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Member Reviews

I absolutely loved this book! I listened to the audiobook and loved every second of it. Our narrator Katharine Chin brought the already stunning work of Viola Shipman to life. I highly recommend this book if you are in need of a reminder why love, trust, and friendship are so important. We follow the story of Emma Page, aspiring writer and daughter of The Mighty Pages publishing company. Emma uncovers her family’s complicated past full of heartache, threats of violence, strength, perseverance through the discovery of a safe full of clues and writings by her late grandmother. When a rich misogynist romance writer, hell-bent on finishing the horrific work of his father enters the picture, the future of The Mighty Pages, and possibly the Page family, is in danger. Can the love of family, the strength of female friendship, and a quest to honor the legacy of her family allow Emma to save both her family and their publishing company? This book is also a love letter to reading (and all things literary and creative honestly). I loved the author’s note and was reminded how important it is to fight to tell our stories.

Check out “The Page Turner” today!
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I received this ARC through NetGalley from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.

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Viola Shipman has written a beautiful novel that serves not only as a love letter to books but also as a glimpse into the publishing world. This is the ninth book by Viola Shipman (the pen name of Wade Rouse, inspired by his grandmother) that I have had the pleasure of reading, and I have enjoyed each one immensely. Whenever I learn about an upcoming release from Viola Shipman, I can hardly wait to get my hands on it! I am never disappointed by this author.

The story reminds us of the true meaning of family—being there for one another. It illustrates the importance of staying true to yourself, even when it feels scary or undesirable and when those around you may not offer support.

Emma Page grew up in a family that cherished literature. Her parents believed that only fine literature was worthy of reading or publishing. They operated their own vanity press, called The Mighty Pages, and mingled only within certain social circles, looking down on mainstream or popular books. Her sister, Jess, is a well-known social media influencer whose reviews can make or break a novel. Her “Swans” have propelled many mediocre books and authors to success.

Emma finds inspiration at her late grandmother Gigi’s family cottage, which houses a library filled with romances, “beach” reads, and cherished memories. A chance discovery among Gigi’s belongings reveals a secret that could ruin her parents’ business and tarnish their reputation in the industry. This secret has already fallen into the hands of a rival author and publisher who holds a grudge against them. Emma must make a difficult decision: as much as she has dreamed of the day her parents confront their own egos, can she really sit back and watch The Mighty Pages be exposed and their legacy destroyed?

I loved Emma's close relationship with her Gigi and all the special memories they created together. Although I figured out the surprise at the end early on, it still provided a satisfying conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and believe anyone who appreciates stories about family relationships will feel the same.

And then there's the author's note at the end—it reduced me to tears. Viola Shipman has such a beautiful soul. That's all I'll say.

Thanks to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for an advance copy.

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Delightful twist. Wonderful grandmother character, quirky, lovable but a bit mysterious too. Balance that with vapid parents (and not likable/sympathetic) and a sister who seems the same and you’ve got a family dynamic that’s sure to cause a bit of drama.

Emma’s trying to forge her own path and follow in the footsteps of Gigi, all the while trying to keep her family happy. However, there are hurdles for her family that Emma must clear. Overall good, but it’s hard to understand why Emma craves her parents approval when the picture painted isn’t favorable.

Advanced listener copy provided by Harlequin Audio but all opinions are my own.

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I love the family connectivity and joy Wade writes in his books based on his real life connection to his grandmother; this book was the epitome of that relationship. It caused me to reminisce about my personal relationship with my grandmother and other ancestors. I love how he weaves the legacy of those who paved a path for us in our real day to day lives. Thank you Net Galley and Harlequin Audio for the audio arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

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I expected to love this book as I have really enjoyed other Viola Shipman books but it was just ok!
Had it not been for the audiobook narrator being great I might have DNF this book. While I enjoyed the main character but not her chauvinistic pig boss, I felt that she wasn't perceptive in seeing what was laid out right in front of her. I figured out how this book would end in the 2nd or 3rd chapter from what was revealed to her.
I did appreciate how she was trying to help her author and publisher parents save their business from a terrible person. I just wish the author hadn't made everything quite so obvious from the beginning.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arcs for both the book and audiobook.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for my gifted audiobook copy of The Page Turner by Viola Shipman. I have never read a novel by this author before and was excited to listen to this novel about a publication house with a main character who writes books. I love books about books so this one was a no brainer to request.

Unfortunately, this one fell short for me. The plot seemed a little overly done with the events that took place. Some of them were outlandish and other events did not seem real. I felt no connection to the characters and really did not. Many of the characters were spoiled and snobbish and I really could not stand their interactions. I had this one on top speed just to get through it and see if it would get better but it did not for me.

