I expected to love this one a lot more than I did since books about books are usually right up my alley, but this one just ended up being a middle of the road read for me. The drama surrounding Emma and her family was pretty engaging overall, especially the idea that Emma was kind of a black sheep in their elitist literary family, just like her grandmother before her, and that she wrote a book she was sure they would turn their noses up at.

I think my biggest issues revolved around the plot being somewhat slow moving and that I didn't find many of the characters especially likeable. My favorite character actually ended up being a sassy literary agent that Emma shows her book to partway through the story.

I did an immersive read of the e-book and audiobook and I did really enjoy Katherine Chin's narration. Even if the characters weren't very likeable, Chin brought the story to life in such a way that kept me reading when I might have otherwise DNF'ed so big props to her.

I wanted to badly to love this book. It had a lot of unique things going for it. I enjoyed the peek behind the curtain into the book publishing world, but I guess I wanted more. The first 40-50% of this book felt very slow to me and did not hold my interest. Once the drama really kicked up I was more invested in the story, but I never got fully invested in the characters. The FMC almost seemed like a parody of a "strong independent female" than actually being one. Some of the twists and secrets felt a bit over the top for me, but I did enjoy the sister sleuthing moments and I absolutely adored VV.
As much as I struggled with picking this book up to finish, I did really enjoy the narrator and thought she did a fantastic job.

Ehh... I mean it was ok. I am very confused by the beginning as it didn't really play in with the rest of the book. If you're looking for a book filled with feminism and pro literacy themes, this is it. It wasn't bad, the story itself and the characters were intriguing. I just feel like the pro-woman, eff the patriarchy, women woes, was a bit performative. Overall, this makes for a great summer beach/pool read.

What a fun, unputdownable read!
A book about romance books without romance in it and strong female characters!!!
The misunderstandings we can all have when looking at people on the surface rather than connecting with them is an issue that is handled so well and that so many people could learn from.
And the mystery behind her grandmother adds a cherry on top of this wonderful story!

The Page Turner
By Viola Shipman
Narrated by Katharine Chin

Published April 8,2025

I loved this book, it was honestly like no other book I’ve ever listened to before. Viola Shipmans writing flows so well. The whole novel gave you a glimpse on all the ins and outs of the publishing world. But it’s not just about the publishing world, it’s the deep family secrets. It really makes you think because of how the world of publishing is especially to women. Emma the main character, an extremely inspiring writer, working on her manuscript for a very long time. She believes in herself and her work and her parents who happen to be publishers. During the time of writing her manuscript she was reeling with the great lost of her grandmother they called Gigi. This is her journey of life, challengers, writing, family , strength, grief. This was such a feel good book. I cannot wait to read more by Shipman if all her books are this good like others say!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC audiobook. All opinions are my own.

The Page Turner had quite a bit of good banter. Emma page grew up in a household that believed fluffy fiction was not worth reading. Fine literature was the only thing that should be read. In college Emma wrote a romance book that she hides away afraid of what her parents would think.

Emma goes back to her grandma's house when her parents state they are going to sell it. As she starts going through her belongings secrets come to the surface. Was her grandma a famous author?? Did she write romance?? Emma follows her gut and her heart to uncover the truth and help her parents with their failing publishing company.

Really tried to get into this one and eventually accepted this one just isn't for me. I thought this was going to be a RomCom type book and it wasn't.

Books about books have been hitting the shelves hard lately, but a book about the publishers? Definitely a good premise to a story. Than the twists and turns and shallowness and history and all things writing. A very good book in my opinion, but the narrator did a splendid job with the characters and the drama. I really enjoyed listening to this one.

I loved this one! The beginning took me a little to get into because it was kind of annoying to have a main character who has everything and just complains but then it got really good. I loved the ending and the author’s note at the end.

A book for book lovers! I adore books like this! If there is not already a category for this type of book, there should be! I adored the messy and dysfunctional family of writers and all the drama they brought to the game! Think the show Schitts Creek but in a literary setting. Imagine coming from a very well know family of writers and trying to write a book and get it published and having to live up to their standards! If you are a book lover, you much read this!

