Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Emma feels like a black sheep in her elitest family who owns/runs a publishing house The Mighty Pages. Her parents, self-proclaimed “serious” authors who mingle in highbrow social circles that look down on anything too popular or mainstream.

Emma has to hide her own romance novel that she is deciding if/when to query and trying to figure out how to get her family to understand the true motives of a seemingly sleezy author who offers to "help," the suffering publishing house.

My thoughts:
I loved the storyline surrounding Emma and her late grandmother's love for romance and lighter novels and the feeling of needing to defend what we read and that all book and all reading will touch the right person. Emma's connection to her grandmother was well done especially in contrast to the uncomfortable relationship she has with her parents and her sister.

I enjoyed the quotes from other works being used to try to drive points home; however, at times they felt "plopped" into the story and therefore a little disjointed. The side characters were great: Marcus Flare was easy to hate AND I wanted MORE Vivian Vandeventer!! (a competitor in the publishing business that Emma interviews with).

A very good book to read on a day when you are sitting around and lounging. It's a story that includes interesting characters and a good plot. I would definitely recommend!

Veronica is a character that has lived a good life. She has parents she loves, a sister who she is close with, a best friend that she can share all her secrets with. She finds out she is adopted and a trip abroad is taken to find her roots.

I enjoyed watching her travel to the places that her DNA led her to. The places she visits and the people she meets make her feel more comfortable with herself and more aware of who she is. Niall becomes a part of her life, a part that she did not even know she wanted. She accepted what he could offer but stayed true to what her journey was to be. I like that she did not change her travels for him, but she kept him in her mind as she looked at her future.

Aimie K. Runyan wrote a book that came to life for me. I could picture the places traveled, the food eaten, and the people met. I looked forward to curling up and picking up the book every chance I can.

Thank you Harper Muse for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

#ThePageTurner is simply that . A real page turner . Omggg the ways I loved this book !!!! 🥰❤️😭
I was annoyed , mad , sad , all fuzzy inside ,, worried.
This book had me feeling all the feels & that's EXACTLY what a good solid book should do.
All the stars !!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ugh it's just soooo good. Everyone needs to read this even if you don't know. You do .
I'll admit I wasn't super into it until about 25% in but after that I was completely hooked . This book had my soul.

This book is definitely an example of don't judge a book by its cover . At first everyone seemed dense & snobby & honestly annoying. " Oh another rich literary family "
Yes kinda but no not really .. there's always more to a story & people than we think.
This book was poetry & EXACTLY what I needed right now.
Isn't it weird how that happens? I had no idea what this book was about before I picked it up 🙊
I honestly just liked the title & I love a book about a book but omg it's so much more than that .
Love , sisterhood, family , GIRL POWER 🤘, loyalty, yes books & the whole book world, all the good feels but also a little revenge .
I needed all that right now ❤️

Going into this book I had zero idea that Viola Shipman is really a man writing under a female name .. his grandma. 🥺 How sweet .. I just can't 😭
But honestly I don't care .. I know some have strong feelings about this issue but he's an author who writes a beautiful poetic & amazing book that after receiving this arc im buying the book when it comes out APRIL 8 2025 ( go get it 🙃 )
The authors note was so beautiful & heartfelt.
This is my first book by this author but now I want to binge them allllll !!!!
& Honestly it's refreshing for a man to hide under a women's name for a change .

Also shout-out to Gin & Juice . Those are real friend goals right there & also VV .. I want to have several drinks with this woman 🤣🤣🤣
The characters & development in this book is top notch .

‼️Again read this book . Inhale everything. It's going to be a beautiful ride

Thank you #NetGalley for another amazing arc & allowing me to find a new author @viola_shipman

This book was lovely. A true ode to family & sisterhood. I absolutely LOVE books about books & The Page Turner was such a fun look into publishing. I loved the hint of mystery, the family drama & the love of the sisters.
The audio was great as well. Thank you for letting me read this early.

