My favorite Viola Shipman book to date. It is novel that's not just a love letter to books, but is also a powerful reminder of the strength of women. It's a story of the true meaning of family and having each other's backs no matter what. It's a story of staying true to yourself and believing in yourself.

Viola Shipman writes another page turner titled The Page Turner. Emma Page, a recent college grad is trying to find herself after college. Her family wants her to join their publishing firm. The family's relationship is challenged when a secret is revealed, but they come together to overcome the challenges they face. Family is family through t hick and thin. Another good one by Shipman.

I loved the premise of The Page Turner by Viola Shipman, but for me the book turned out to be anything but. By the time I got to 25% read, I was seriously considering putting it down. Likewise at 33%, 50%, and so on, all the way though the book. But I promised to read it, so kept pushing through, to my regret as it turns out.
There was very little I enjoyed about this book. I found the main character to be the irritating, spoiled little rich girl her family accuses her of being. I found the three members of her family to be almost as despicable as the villain. The only character I liked a bit was VV the literary agent.
Beyond the characters, this book is as snobbish and condescending as the publishing house parents are accused of being. It was like reading a series of lectures instead of interesting story - lectures on publishing, on the lives and challenges of women, on the state of Michigan, the importance of family, and more. I'd read non-fiction if that is what I wanted.
When I don't finish a book, it gets one star. When I wish I hadn't wasted my time finishing it, it gets 2. At least I didn't waste my money on it.
I do appreciate receiving the ARC of #ThePageTurner from #NetGalley. Especially when it's such an unreasonable price as $16.99 Canadian for an e-book.

A book within a book. In this case there are several books discussed within this book and I would be interested in reading all of them.
We meet Emma Page, a young woman fresh out of college trying to step out of the shadows of The Mighty Pages, her family own publishing house. We learn that Emma sees her parents and sister as elitist, but since she was raised by her GiGi she is exempt from this category. Emma is a young writer wanting to learn the world of publishing but from the author perspective, with a book of hers that she defines as women fiction, romance, chicklit, and something her parent's publishing house would never look twice at. But what happens when a pompous man, claiming to be the king knowing what women want and how to write their stories, threatens everything Emma knows and the family she may feel different from but loves fiercely.
The Page Turner was a cozy women's fiction novel that originally felt like a palette cleanser of a novel compared to others. However, it began to feel stagnant and superficial with the continuous nods to pop culture. Knowing that books are going to write about the here and now of today's society is expected, but it felt as though this book threw every reference it could think of in there, especially the beginning. The FMC became a little too whiny without an outlook of redemption; when it came it just seemed a little too neatly wrapped up. The books discussed within is what made this enjoyable. Yes, sticking it to the man in the end is always a winner, but to have it just simply completed without being a little gritty or more so not in just one scene, was only an all right outcome.
I did enjoy that if you read this book without knowing it was written by a man under a female's pen name, you would have never guessed it wasn't written by a woman. I would read more by Viola Shipman to see what their other novels are like.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing (Graydon House) for the opportunity to receive and review The Page Turner by Viola Shipman.

The Page Turner by Viola Shipman
Pub Date: 04/08/25
Harlequin Trade Publishing (Graydon House)
Goodreads review posted 03/02/25
Instagram review will be posted on my Bookstagram account Pub Day 04/08/25

The setting: Emma Page, a young romance writer, "...grew up the black sheep in a bookish household, raised to believe fine literature is the only worthy type of fiction. Her parents, self-proclaimed “serious” authors who run their own vanity press, The Mighty Pages, mingle in highbrow social circles that look down on anything too popular or mainstream, while her sister, Jess, is a powerful social-media influencer whose stylish reviews can make or break a novel. Hiding her own romance manuscript from her disapproving parents, Emma finds inspiration at the family cottage among the “fluff” they despise: the juicy summer romances that belonged to her late grandmother. But a chance discovery unearthed from her Gigi’s belongings reveals a secret that has the power to ruin her parents’ business and destroy their reputation in the industry—a secret that has already fallen into the hands of an unscrupulous publishing insider with a grudge to settle." And so it begins.

Family secrets, black and white characters. Finding your own voice. Sisterhood--biological and otherwise.

I could have walked away at any time, but persevered.

On the positive side, I learned much about the publishing industry, publicists, book auctions, etc.-- but not enough to sustain my interest

I did like VV, a literary agent; I pictured her as Iris Apfel.

