So I wasn't a fan of this one. I found the main character to be whiney and unlikeable, and I really found it hard to connect with her or feel for her "hardships." I also didn't think the publisher/author plot line was inventive, and I've just read too many with these themes/storylines.

The Page Turner by Viola Shipman
Emma Page grew up with the best gift, Gigi, who gave her the opportunity to love reading.
Her parents got swept up in the publishing industry with her sister following close behind as an influencer.
She wrote a novel, her secret. As the black sheep of the family, and a recent college graduate, she’s kept it from her family.
Her parents don’t appreciate her type of “fluff”. She tries to celebrate her Gigi, even when she unveils secrets in Gigi’s cottage that could change everything for her family and their future.
This was a little slow in the beginning as the characters are developed. This also lets the reader envelop themselves with Emma and her growing frustration.
I loved it! Viola Shipman never disappoints! The author’s letter tp pthe reader is heartwarming and perfect! 4/5⭐
I would like to Thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review an ARC of the audiobook for this novel. The narration was wonderful and gave depth to the characters.

Most of the characters were unlikeable and hard to relate to. Their conversations and the situations they were in were not realistic, and extremely cringey. The "surprise" twist was very obvious from the start and the ending felt rushed.

This was enjoyable enough, but very predictable. I didn't find the main character very likable, which always is a challenge for me. Her main conflict was that her family was too uptight, but she herself was incredibly pretentious. This one was just ok for me.

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!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC of The Page Turner. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

I requested this book because the premise sounded interesting. The first 50% of the book was pretty boring. It's about a recently graduated college student who thinks her family is a bunch of snobby narcissists. There were a lot of pop culture references. I wasn't a fan about the narrator and almost dnf'd. After the set up it started getting interesting and the main character became less annoying. It became more about a family coming together against a common villain and solving a mystery about the deceased grandmother. So in the end it was interesting, but it took a long time to get there.

Engaging, entertaining, and well-narrated. A recommended purchase for collections where bookish WF is popular.

“Every character was icky.” I was hoping this was the book to snap me out of my funk but it wasn’t to be. The premise is cute but all the characters are so unlikeable that I couldn’t get through this. I made it about 25% through Emma’s incessant diatribes and eventually gave up. Too much “flash”, not enough substance.

This was a cute book! I loved being submersed into the writing and publishing and book influencer world. Emma Page is a recent college graduate deciding her next steps… join her families small publishing house The Mighty Pages or try to get her book published. The connections with Gigi, Emma’s grandmother was so sweet. With the surprise of the revenge plot, I loved how Emma and her sister teamed up to fight keep The Mighty Pages. The narrator really did a great job and enjoyed the journey this book took me on, with an and how the story turned out.

I received this as an ALC. Sadly, this is a DNF for me at 50%.

After looking more into this book, I saw that this is a man writing under a woman's pen name, which makes some of the discussions in the book odd.

One word that defines this book: pretentious. The dialogue was just bad at times.

For those who have read the book, I would love to discuss what we believe to be the point of this book.

We do see some interesting insight into publishing, which seems like hard work.

The Page Turner is a heartfelt and nostalgic women’s fiction novel that beautifully blends family secrets, literary dreams, and generational wisdom. Set against the backdrop of a charming lakeside cottage, this story unfolds like a love letter to books, writing, and the powerful bonds between mothers, daughters, and grandmothers.

The story centers around an aspiring author from a prestigious literary family who is grappling with both her future and her past. As she returns to the family cottage, long-held secrets surface, and so does the quiet strength of the women who came before her. One of the true highlights of this novel is the touching flashbacks to her grandmother, whose warmth and wisdom practically radiate off the page. Her insights are both timeless and comforting, and they add emotional depth to the narrative.

Readers who love stories about books and the publishing industry will find themselves completely immersed in this one. It starts off a little slowly, but once it picks up, it really gets good. By the midpoint, I was fully invested and couldn’t wait to see how everything unraveled.

The audiobook, narrated by Katharine Chin, enhances the experience, with each character’s voice distinctively portrayed, capturing their unique personalities.

And I have to mention that Viola Shipman is actually the pen name of author Wade Rouse, which he uses as a tribute to his beloved grandmother. That sweet, sentimental gesture is a perfect reflection of the heart that’s poured into every page of this book.

I just could not get into this one. The cover led me to believe it would be a little more cutsey but it was a little more serious and based around publishing. I liked the story that Emma was writing more than the overall book.

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.