If I were to cut to the chase, I would just tell you that this is a cheesy predictable fluff of a book perfect for book lovers who want a sweet escape. Don't look for deep meaning or even a cute rom-com. While this is a quick cute read, too much time is spent on Emma defending her position as a romance author within her high brow literary family. Further interruptions to the story are provided by excerpts not only from her book but also from books by a mystery person, S. I. Quaeris. (Including the very same one, twice.) This fluffed up the page count. I would have preferred a shorter book or maybe additional depth on other storylines. But, it kept me entertained on a rainy afternoon!

I love inside looks into authors lives and the backstory on publishing. While the premise of this book is intriguing, especially with the tie in with family relationships, this one just did not resonate with me like I had hoped. I did enjoy the close bonds with her grandmother GiGi, but that was about it. Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

I want to extend my gratitude to @viola_shipman @netgalley and @htpbooks for the #gifted e-book, and to @harlequinbooks for the #gifted audiobook.

This was a captivating read. I was fascinated by the story's exploration of finding one’s voice, as well as the themes of sisterhood and family connection.

Emma grows up feeling like an outsider in a family that elevates serious literature above all else. Her parents, esteemed authors and publishers of The Mighty Pages, look down on popular books, while her sister, Jess, wields significant influence with her sharp critiques. Inspired by her late grandmother’s treasured summer romances, Emma sets out to pen her own love story. When she uncovers a damaging secret hidden among her Gigi’s belongings, she realizes that someone else is already on the inside, aware of the truth. Emma faces a pivotal decision: confront her parents’ egos or risk exposing The Mighty Pages, potentially shattering their legacy.

Emma’s journey, her profound connection with Gigi, and the intricate family dynamics make this story truly unforgettable. The contrast between her relationships with her parents and sister, versus the extraordinary bond she shared with her beloved grandmother, adds so much depth. Additionally, the book offers a compelling glimpse into the world of publishing.

The narrator delivered an exceptional performance, vividly bringing these characters to life. I was particularly impressed by her intonation for Emma’s parents, perfectly capturing their highbrow demeanor.

If you’re searching for a quick, immersive read that draws you in and holds your attention until the last page, this book is a must-read. Mark your calendars—it's set to be published on April 8, 2025!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and alc.

Like other reviewers have said, I was excited to read this book. However, it ended up being a bit of a letdown. I suppose I just had a hard time getting into the story and I also had a hard time connecting with the characters. I did enjoy the narrator of the audiobook though (Katherine Lin). I may be interested in reading more by Viola Shipman in the future though.

Fun behind the scenes look at the publishing industry with a strong female protagonist and an engaging family story. Wade's fans and those who love books about books will love this.

Emma’s parents run their own publishing house but sales have been declining. Emma wants to write her own novel but feels her parents would disapprove because it wouldn’t be high brow enough. So she has never discussed it with them. Her grandmother, Gigi, died recently and Emma was close to her. So we follow Emma on her journey to find strength and to find her voice.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I COULD NOT get into this story. I have read other books by this author and enjoyed them, so I was looking forward to this one. tried and tried, but I just couldn't make it happen.

“The Page Turner is a novel about how books save us, whether we are writers or readers.”

The Page Turner had a much deeper, empowering message than just the fictional story. It was intriguing, reflective, and thought provoking with the sweetest dedication, an adorable cover, and an author’s note that gives the story a whole new meaning. A story of standing up for yourself and not letting anyone keep you from following your dreams.

A book about books and the ins and outs of the publishing world with so many literary references and quotes! I loved hearing big name publisher names inside the story. The MC, Emma Page, is telling her family's story of being the daughter in a famous literary family, whose parents are both NYT best selling authors and own a publicist business. Being a nepo baby, Emma feels like she has to live up to her pretentious parent’s fame even though her passion /dream is different from their expectations. But when she discovers a long lived family secret, cue the chaos, drama, threats, blackmail, and revenge.

I adored the strong bond Emma had with her Gigi and their alliance against her parents. Emma and Gigi were both sassy and sarcastic which I enjoyed and laughed multiple times while reading. I also loved hearing the literary/pop culture references. The first 20% of the book was a little slow and confusing, but the last 80% was so good.