Viola Shipman’s <i>The Page Tuner</i> was clearly a book close to the author’s heart. Given that Viola Shipman is a pen name chosen so Wade Rouse could honor his grandmother and what she meant to him in his life and that this book very heavily features a lead character who was deeply influenced by her grandmother—feeling as though she was the only person in her family who cared about or understood her, something that very much parallels Wade’s own experience—I wanted to be careful and considerate in how I addressed this review and the issues I had with the book.

I do think that Shipman wanted this book to resonate with anyone who felt like the black sheep of the family. The themes of the novel also lead me to believe that there were a great number of criticisms that he had to face from his family growing up. Those experiences, while raw and valid, unfortunately do not always translate into one’s ability to write a compelling novel with well-developed characters. This, I think, is truly the biggest issue at the heart of <i>The Page Turner</i>.

Every character who exists as an antagonist in this story is deeply one-dimensional, honestly bordering or fully entering the cartoonish realm. The fully villainous character is one that I almost expect to turn each corner twirling his mustache and cackling maniacally, that’s how excessive his negative traits are presented every time he’s on the page. He exists as a misogynist, writing romance novels simply because he knows they can turn a profit—his debut was a roaring success, earning him an intensely loyal fan base despite the fact that his work quality has diminished significantly over time.

Other antagonists include the entire family of main character, Emma, barring her loving grandmother who has unfortunately passed away. Each family member is written either as an elitist snob with no consideration or care for any book that isn’t pretentious in nature or a complete sell out whose job as an influencer has resulted in a complete loss of authenticity as they no longer even read the books they promote.

What’s interesting about all of this is that these are some very reasonable critiques of society, social commentary that certainly has earned a place among discussion spaces over the years. But it seems that the author has taken a lot of these issues and built them up like a keyboard warrior, believing that the true way to respond to these existing problems is to hate on and belittle anyone around them who engages in such behavior and thought. And while I can certainly empathize with this, the unfortunate truth of this viewpoint is that it can very quickly turn into a situation where a character’s entire personality is solely existing to judge others intensely for so much as <i>daring</i> to judge her.

Emma is a deeply unhappy, judgmental, and rude person at her core. As a result, I was a very unhappy reader for every second that I had to put up with her. She lashes out verbally on a near constant basis. While I’ll give her that she is often lashing out in her head rather than unfairly toward the characters around her, since we readers are experiencing this world and story from her point of view, we unfortunately don’t get an reprieve or escape from it. And this is unfortunate, truly, because Emma made this reading experience so utterly painful and awful for me. Though I have a deep appreciation for Emma’s connection with her grandmother and many of the causes that she cares about, my ability to care about those messages is diminished by how awful a person Emma is for the vast majority of the novel. And if I feel that way, I can’t even imagine how those who don’t share those important opinions felt about her.

She’s difficult to root for nearly every step of the way. Perhaps the only time I didn’t hate her came when she was finally—though a little too late for me to like the book—acknowledging that she’d been a complete asshole to her sister. But even this development was minimal at best. Nothing felt truly earned here, even with the changes her parents make—because Emma is still being judgmental toward them all even then!

And sure, she puts in efforts to save her family’s publishing business and she fights back against the misogynistic sexual harasser who is trying to destroy their lives—did I mention that the villains felt cartoonish and caricature-y?—the resolution comes swiftly and feels very deus ex machina. The bones of the story had some potential, even merit. It’s just unfortunate that when the author sat down to write, he simply could not bring together a single character who felt grounded, real, and developed.

I’ve said it many times; exceptionally written characters can save a book with a bad plot. Ideas for a good plot, however, cannot save a book with poorly written and underdeveloped characters.

In the end, I honestly cannot tell you whether or not I liked the narrator. I was able to get through the book, at least, so I suppose we could say that’s a plus? But the main character was just so unlikable that I’m seriously concerned I’ll associate the narrator’s voice with Emma the next time I hear it and so my opinion of the narration is clearly clouded by my abject distaste for the main character in general.

