The Page Turner by Viola Shipman ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What an eye opening book . Voila describes all aspects from writing a book, editing it, publishing, printing, putting in what stores. Its a long process that us reads don't know or think about.
He even tells us why many including the author uses pen names. And why the name Viola was chosen. I will never take a book for granted again.

A great book to read by readers as well as those interested in writing.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book.

This was an interesting read and I enjoyed that this was a story about finding your voice, sisterhood and family. I liked that there was no romance and it was about Emma’s relationship with her parents and her sister in contrast to her amazing relationship with her grandmother who she adored. That she didn’t know everything about her grandmother and what she did to support the family and keep them safe. I did figure out pretty much both of the reveal pretty early on which I really dislike since I have to wait for the characters to catch up. The story was good and it was a fast read.

Thanks to Graydon House and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC for this book. This was a fun read that gave me a glimpse of the publishing world. There were times when the story seemed a bit far-fetched, but I was entertained. The

Oh, did I love this book! It was a perfect combination of finding your own voice as a female while protecting your family and finding your relationships with them again. Emma is the disappointment, the lover of romance novels in a house where literature is valued. When secrets come out, Emma realizes she will have to do what it takes to protect her loved ones.

I thought Emma was a likeable character albeit a brat sometimes. There were times when I laughed aloud or smiled based on the dialogue. It isn’t the perfect read, but like all Shipman books, to me, it was very enjoyable.

The Page Turner is an extraordinary novel. Set behind the scenes of the publishing industry, it takes you to places you never knew about.

Emma Page, a recent graduate, has written a romance novel. Her parents own an boutique publishing house, The Mighty Pages. She doesn't feel confident that it would meet her parents high standards. This book is about family and secrets. A bit of a mystery. Emma sets out to save her families business, her grandmothers legacy and eventually publish her novel.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade and Net Galley for the advanced e-copy.

What do you do if your parents own a niche publishing house? Emma Page’s parents are book snobs of the highest degree and own The Mighty Press which publishes literature outside the mainstream. Emma has a secret- she has written a romance novel that she knows her parents would disapprove of greatly. When her parents sign a less than scrupulous deal with Marcus, an author, she turns to her sister. This novel of change and acceptance is a heartwarming reminder that family bonds can bend, but it takes a great deal to break.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Graydon House for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I was able to read The Page Turner thanks to NetGalley.

Viola Shipman’s latest release The Page Turner, is a true page turner. Excellent book set in Michigan and New York. Emma is a recent college graduate. Emma was very close to her late Grandmother, Gigi. Emma wants to become a writer, and finds her inspiration at the cottage on Lake Michigan. Her parents have a publishing house. Her sister is an online influencer. Another author is set in destroying the family business. Emma will have to discover her Gigi’s secrets to save the family. I absolutely loved this book. It involves my favorite Lake, and it’s about books. I even found myself googling the author listed in the book to see their books. Buy!Buy! Enjoy!

Sorry, but I wasn't a fan of this book. I thought the characters were all extremely unlikable, including the main character. I thought Flare just needed to twirl his villainous moustache to make his portrayal complete. I like the setting of the publishing world and the descriptions of Michigan were wonderful but all these people were so problematic for me.

Chick lit is really hit or miss for me, and unfortunately this one missed. This feels geared towards emerging adults, the characters don't feel developed, and the formatting of the ebook was distracting (was it meant to be blank verse?).

Additionally, I grew up in Michigan, and spent time in South Haven - this book did not feel authentic to the place.

See my full review at http://michelleardillo.com/2025/01/20/book-review-the-page-turner-by-viola-shipman/

Page Turner by Viola Shipman

I love the cover of this book! It’s so cute! The book certainly lives up to its title! I couldn’t stop turning the pages and I couldn’t put this book down.

Emma is my favorite. She is very relatable. I can relate to growing up as the black sheep in my house. Emma’s discovers a secret that has the power to ruin her parent’s reputation and business. What will Emma do? Will she just sit back and watch their legacy be destroyed?

“ There is a price to pay for everything that matters in this world, it just all depends how much you want it.”

The family really came together in the end which I loved! A beautiful story. I really like Violas writing.

Thank you NetGalley, Viola and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication Date: April 8th 2025

#NetGalley #ThePageTurner

The Page Turner
By: Viola Shipman
Pub date: April 8, 2025
Publisher: Graydon House

Make sure you read the author notes, as the author gives you an insight to his life and his pen name.
This novel is one on a personal level for the author. Family secrets and the publishing world collide in this novel.
Emma is the daughter of two book publishers who are high society of the literary world. She is trying to become a writer but not in the same genre her family publishing. Emma has lost her grandmother, GiGi and will learn she has strengths she never thought possible. Michigan is the setting and this novel will make you want to go back as his books always take us to his beloved state.
Wrap yourself in a warm blanket and grab a hot cocoa or cider and read this little gem. Thank you Graydon House for the advanced e-ARC. I adore Shipman’s novels.

Good story about publishing and author personalities. It was a fresh perspective with the completive and selfish life that they live in. Family drama and jealousy was told in a direct tone. Well developed characters. Recommended for reading groups to discuss.

This book tries very hard to be profound and emotional. There's a philosophical life lesson in every chapter, grand speeches about the meaning of life and family and the power of love. It all rings a bit pretentious and try-hard, which is ironic because the protagonist professes to hate pretense. The characters lack any sort of depth. The protagonist is like a caricature of a Strong Female Character, and the villain is comically evil given the scope of the novel. I was vaguely invested in the way the story played out, but not enough to keep reading it from feeling like a chore. Not the worst, but not my favourite.

This story could not capture my interest. At the onset, it seems like it is going nowhere. I could not finish it. Strange because I ordinarily like Viola Shipman’s novels.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First of all, the book's cover pulled me in, and I am so glad it did. The title is correct for this book because it is a page-turner.

Viola Shipman aka Wade Rouse is one of my favorite authors. I really like The Page Turner because the main character, Emma Page, is a romance reader, like myself. She has just graduated from the University of Michigan, and must decide where to apply for jobs in the publishing industry. Her dilemma is that her parents own a boutique publishing house and they would never publish a book like Emma likes to read and someday hopes to publish. She has already written a novel while in college, but it would never meet their highbrow standards. Their standards are not helping their bottom line, they have financial issues that need solving fast.
Emma's favorite place in the world is her grandmother's (Gigi) cabin on Lake Michigan. While staying there, Emma and her sister uncover a secret their Gigi kept from them, which could embarrass her parents and possibly tarnish their reputations. Meanwhile, her parents make a deal with a popular author to join their business, but his intentions are not good for Emma's family. Emma must figure out how to stop this deal from happening, publish her novel, and make sure her parents don't sell her Gigi's cottage to make ends meet. Viola Shipman's novels use setting as almost another character, and family relationships are usually a big part of each story. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Graydon House for an advance reader ebook to review.

Viola Shipman's latest novel, The Page Turner, was exactly what the title implied. I was quickly hooked and didn't close the book until I finished it later that day. The characters, the setting, and the beautiful writing add up to become the best Shipman novel I've read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

The book started out, but true to its title it was a page turner. After a couple of chapters I was hooked! This was a great read and will look for more titles form this author.

I have read a few Viola Shipman books and I generally like them but occasionally there is one that I don't enjoy. Unfortunately this is one that I did not enjoy. The writing felt messy and the characters unrealistic. I found it difficult to get into the story or to connect with a character, which is very important for my reading experience.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade for the advanced reader copy.