I read this book in tandem with the audiobook. The narrator, Katharine Chin, did a fabulous job bringing the quirky, pretentious family and their story to life. Chin delivered a flawless performance from start to finish.

Thank you @htpbooks, @htp_hive, @harlequinaudio, @graydonhouse, and @netgalley for the #gifted ARC & ALC. All thoughts/opinions are my own.

I was excited to read the newest book by author, Viola Shipman, but this story just fell flat for me. I didn’t identify with any of the characters and found myself not even caring about the storyline. It wasn’t for me, but some people may love it! I find that sometimes I’m just not in the mood for a particular theme in a book.

This book was a great story to read. Viola Shipman has penned a true testament to authors and the publishing industry. The characters in this book have many facets, some you love and some you hate but inevitably the good win out. I love multi generational books and this one has a wonderful close relationship between grandchild and grandmother. There are some twists and turns in this book that keep you wanting to read more. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Graydon House for the ARC! Emma Page is the black sheep of her family. She's an aspiring romance auther, but her parents own a publishing house known for deep literary fiction. The only person who encouraged her to pursue her own path was her grandmother, but she is now gone and Emma is still reeling from that loss. As her parents decide to team up with a shady author on a new publishing imprint, and begin pushing Emma toward letting go of their summer home (once the home of her grandmother), Emma begins to search for a way to cut ties with the author and begin her own career, but what she uncovers is an amazing family secret that could just be the colution to everything. This is a moving family story and a perfect summer read.

2.5 stars. I was really hoping to like The Page Turner a lot more than I did. I had a really close relationship with my own grandmother so the description really intrigued me. Emma's relationship with GiGi was the only thing I enjoyed in this book. I almost DNF at the 20% mark but kept going for Emma/GiGi's sake. Nothing really happens in the plot until 70% in and after that it is pretty predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copy. The Page Turner hits shelves on April 8, 2025.

I really enjoyed this book. Loved the Michigan setting as I lived there for many years and it isn’t a common setting for books. Loved the relationship between Emma and her sister . (Hated Marcus). Loved the behind the scenes look at writing and publishing. Love the beautiful cover. A few quotes from the book that really spoke to me:

“I also want readers to realize that there should be no limits placed on women, there should be no genres placed on books. Women should be who they dream. Women should live without having to hide any part of their true selves.”

“We call novels like mine ‘beach reads’, ‘rom-coms’, ‘chick lit’, ‘women’s fiction,’ which diminishes their value. As a result, people believe such books are merely fizzy and frivolous.”

“There’s no right time to fall in love, there’s no right time to die, there’s no right time to write a book, there’s no right time to let your baby bird test its wings and fly into this very scary world .”

Also loved the author’s Personal Note to Readers which begins with “The Page Turner is a novel about how books save us, whether we are writers or readers.” I know I have definitely felt saved by books. I love how the author tells us about his grandma and how she inspired parts of this book and how her name, Viola Shipman, is his pen name.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was...fine. I'm a woman and have often loved so-called women's fiction and romance novels alike. I get that Viola Shipman was trying to drive home the importance of that genre but the book didn't have any emotional punch for me. Maybe if I'd recently lost a close grandparent, or struggled with my mother or had a sister. Idk, they were all rich and kept mentioning it. Very Lauren Weisberger.

Industry insider books can be fun, but this wasn't even on the same level as the show "Younger". The story just kept telling us about the struggles that publishing is going through and how hard it is for authors. But then we only see a wealthy young woman with connections and a finished book just coast in. We learn more about book influencers than anything!

Additionally, the dialogue was over-written and repetitive. I get that these are the well-educated NYC literati but every character (except the underused Gin & Juice, dumb names) describes their point, makes their point, and then sums up their statement. This isn't Speech 1001.

The Page Turner had a really cute premise and intrigued me enough to pick it up, but somewhere along the way it fell very flat for me. It just felt a bit slow and forced. It was a nice story, but just didn’t work for me.