The only thing I enjoyed about this novel was the authors note at the end and then I felt bad for not enjoyed her book as much as I wanted to.

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Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio-Graydon House for this ARC audio of, The Page Turner by Viola Shipman in exchange for an honest review. I’m a huge Viola Shipman fan and have thoroughly enjoyed previous titles by this author. As a Michigan native I always look forward to reading titles set in my home state. However, this title was a struggle for me. The voice actor wasn’t the worst that I’ve listened to, but she also wasn’t the best. This audio narrator is better than some of the authors’ previous narrators; at least Michigan place names were correctly pronounced opposed to the slaughtering that has occurred in past audio narrations. At times, the male character voices were painful to hear. While the narration was a challenge to take in, overall this story was mediocre at best. It was more of a diatribe on the pitfalls of the publishing industry instead of a fictional title. The characters were very unlikeable spoiled adults that were not believable in their behavior. The conflict of the story was obvious though it took forever for it to be revealed through the slow moving prose. Had this title not been an advanced reader copy for me, I wouldn’t have finished it; which is something I don’t do. 3 words sum up this disappointing book: trying too hard. I look forward to future titles by Wade Rouse but this title is one that I didn’t enjoy nor can I recommend.

NOTE: I too agree with other reviewers, I enjoyed the personal letter to readers at the end of the book more than the book itself, although it was still a bit of a rant.

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This was my first Viola Shipman novel, and I was immediately captivated by its rich Michigan setting. From the references to U of M to the scenic beauty of Lake Michigan, the vivid backdrop brought the story to life and made me feel connected to the book.

The mystery unfolds gradually about 60%, and while it took some time to fully draw me in, the payoff was worth it. The book's themes celebrate resilience and the strength of women, which provide a meaningful undercurrent.

While the story includes introspection and flashbacks, it ultimately ties everything together with a satisfying and ending.

Light, easy read.

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4⭐️ Have you ever considered writing a book? Emma has, but with her family in publishing she feels she won’t measure up. Her family has seemingly lost the love of books and found the love of money more appealing. With her grandmother gone, Emma feels lost. Her parents and sister want her to grow up; and she wants to be a writer. When a new merger with her least favorite author proves very difficult, Emma must figure out how to help her family and not hurt them at the same time. She and her sister will uncover a big scheme that could destroy everything they have if they aren’t careful.

Thank you to @netgalley @harlequinbooks and @viola_shipman for the advanced listener copy.

4.5⭐️ for the narration of @katharinechinactor. I loved how she portrayed every characters personality so well to easily understand who they were at their core.

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Thank you Netgalley for the Advance reader audiobook. The page turner was a charming listen with and showcased a slight mystery of a family secret revealed posthumously after the death of the grandmother. I think the author should write a novella based on the grandmothers life would be a nice addition to this novel.

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Audio: 4/5
Story: 2.5/5

Honestly, i could go either way on this book. I loved all the pop culture references, and everything that happens in the last 28% of the book. The problem I had is that the first 70% of the book, nothing happens. It is EXTREMELY slow, and I almost DNF. I feel like there was no original clear vision, but by 70% she figured it out. If you like books, pop culture, and the bookish aesthetic, you might really like this. I just am not patient enough to rate a book high when I really only enjoyed less than half of it. I saw the vision here, I just think it needed more or should have been shortened to a novella.

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2.5 stars.

I tried really hard to finish this book, but 30% of the way in, I just had to quit.
I found the narrator's voice annoying, the whole feminist book complaining about men telling women's stories BUT WRITTEN BY A MAN obnoxious, and just about every part of this story overdone and irritating.

As a Michigander who loves books and the shoreline, I expected to love this book, but I just didn't. There wasn't a single character in the story I could root for, and every aspect of the book felt over the top.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchance for an honest review.

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I just finished listening to this audio book. If I had read a physical copy, I likely would have dumped it. I was so annoyed by how oblivious the main character was to the blatantly obvious truths that were staring her in the face. I was able to predict the ending while listening to chapter two.
The best part of this experience was listening to the audio book's narrator. She had a lovely voice.

Thank you #NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

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3.5

Narration: Overall the narration was well done. The narrator's voice felt like a good match for the main character.

Story: I wanted to love this story because of the plot, but something was missing for me.. I think if the main character were a little older the story would have connected more.

This story has wonderful elements to is such as bridging generations. Throughout this story we see how the actions of a grandmother changed the course of a family, which is also noted in the author's notes (worth reading by the way).

The characters were well developed and you could get a sense of who they were.

Overall this is a cute read for writers and it may bring hope for them to keep going to get their story heard.

