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Paper Cranes: A Novel
An award-winning, modern-day retelling of the fairytale—Rapunzel…
Caught between feuding parents in a bitter divorce, Tristan is depressed and disenchanted, shutting out the world at every turn… until one day, when trying to retrieve a lost baseball, he climbs through an attic window and meets a girl…
With long golden hair and a sunshine smile, Helena’s like no one he’s ever met. She’s quirky, weird, and lives in an imaginary world—her only way of coping with the bizarre life her mentally ill mother forces her to lead. Trapped in her tower, she somehow still finds a way to experience a joy Tristan is far from feeling. Drawn to her effervescent nature, Tristan keeps climbing through her attic window… and falling in love with his Rapunzel.
But can true love last when Helena’s mother is determined to keep them apart?
Can Tristan find the strength to fight for the girl who has awakened his soul?
Or will the paranoid woman who keeps her daughter under lock and key stop their dreams from coming true?
Gold medal winner of the 2020 Readers' Favorite Awards in Young Adult – Romance, this book is perfect for fans of heartfelt romance and coming of age journeys.
★★★★★ “By the time I was finished I felt like my heart had been through the wringer, broken and put back together. I loved it. End of story.” Lenoreo @ Celebrity Readers
★★★★★ “This has got to be one of the best fairytale reimagined stories I've ever read.” LAT
★★★★★ “This book has it all. Young love, swoon worthy kisses, heart break, and then healing and restoration.” Book Worm Mom
Caught between feuding parents in a bitter divorce, Tristan is depressed and disenchanted, shutting out the world at every turn… until one day, when trying to retrieve a lost baseball, he climbs through an attic window and meets a girl…
With long golden hair and a sunshine smile, Helena’s like no one he’s ever met. She’s quirky, weird, and lives in an imaginary world—her only way of coping with the bizarre life her mentally ill mother forces her to lead. Trapped in her tower, she somehow still finds a way to experience a joy Tristan is far from feeling. Drawn to her effervescent nature, Tristan keeps climbing through her attic window… and falling in love with his Rapunzel.
But can true love last when Helena’s mother is determined to keep them apart?
Can Tristan find the strength to fight for the girl who has awakened his soul?
Or will the paranoid woman who keeps her daughter under lock and key stop their dreams from coming true?
Gold medal winner of the 2020 Readers' Favorite Awards in Young Adult – Romance, this book is perfect for fans of heartfelt romance and coming of age journeys.
★★★★★ “By the time I was finished I felt like my heart had been through the wringer, broken and put back together. I loved it. End of story.” Lenoreo @ Celebrity Readers
★★★★★ “This has got to be one of the best fairytale reimagined stories I've ever read.” LAT
★★★★★ “This book has it all. Young love, swoon worthy kisses, heart break, and then healing and restoration.” Book Worm Mom
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2017
17 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Ford
55 books794 followersJordan Ford is a teen and young-adult romance author. She loves to write romance novels filled with angst, mystery, danger and first love. If you're looking for heartfelt romance, loyal friendships, thrilling drama and characters you can fall in love with, then you're in the right place.
“Writing romance brings me the greatest joy. My heart bubbles, my insides zing, and I am at my happiest when immersed in a great scene with characters who have become real to me.”
To stay up-to-date with Jordan's latest news, you can sign up for her newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/JF_book...
You'll also get a free introduction to her Ryder Bay series.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Website: www.jordanfordbooks.com
Email: jordan@jordanfordbooks.com
“Writing romance brings me the greatest joy. My heart bubbles, my insides zing, and I am at my happiest when immersed in a great scene with characters who have become real to me.”
To stay up-to-date with Jordan's latest news, you can sign up for her newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/JF_book...
You'll also get a free introduction to her Ryder Bay series.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Website: www.jordanfordbooks.com
Email: jordan@jordanfordbooks.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 8, 2025
"They would have to face the reality of living with each other and finding out that stars don't shine forever and true love doesn't last."
✨ 4.5/5 Stars ✨
Tags: #Romance #QuickRead #FairytaleRetelling
Paper Cranes by Jordan Ford reads like a modern-day Rapunzel and Romeo & Juliet retelling — but softer, more introspective, and achingly human. Beneath its fairytale charm lies a story about healing from parental divorce, rediscovering self-worth, and learning to love again after being hurt.
Tristian’s journey feels so real — a quiet, broken boy learning how to breathe again through Helena’s quirky, whimsical light. She’s the kind of girl who feels like magic in human form, and together they make you yearn like you’re sixteen and falling in love for the first time. Their connection is tender, messy, and beautifully transformative.
It’s a story about finding color in the gray, hope in heartbreak, and yourself in the process. A perfect read for anyone who believes love — even after pain — can still feel like a fairytale.
"Why shouldn't I try to fill my life with things that make me happy?"
✨ 4.5/5 Stars ✨
Tags: #Romance #QuickRead #FairytaleRetelling
Paper Cranes by Jordan Ford reads like a modern-day Rapunzel and Romeo & Juliet retelling — but softer, more introspective, and achingly human. Beneath its fairytale charm lies a story about healing from parental divorce, rediscovering self-worth, and learning to love again after being hurt.
Tristian’s journey feels so real — a quiet, broken boy learning how to breathe again through Helena’s quirky, whimsical light. She’s the kind of girl who feels like magic in human form, and together they make you yearn like you’re sixteen and falling in love for the first time. Their connection is tender, messy, and beautifully transformative.
It’s a story about finding color in the gray, hope in heartbreak, and yourself in the process. A perfect read for anyone who believes love — even after pain — can still feel like a fairytale.
"Why shouldn't I try to fill my life with things that make me happy?"
April 20, 2025
That was an adorable read but also a bit heart wrenching. I was not expecting it to deal with some heavy themes, but they were handled well.
July 11, 2025
Love and heartache wrapped in one.
This brought out all the feelings. Young love and heartache. Tragedy and overcoming. It was a sweet at times, heartfelt read.
This brought out all the feelings. Young love and heartache. Tragedy and overcoming. It was a sweet at times, heartfelt read.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews