Viola Shipman is an amazing writer with a creative vision. I always enjoy her books and the way they make me reflect upon my own life as I read about the vivid characters that she has created. The Page Turner was no different. It definitely did not disappoint. If you’re ever looking for a new author that constantly delivers, I highly suggest that you pick up one of Viola’s reads.

Emma finds herself living in her grandmother’s house by the lake after she graduates with a degree in writing from U. of Michigan. She has always felt like the black sheep of the family. Her parents own a small publishing company but have always taught her that the only books that matter are those that match up to the classics. Emma picks up a book in her grandmother’s library that is part of a series and starts to enjoy it but questions whether or not what she is reading is good because of the ridicule that she receives from her parents. Emma has always wanted to publish a novel but feats being seen as a failure in her parents’ eyes.

Even though Emma’s families’ business seems to be doing okay…her parent are harbouring the secret that they are actually in debt and struggling. A well known publishing “shark” swoops in and offers Emma’s family an offer of a lifetime. They accept his offer but Emma begins to unveil additional secrets about her grandmother and the publishing shark that leave her reeling. She is determined to get to the bottom of everything and save her family business, as well as her grandmother’s cottage. Her sister becomes the Watson to Emma’s Holmes as they follow the clues from one lead to another.

The world of publishing books is all the rage to be written about right now as a storyline and I do dearly love it. I love the glimpse (real or not) at the behind the scenes of what makes the books we love.

Emma is the outcast in her family and it’s almost painful at times reading how her parents (mostly her mother) treat her. She’s not afraid to beat to her own drum and ruffle a few feathers along the way. Her parents publish “serious” books. None of that romance nonsense. And her sister is a social media influencer who reviews books. Emma has been writing a romance novel, but keeping it all a secret knowing her whole family would disapprove. When her Grandmother (her biggest cheerleader) passes away, she learns a few secrets she kept and has to decide the best way to use them in order to help her family.

I really liked the uniqueness of the concept. Not a love story, but a story about family love and love of books. The plot was a little light but the author makes a great statement about publishing, family expectations and self love throughout. Overall really enjoyed it.
Note: thanks to the publisher for an advanced arc audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited about this one and THAT COVER!! Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the FMC and DNF at 30%

Although I found the story interesting and liked the writing style, I never got fully invested in the plot. I wasn’t a huge fan of the characters, and the pacing was a bit too slow for my liking. Still, I would be interested in reading other books by this author.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this (in a good way). I really enjoyed the story and how it played out. The characters were relatable and the story kept me wanting to know what happened. I definitely recommend as a cute filler book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this e-alc 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.

Sadly, this one just wasn't for me. I found the story just meh and wasn't invested in the characters or interested in the story. It was really slow going in the beginning and the "secret" was obvious and fell flat. Also, the opening was extremely weird to me, what did it have to do with the story? And I didn't get the acorn theme.

Thank you NetGally for an advanced audiobook, all options are my own.

Liked but didn’t love. Cute audiobook to listen to & a good pace, but wasn’t super intrigued. Thanks @harlequinbooks for my audiobook!

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.

I enjoyed the family drama, the mystery that surrounded that drama, and the many references to the great state of Michigan. The narrator did a great job making it all see believable and made me keep saying to myself "just one more chapter." This is a great summer read!

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.