Thank you Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook.

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Really entertaining story! The Page Turner, by Viola Shipman, tells the story of Emma Page, a recent college graduate trying to forge her next path in the world. Emma grew up in a literary family where only “fine literature” is acceptable to read and to be published by their family-owned, independent publishing house. What her family doesn’t know is that Emma has written a romance novel- something her beloved late grandmother, Gigi, inspired. This book is fun and interesting to read, with quirky characters and lots of family secrets coming to light! I had to suspend my belief at times, but really enjoyed this novel- definitely recommend!
Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

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3.5 Stars
Emma Page and her family’s lives center around books, however in very different ways. Emma’s parents own The Mighty Page, a publishing house dedicated to elevated “literary” books, while Emma loves the feel-good romances introduced by her late grandmother. Her sister, Jenna, is a powerful book influencer paid to push books she hardly even reads anymore.

Emma has written a book, but it’s the kind of mainstream, women’s fiction her parents wouldn’t consider publishing. When her parents announce a business collaboration with a best-selling author Emma despises, she’s threatened by him and put in a tough position.

I really enjoyed seeing Emma reconnect with her sister while uncovering some of their family secrets. I loved how they banded together to take down a vile man! Emma’s parents weren’t very likeable in the beginning, mostly her mother, but I understood her better by the end with some backstory revealed.

The Page Turner took a little to get into, with a lot of commentary on the publishing world and some of the narrow views on what constitutes quality reading, but it shaped up to be a feel-good story! I was also moved by the author’s note on what inspired his story.

I enjoyed Katharine Chin’s narration, and I thought she did well with both male and female voices. I listened at 1.75x normal speed.

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This book is a delightful read that beautifully intertwines themes of love, loss, and the transformative power of books. Shipman’s writing is both heartfelt and engaging, drawing readers into the lives of relatable characters who navigate their personal journeys with grace. "The Page Turner" is a warm, uplifting story that reminds us of the importance of connection—both with others and with the stories that shape us. It’s a perfect read for anyone seeking comfort and inspiration through the written word.

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This was a clever story. It started out strong reeling me in. It began to slow down a little, but once it hit its pace, it had me hooked the rest of the way and I didn't want to put it down.

The Page Turner was the perfect mix of the family, friendship, relationships, strong women, mystery and ingenuity. What I loved about it, was in addition to the story line, it was a book about books and the literary world. The reader is introduced to aspects that many may not be familiar including the role of the publishing house, literary agent, promoters, the auctioning of book rights, etc. and the part that each one plays in creating a successful story.

This was an entertaining and fun read that had me laughing out loud but in the same token was smart, witty and touching as it showcased the special relationship between Emma and her Gigi as well as the gift of second chances. It was the perfect palette cleanser!

Thank you to Harlequin Audio for the audio ARC version of this book. I thought the voice actor did a tremendous job with the presentation and acting out the different characters.

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The Page Turner, by Viola Shipman, is a generational story of the literary Page family. Pauline Page, Gigi to her granddaughters Emma and Jess, was left a very young widow with young son Phillip. Through careful planning and hard work, Pauline turned them family home into a boarding house, listening to the stories of the boarders becoming a charming pastime. As Pauline got ahead, she made real estate investments, then stock market investments, accumulating a good deal of wealth. With Gigi’s recent passing, the family wealth is now in Philip’s hands.

Youngest granddaughter Emma is a mini Pauline. She is an avid reader and wants to be an author. In fact, she wrote a book while in college. Now a recent graduate, Emma is trying to find her way. Her parents want her to come work for their publishing company, the Mighty Pages. Her sister Jess already works for the company in PR as well as running her own influencer business.

As the family gets together at Gigi’s home on the shores of Lake Michigan to celebrate Emma’s father’s birthday as well as the debut of his latest book, author Marcus Flare is there. He is a menacing man yet a best seller of romance that always centers around the male lead. This is the night Marcus threatens, even blackmails Emma with his intention of destroying their family, financially and otherwise. Emma now makes it her business to thwart his efforts and save her family.

This is an interesting story. Part family dynamics, part family history, and a whole lot of intrigue,. The story has so many twists as the plot unfolds bringing the family through securely but with some surprises along the way. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

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This book was a 3⭐. The story felt a little slow as the first part took up about 60% of the book. Then for the last 1/3 of the book that's when the MCs secret was reveal. This book was an easy read but seemed that if one wanted a book that really grabs them this may not be the book. It seemed a little more a tale on the exploration of publishing and what post-grad life is.
Some positive things: the Narrator was very well done and if you enjoy closed door romance this is one.

Thank you NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

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