I figured out some of the plot/trajectory VERY early on--why not Emma? Although there was a twist I didn't anticipate.

"It's gauche to discuss numbers, my mother is fond of saying. "We have people for that." {I thought that was gauche!]

I wanted to like this book as so many readers did, but... I knew from the beginning that I was not going to like this book--just the wrong vibe; I often felt it was grating. It was an easy enough read, but I struggled to return.

And I thought the "feminist" [?] rant at the end of the book was a bit of an overload.

2. Find something better to read IMHO.

Note: I enjoyed the Personal Letter to Readers at the end of the book more than the book.

This was such a fun exploration of romance within the publishing industry, full of family dynamics, self-actualization, and lots of humor and heart.

This book offered an insider view of the perspectives of people in the publishing industry and what goes into deciding which books are published or not. Emma is a writer who has been working on her manuscript for a long time. Her parents don't approve of her career choice and what she chooses to write about since they are essentially literary snobs. After her grandma dies, Emma goes on a journey of self discovery and how to cope with grief. I thought the family dynamics especially the challenging ones were tackled with grace and I really loved this book and Emma's character growth.

I didn't love this one the way I do other works by Shipman. I think he was trying to do something a little different here, hence the eye catching cover, but it didn't quite hit the mark. He stayed true to his grandma's roots as he does it all of his books, but the characters were a miss. None of them were likeable and the writing just didn't have the normal charm.

The Page Turner by Viola Shipman is the story of Emma Page, who wants to write romance novels but is ashamed to because her parents own a literary publishing company and look down at romance writers. She discovers her grandmother's secret life and goes about trying to become a novelist on her own. After a slow start, this novel picked up and became a lot of fun! Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

A story centered around complex family relationships, and the ins and outs of the publishing world. Almost DNF this; didn’t really get into the story into about the 40% mark. It just didn’t feel like a story until then and then it was just so-so. Didn’t like any of the characters. Beautiful words but didn’t entertain me. A miss for me.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A young woman dreams of being an author while she uncovers secrets about her grandmother's past.

Thank you NetGalley for an early reading opportunity. I just finished your novel “The Page Turner” and a personal letter to readers, I absolutely loved it!!! This is the first time I have read a book by the author, I requested it in NetGalley because the description and concept called to me. This book was incredible; it made me feel so many emotions. It was so real and relatable to our world. I will be to recommending it to my friends! I came into reading it not know anything about the writer. I am here sitting in Missouri in my office tearing up because the writing hit so many spots. Thank you so much for making this book! As a therapist I use books to escape into words, to travel through the pages of other worlds and to shut my mind from my own thoughts. Once again thank you! This book has second chances, family, judgment, working passed trauma and so much more.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing - Graydon House, and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review this ARC.

How far would you go to protect your family’s legacy and everything they’ve worked for—especially when it belongs to the one person you admired most? The Page Turner is a beautifully crafted novel that pulls back the curtain on the high-stakes world of publishing while exploring the complexities of family, identity, and ambition.

Emma Page, a recent college graduate, has always felt like an outsider in her own family. Her parents, the driving force behind Mighty Pages, a small but prestigious literary publishing house, are unapologetic book purists—quick to dismiss the “mainstream” women’s literature Emma adores as mere “summer beach reads.” Her older sister, Jess, shares their literary snobbery, leaving Emma feeling judged, shunned, and constantly measured against their revered matriarch, Gigi. But unlike the rest of her family, Gigi embraced Emma’s love of books without pretense. Her Michigan lakefront boarding house was the only place Emma ever truly felt at home. So when that sanctuary comes under threat, Emma is determined to protect it at all costs.

Adding to her struggles, Emma has secretly written a manuscript—one she knows her family would likely dismiss—but fears their disapproval too much to share it. Meanwhile, Mighty Pages is floundering, and in a desperate bid to save it, her parents align themselves with one of the publishing industry’s most unscrupulous authors. Unbeknownst to them, his hidden agenda has the power to upend everything they’ve built. To preserve both her family’s legacy and her own aspirations, Emma must confront her doubts, challenge her assumptions, and navigate the treacherous waters of both the literary world and her own family’s expectations.

