovering their limits.
Many thanks to Random House Children’s (Joy Revolution) via Penguin Teen Canada and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book. The opinions expressed are provided voluntarily and are honest and my own.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was first drawn to this book because of the adorable cover! I loved the pink! This had all the makings of a cute YA. I enjoyed the premise and had high hopes for the story. Sadly, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. The book had a lot going on and the pacing felt off. It also read a bit immature for YA.

I was impressed with Macy’s ambition, but she wasn’t a character I wanted to root. I also didn’t see her being a character young readers would be able to relate to. I did find Caleb on the other hand, to be a very likable character. I’m also not sure about the romance between Caleb and Macy. They didn’t seem like the right match to me.

There were aspects of the story that felt undeveloped and rushed. I wish the mystery had been a little better flushed out. I felt like we were left with some unanswered questions.

Overall, a YA with a lot of promise. I think it just needed some more flushing out and maybe a little less going on. I do think a lot of people will enjoy this one, it just wasn’t my favorite.

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
🖋️ ya romance
🖋️ rival families
🖋️ ‘follow the clues’
🖋️ family drama

Length: 320p
Source: ARC - TBR & Beyond, NetGalley
Release Date: January 21, 2025

•••••••
This was a cute little ya romance about a girl just trying to prove her worth to her parents and herself while at a prestigious writer’s retreat. Toss in a little “follow the clues,” a little bit of first love, and a little bit of awesome friends—and you have a recipe for a fun, but predictable ya story.

While this story did have all the makings of a ya romance, I felt like it wasn’t fully flushed out. Everything was surface level, even the characters felt a bit flat.

And the romance? It was actually pretty good up until the end of the retreat. And then it’s 2 years later, they see each other, and everything falls into place? I wasn’t a big fan of that at all.

The cover is cute, I love the biopic representation, and the story was lighthearted, I just felt like it could’ve been MORE.

{I received a complimentary copy of this book. All reviews are my own.}

[lexi! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, I really enjoyed Love On Paper by Danielle Parker! You could definitely tell it was intended for younger readers, and it reminded me of a Kasie West book. There were a lot of cheesy moments and some very cringy moments. I feel like the main character, Macy, was a hit or miss character. She had her moments where I was like, “Okay, I like you,” and other times I had the opposite reaction. I also didn’t really enjoy some of the dialogue and pop culture references. I really enjoyed the romance and plot, and I liked Caleb. This book was definitely a good length, not too long, not too short. I would still recommend to others, but just younger readers.

[Arthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowzaa!! An electrifying and poetic read for romcom lovers! Danielle Parker has spun a golden tale of broken kinship, loss, first loves and bonds in a fittingly bookish setting.
Macy and Caleb are overshadowed by their respective parents literary accolades, find themselves in a romantic book writing retreat. Their inner conflicts, meshed within a search for a lost manuscript, makes this a multi hued read, catering to a variety of genres.

I was able to complete the book in a day. Thank you Danielle for the beautiful tale and special thankyous to Netgalley and Joy Revolution for the ArC!!

[Gina Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love on Paper is a cute contemporary romance about two children of famous authors and them finding themselves (and each other???) at a writing retreat while also trying to solve a great mystery a literary giant left in the wake of her death

Macy is the child of a lit fic star mom and a picture book one hit wonder dad. They’re naturally divorced. Twice. From each other both times. Macy’s mom is bougie af about literature so when Macy finds out she’s at not just a writing retreat but a ROMANCE writing retreat, she has to do some self reflection.

Caleb is the son of an author family, too, an author family that specifically doesn’t like Macy’s author family. So when the two of them get paired up to work together, it comes as a shock when they actually, kinda, like each other!!!

There’s also a mystery left by the woman the romance retreat is in honor of, Betty Quinn. She left clues to her unpublished manuscripts and who better to find them than Macy and Caleb? As long as they beat the rest of the kids on their retreat...

I read this in a day, it was so easy to read and cute. It refers to a lot of modern day authors like Katherine Center and Elise Bryant which are fun Easter eggs! Caleb and Macy had a generally effortless romance which was nice to see, and Macy’s roommate was nonbinary so I liked that added inclusivity. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this to teens (or grownups!) who like stuff like The Inheritance Games or Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute.

[Candyce Kirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

A big thank you to Netgalley and Joy Revolution for providing me with an eARC to read and review. This doesn't affect my opinion in any way!

Books that have characters who love to write or love books are something I'll always want to read. Love on Paper has a main character who wants to be a novelist and who goes to an exclusive writers' retreat. Need I say more? For me the added mystery of a missing manuscript really made this book. It brought our main characters together even though their families didn't seem to like each other. I felt like this helped them grown and make their own way. Maybe even giving in to the feelings they have for each other! 

[Abbey Bedenbaugh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up off the shelf at the library on a whim, and well…it’s definitely a book. Debatable whether it’s a good one or not, just inclined to think it’s not for me. I could not look past the use of trendy language, it really hurt my opinions of the characters, and the dialogue was just…not good. I hate to say there is nothing memorable about this book, sorry.

[adama! · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.5
j’ai cru que l’auteure avait fini sur une bonne fin, réaliste, qui prend le lecteur à contrepied et qui réhaussait grv l’ensemble du livre mais non elle a tout gâché avec les 3 phrases finales au nom de la « romance » - je préfère en rire

[Sophie Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was amazing and got me back into my reading grove. I was scared to read another romance because I had just finished “The fault in our stars” (a good one by John green you should read it though it’s quite sad) and was scared I wouldn’t get into a book that much ever again. However, “love on paper” was just what I needed. It was a great book with a mix of romance and mystery. Would definitely recommend this book for a new romance reader.