I love everything that Viola Shipman has written. This novel touches on an area that is mostly unseen by readers. The agent, promoter, author, and publishing house have one goal in mind, a successful story. What makes a story sell? How do we learn about new books? Is there added value selling book rights to a movie company? Why do authors use a pen name? How much money goes to the author? Things have changed when publishing a book. Influencers, book clubs, Tik Tok, Bookstagrams, Goodreads, best seller lists, and even big box Meijer and Costco all play roles in getting a book into the readers hands. The Mighty Page publishing house has a storied past. Marcus Flare has become a force to be reckoned with. The complex relationships of GiGi, Phillip, Piper, Jess, and Emma Page drive the heart of The Page Turner. Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Page Turner went above and beyond what the blurb promised, giving me a mystery wrapped up in a tale about family and finding one’s voice and self confidence.

Emma is newly graduated and living amongst parents who have a highbrow publishing company (that is struggling, not least because the books they publish are all like her father’s, possibly not making much sense in their struggle to be that ‘certain type of book’ critics gush over but goes over most’s heads). Her sister is an influencer sensation, and Emma is missing her place amongst them with her Grandmother’s death. When Emma discovers her Grandmother was the author of romances which struck a chord with many, bringing light into their lives, it inspires her own writing. Unfortunately she gets caught up in further mysteries about her Grandmother’s past and a sexist author on a mission to destroy her family.

This was extremely entertaining, not least because it was multi faceted and as a result kept Emma and her family from becoming one note. I enjoyed that the author was putting her own writing points into play, creating a novel that didn’t need a love interest to speak to the readers it’s written for. Highly recommend this!

The Page Turner by Viola Shipman is a witty and heartwarming family drama full of humor and tension. Emma Page, a romance writer in a family of elitist literary snobs, has always felt like the odd one out. As her parents and sister thrive in highbrow literary circles, Emma secretly writes romance. The author takes readers on a journey through the competitive world of publishing, with a focus on Emma’s discovery of a family secret hidden within her late grandmother’s fluffy summer romances. This is a beautiful and touching story about family, legacy, and self acceptance.

This is another winner from Viola Shipman! THE PAGE TURNER is full of charm, and the pages practically turn themselves (see what I did there ;)).
Emma is a winsome protagonist, and as readers we sympathize with her family struggles as she dreams of her own writing success. (I love the idea of a romance writer as a protagonist, especially in a family of literary snobs - genius!) As always, the settings are delectable, and Shipman does a wonderful job of inserting the reader into each scene. The writing is sweet and funny at times - always relatable. This is an immensely satisfying read. Fans of Viola Shipman (I know there are so many) will delight in this new offering.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.