A compelling exploration of family dynamics, ambition, and the pursuit of both professional success and personal fulfillment, The Page Turner is a heartfelt novel that will leave you rooting not just for the survival of Mighty Pages, but for Emma’s long-overdue recognition as a writer in her own right. Don’t miss this captivating read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Graydon for the ARC opportunity.
This is my second novel by Viola Shipman. I like it better than the other novel I’ve read as the storyline captured my attention more. Admittedly, it took me awhile to get into. I was over halfway before it picked up for me and the beginning did not hook me. I do think the topic was interesting and I liked most of the characters. Parts felt rushed, like when the sisters suddenly got along again. I appreciated the author’s note at the end as well.
3/5 stars

I’m giving this book 4 stars due to it having a slow start. After reading the summary of this book I was very interested in the storyline and excited to read it. At first the book did drag a bit, but I was very glad I stuck it out. I ended up loving the rest of the book. I loved Emma and her love for books, her Gigi and her family in spite of how different they acted from herself. This book is about relationships of family, friends, yourself and how you will handle some of life’s tough decisions. I also enjoyed the little “Easter eggs” that the author left which lead me to figure out part of the mystery in this book earlier the Emma did, which delighted me. I am 100% in agreement with the author that books help us escape in good times and especially the hard time in our lives, they help us feel grounded and can also teach us about ourselves and others.

This was my first Viola Shipman novel and it won’t be my last. Shipman writes from the heart and helps bring us into a world that you don’t feel alone in. Keep writing and showing us a different part of this world.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House for this eARC in return for my honest review.

Emma Page is a recent college graduate whose parents own a small publishing company; her sister, Jess, works for them as an influencer. Emma secretly has written a romance novel; a book she knows her parents will frown upon and not the type of book they would publish. She is trying to determine her future after college. Emma learns her beloved grandmother, Gigi, who recently passed away, wrote romance novels; a connection she never realized. She discovers the publishing house is in financial trouble and their involvement with an author, Marcus Flare, who they think will save them. He is someone you will dislike immensely. This book will give you an insight into the publishing world and a behind-the-scenes look at what transpires among authors and publishers. It is a story about family secrets, family hurts, unconditional love and strong women. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

If you are looking for a book that defines the joy of reading, shares the emotions behind experiencing a story, and emphasizes the importance of books, then this book is for you. Emma is a recent college graduate, and the child of parents who own their own book publishing firm, The Mighty Pages. She’s also written her first novel and is searching for her first job. The Mighty Pages has experienced some down times in the publishing industry, so they partner with Marcus Flare, an author Emma despises. Emma’s nervous about sharing with her parents that she wrote a novel as hers is not one they typically work on, and even more so now with their partnership with Marcus. As she learns more about the deal with Marcus, and their struggles in the publishing world, Emma wants nothing more than to help her family.

While the story itself was very slow moving and really didn’t get to the meat of the plot until well past the halfway point, the message about books and reading is what really drew me in. The idea of writing under a pen name to hide your identity and some of the behind the scenes of the book world provided additional layers to the story. And I enjoyed the setting along the water in Michigan, the summer cottage with the eyebrows, and the true bonds of family.

Thank you to Harlequin for the opportunity to read and review.

The Page Turner by Viola Shipman is a charming and heartwarming story about Emma Page, who navigates the high expectations of her literary parents while secretly writing the romance novels they despise. The book captures the warmth of Emma’s connection with her late grandmother’s “fluff” romance novels, offering a sweet reminder of how stories can transcend generations. While Emma’s emotional rollercoaster can feel a bit exaggerated at times, her journey of self-discovery is relatable and endearing.

The supporting characters, especially VV, the quirky literary agent, bring a unique charm to the story. Although some plot twists were predictable and certain aspects of the book stretched believability, the novel’s focus on family dynamics and Emma’s growth made for an enjoyable read. The Page Turner is a heartfelt reminder of finding your voice amid expectations, and it’s sure to resonate with anyone who’s ever sought solace in a beloved book. This definitely wasn't a book I'd find myself reading again, but I did enjoy the time I spent with it.

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

This was not at all for me... I expected it to be fluffy, and a quick easy read. The blurb made it sound interesting and I do like a good peek behind the publishing curtain. Unfortunately, from the very beginning I found this one full of purple prose that irritated me rather than advanced the story. I didn't enjoy the characters and I didn't particularly enjoy the writing. This one was definitely not a good fit for me...

This was another amazing story by Viola Shipman. Loved the characters and family dynamic they had. A very compelling story. And a few twists and turns to keep the reader interested from beginning to end. I loved Emma and her passion and courage. Loved how outspoken she was when it was needed. And her relationship with her grandmother really spoke to me. A truly wonderful story.