Earlier this year, I was lucky to receive and review an ARC ebook of Viola Shipman's latest novel, The Page Turner, and it was exactly what the title implied. I was quickly hooked and didn't close the book until I finished it later the same day. The characters, the setting, and the beautiful writing add up to become the best Shipman novel I've read. I recently received an advanced copy of the audiobook. The reader in the audio version did a great job adding depth to the story by bringing the characters to life. Her voice was pleasant and engaging. I often struggle with maintaining attention to audiobooks and speed them up to help. (Please note that this issue is not a reflection on the reader. It's just how my brain works.) This audiobook worked well at a faster speed. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of both the ebook and the audiobook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

I really wanted to like this one, but it was a DNF for me at 50%.

The plot seemed interesting, but the FMC and her family were over-the-top unlikable. Everything about this family is toxic. They have no respect for each other, and frankly, I don't think any of them actually like each other at all. The way Emma's family spoke to her was not okay, but then to fully shut her out of a big change for the family publishing company and have her find out along when it's being announced to the press....just no. And the fact that Emma acts like she's treated so poorly but then accepts all of her family's wealth and notority and the perks that come along with being from her publishing family...hypocritical much?

Yea, I just couldn't with this book.

I gave it two stars because the narrator was good.

One of my favorite books of the year! Still coming to terms with the death of her beloved grandmother, Emma is trying to figure her life out. Her parents don't understand her, they run a publishing company for only "serious" writers. Emma has secretly written a romance novel. When she goes back to her childhood home, long hidden secrets will be revealed.. Katherine Chin, great narration!

This is a drama-filled look into the publishing industry. The writing is excellent, and as a writer myself, I love that the story raises questions about what types of books constitute art and that the main character desires to level the playing field for all writers. The characterization of the villains was a little over the top for me. I had a hard time buying that anyone behaves or speaks this way in real life, and that did make me look upon the book as more frivolous than the author probably intended. Still, I was definitely entertained and I listened to the entire book (at triple speed, like I do) in a single afternoon because I didn't want to turn it off. If you're looking for a bit of a soap opera plot with hints of mystery and a dose of family dysfunction, this is your book. If you're able to suspend your disbelief, it's a lot of fun!

As other reviewers have stated, this was another dnf for me. The narration was well done but the main character was just too unlikeable.

I really wanted to like this, but it wasn't right for me.

The Page Turner is the kind of story that wraps you up in warmth, nostalgia, and bittersweet moments that stay with you long after you’ve finished listening. Viola Shipman delivers a heartwarming, yet thought-provoking journey about family, love, and the books that shape us.

Listening to the audiobook was a truly immersive experience—the narrator brought each character to life with just the right touch of emotion, making me feel like I was sitting in a cozy corner of a bookstore with the characters themselves. The pacing was perfect, allowing the story to unfold in a way that felt both natural and compelling.

The novel weaves the power of literature with real-life experiences, as the main character discovers the connections between her grandmother’s life and the beloved books she left behind. It’s a gentle exploration of loss, discovery, and the healing power of stories, all wrapped in a narrative that’s both tender and uplifting.

If you’re a fan of heartfelt stories about finding your way through life, with a touch of bookish magic, The Page Turner is a must-listen. It’s a tale that will leave you smiling and reaching for your favorite novel as soon as you’re done.

This was my first time reading from this author. I really enjoyed this book. It was a great read. Audiobook was good. I am interested in reading more from this author.

DNF @ 40%
I could not get into this.
I hated the characters from the start.
Emma does nothing but complain and judge others from the beginning.
I’m not sure what it was with this read, but it was off to me.
I wanted to love it so much and appreciated the way the author tried to get into the “deeper meaning” of things but it ended up being a drag for me 😫

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for the ALC 🎧

4.25 ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this 🎧 ARC.

I thought the narrator for this story was perfect in carrying the characters plot line, and the message being shared with the reader. This story felt like validation for what happens when we listen to our gut, especially as women. I really appreciate the story is based on the author‘s personal experience and her relationship with her grandmother and her journey to becoming an author in a world that does not immediately think of women. I recommend this to anyone who wants to learn a little bit more about what it takes to be in the literary world, and for anyone who wants to share in the experience of womanhood 💛