Viola Shipman’s books are releases I always look forward to. They have strong female characters and a Michigan setting, a great combination.

In The Page Turner, Emma Page is the black sheep of her family. They own a publishing company and write “serious” books, not mainstream fiction. But Emma loves popular fiction and romance.

Then Emma discovers a secret among her Gigi’s belongings that might bring her family crashing down and ruin their reputation with the book community.

The Page Turner is set in South Haven which is where we spend our summers so I loved the references to places I knew. I was rooting for Emma the whole book to find her strength and stand up for what she loved. I also love a book about books.

My only complaint is that I felt the writing and message got a little heavy handed at times. While not my favorite by this author, it is a fun summer beach read.

This was my first Viola Shipman book. It took me a minute to get into the groove of this book and I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the author’s style of writing. I continued on and ending up really liking the storyline. Sweet and thoughtful. I am curious to check out his other books! Thank you for the ARC!

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title, but unfortunately it didn’t quite capture my interest. While the premise was promising, I found it difficult to stay engaged. That said, I’m sure it will find its audience with readers who connect more strongly with the writing style or pacing.

I’m going to be honest. I finished this book quite some time ago, and am just now getting around to writing my review. I am having a hard time remembering any of the details about this book, it’s rather forgettable. I do remember thinking it odd that a man who uses the pen name of his grandmother to write “women’s fiction” was writing (and criticizing) a man who was using a pen name to write “women’s fiction.”

I received a digital ARC of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. Full disclosure: I didn’t get to it until after the publication date, and listened to the audiobook for this review.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It took a few chapters for me to really get into this book, but after that I really enjoyed it!

Loved it, loved it loved it! The Page Turner addresses so many different types of relationships, all while dwelling in the context of books: reading, writing and publishing.
Emma Page is the only person in her nuclear family who appreciates non-"serious" books, specifically romances. She hides her own in-progress romance novel from her father, mother, and sister, doing her best to support the family's vanity press while remaining true to herself. It's a hard road because Emma has also lost her beloved grandmother, who shared Emma's love of romance, leaving Emma feeling alone and not understood or supported. Enter a new character, a famous author who promises to publish with and buy into her family's press, while at the same time plotting to destroy it all.
The ebb and flow of family dynamics, interplay with other people in the publishing industry, and Emma's late grandmother makes for lovely, enjoyable reading. Not schmaltzy or overdone, with interesting characters, and an engaging set of plots and subplots.

I really liked how easy and enjoyable The Page Turner was to read. I liked the blends of romance, descriptive writing style, and witty dialogue throughout the book, it kept me flipping for more pages. Some characters took me a while to like/fall in love with and seemed cartoonish. Yet overall enjoyed the book!

Thank you, NetGalley for my copy.

It took until halfway into the book for some of the characters to grow on me.
This book offers an insightful view of the behind the scenes publishing industry.
I thought Emma needed to do a lot of growing up because she existed in her cocoon and really had no concept of the real world.
My favorite characters were VV and GiGi, although GiGi is already gone. My third favorite character was Jess.
I guessed one of the major plot points after just a few chapters.
I secretly wanted to throw Emma back in the riptide for a good part of the book because I found her annoying.
The author has a reflective note at the end that resonates with readers.

Emma Page has always felt different from the rest of her family, finding comfort only in her grandmother’s acceptance. After her grandmother passes away, she struggles to figure out where she belongs. With college behind her, she faces pressure from her parents to join their publishing company, but her true dream is to become an author. This moving story explores grief, self-discovery, taking chances, and reconnecting with loved ones. It’s a heartfelt and inspiring read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing and Graydon House for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Emma Page is a romance writer. Her parents don't believe in anything that isn't good literature. She hides this secret but finds out that her grandmother had a secret that could destroy her parents believe in literature. This was a read that had twists that I didn't expect however I loved them. Highly recommend!

I am usually a big fan of Viola Shipman, but I felt The Page Turner was anything but a page turner. Emma was annoying and pretentious and the story just seemed flat.
I will not give up on this author as usually they are a great read.
Thank you Net Galley and Harlequin Trade Romance for my ARC.

The Page Turner is an easy, enjoyable read—perfect for fans of beach books. It follows Emma Page, a young college graduate who loves romance novels (who may have also written one herself). Although she was raised in a snobby literary family that looks down on anything “mainstream.” When Emma discovers a secret from her grandmother’s past that could ruin her parents' publishing business, she’s forced to decide between revenge and family. However, with a secret this big, it can only bring together those that you never knew would have your back.

It has a summery feel with some family drama and a dash of romance. It wasn’t life-changing, but it was entertaining enough. I’d probably recommend it to someone who enjoys feel-good stories with a little emotional depth and a literary twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I liked this book just fine... but didn't love it. There was no connection to any of the characters (it was more of disinterest honestly) and although the pacing was perfect I just wasn't super intrigued or pulled into the story. I switched to audio and although I really enjoyed listening to the book over reading it on my kindle, I still struggled with staying focused.

The Page family is a publishing legend. Their company, the Mighty Pages, is known for its literary fiction. Their daughter Jess is a “book influencer” whose main purpose is to advertise the books released by her parents to her followers, called her “swans.” And then there’s Emma. Emma wants to be an author. To the dismay and ridicule of her parents, she wants to write romance novels. She believe that feeling and likable characters are what makes a story readable, not the depressing themes favored by her parents. Her grandmother Gigi, also a romance writer, was a major influence in her life. Gigi’s aphorisms guide Emma when she has to deal with a very unlikeable and borderline insulting romance writer who is blackmailing her and threatening to damage her family’s business.

Viola Shipman has delivered another “page turner.” She seamlessly blends romance, clever dialogue and well described locations into a very readable family drama. I hope Emma Page will be a recurring character! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Viola Shipman for this ARC.

In THE PAGE TURNER, Shipman again begins the story in beloved Michigan but then steps away from sun drenched breezes, touristy small towns, and sand dunes for the Big Apple as he opens the cover and flips over the pages on the world of publishing. I felt the first part of the book moved a bit slow, but as a life-long reader I wanted to discover Shipman's take on a young wanna-be writer and her publishing family, so I stuck with the book. Soon, it really picked up. Recent college graduate Emma loves the old Harlequin novels (by one particular author) that her grandmother kept lined up in her office and somewhat models her secret novel on them, while her parents fully embrace the life of the rich and famous, even when they shouldn't. And Emma's sister represents that latest entries into the world of publishing -- the influencers. Do they really have any value or are they as shallow as Emma believes? And when a best selling author begins to seek out Emma's attention as she tries to find a job, a man whose writing she detests, what will she do? Can she find out why he is so interested in her family before it is too late?

As someone who loves all things bookish, especially stories about writing and publishing, this one really hit a sweet spot for me. And the fact that it’s set around the University of Michigan made it even better—I grew up there, so I loved being able to picture the setting so clearly.

The story follows Emma Page, a recent U of M grad who’s chasing her dream of publishing her first novel—without relying on her family’s prestigious publishing house, which happens to specialize in genres completely opposite to hers. But just as she’s determined to do it on her own, her family’s company is suddenly thrown into crisis. Emma’s forced to step in, uncover long-buried secrets, and figure out how to help save everything she’s been trying to avoid.

The publishing world angle definitely kept me interested, and Emma’s journey felt especially relatable as someone who’s always loved stories about writers. There are a few over-the-top moments, and I saw some plot points coming, but overall it was an enjoyable, engaging read with just enough family drama, heart, and mystery to keep the pages turning.

The Page Turner is cute and entertaining, but also cartoonish in its characters and their motivations (and as a book reviewer, I felt it had quite a bizarre take on book reviewers/ influencers). It felt far more ya than adult, but if you enjoy light ya novels it may work for you.

Katharine Chin does a decent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Viola Shipman, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

First, a big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Viola Shipman’s novel “The Page Turner" – “A young romance writer makes a discovery that throws her elitist family into chaos.”

The Page Turner is a Viola Shipman novel with biting social commentary on the ins and outs of the publishing world, the novel is a deeply personal exploration of not only the power of long held family secrets but also a think piece on how readers judge themselves for what we read, whether it be more literary or commercial fiction. It definitely has an interesting perspective.

It's a story of the true meaning of family that balances a love letter to books, with a reminder of the strength of women despite everything we have to fight against every single day. This book is a story of staying true to yourself, even when it's scary and the people around you aren't being supportive.

The main character, Emma, is an inspiring writer, who has long been working on a manuscript that she believes in, but she believes her parents, book publishers of highbrow literary novels would balk at her career choice if she ever discussed it with them. Still coping with the grief from her grandmother GiGi's passing, “The Page Turner” takes readers on Emma's journey of growing into her own strength and facing the challenges of life. There are various layers to Shipman's novel that deal with not only publishing's darker side, but the complexities of defining "home" when faced with family issues. Shipman balances it all very well in a still warm-hearted novel that will leave you longing for a vacation to Michigan.

And then there's the author's note at the end - amazing, I definitely cried.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Viola Shipman for allowing me to read this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I deeply appreciate it.

This novel follows Emma Page as she graduates U of M, ready to publish her first book. The only problem is finding a publisher, one who isn’t her family’s well known publishing company that specializes in exactly the opposite genres of her writing. Emma, instead of joining her family’s company, feels compelled to find a different publisher to work with, despite pressures to join the Page’s establishment—that is until an unbeknownst enemy plans to ruin her family and their business seemingly overnight. When that becomes evident, Emma has no choice but to figure out how to help save them all while uncovering family secrets she could only have dreamed existed.

Overall, the plot is interesting, especially for an ever aspiring writer! There are hidden secrets and big conflicts that seem impossible to overcome—great pieces to intrigue any reader! The character development is gradual, allowing for plot points to spring up in interesting and meaningful ways. In some moments, the story’s direction feels predictable and the interactions a bit over the top. While not quite keeping me on the edge of my seat, it was still an enjoyable story all in all!

There were many themes in this book, from the realities of the publishing world, the importance of family, the misogyny that exists in literature, the necessity of reading genres that can be seen as mere chick lit, however the story seemed to tell more about them rather than show, which would have made this book more appealing. Emma is a recent graduate, an English major anxious to make her own way as an author, despite her family legacy of writing and publishing. Emma was close to her grandmother, and feels a little removed from the rest of her family. When secrets come to light, and a villain enters the picture, the story picks up a bit. The novel just didn’t work for me. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.