The Page Turner by Viola Shipman ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Harlequin Trade Publishing
Pub Date: 4-8-25

Thank you @netgalley, @htpbooks, and @viola_shipman for this eARC.

The Page Turner is an enjoyable novel set in the world of books - reading, writing, publicizing, and publishing.

Emma Page, recent college graduate and aspiring author, is at the center of this story focused on family dynamics, a mystery, and whether some writing genres are more worthy than others.

The relationship between Emma and her grandmother, GiGi, is the heart of the story. GiGi instilled a lifelong love of reading - and the value of all books - in Emma. I would love a follow up with GiGi as the main character. What a story that would be!

The Author's Notes and Acknowledgements are so valuable to the overall reading experience for me. This is true both inside and outside of this novel:

"Go now and read! Anything and everything! Hug your librarian! Support your local bookseller! And go to places you never imagined, be people you never dreamed, walk in shoes to places you thought you’d never travel, experience the world, and be changed. It is a privilege to evolve and change. We should never be the same people we were. Books help us on that journey." - S.I. Quaeris

"My grandma— my pen name, Viola Shipman— and my mother— a floor, ER and ICU nurse and, later, a hospice nurse— sensed I was “different,” and they swept me under their wings, loved me unconditionally and made sure I cherished my uniqueness. One of the ways they did this was by pushing books into my hands from the earliest of ages and making it clear that reading and education would not only change my life but quite possibly save it." - Viola Shipman

#thepageturner #violashipman #htpbooks #netgalley

Viola Shipman is a favorite author of mine. I was so excited to read The Page Turner. It was fabulous!!

Lovely, lovely!! Emma was adorable. I absolutely loved GiGi. This was everything the author hoped it would be, a testament to love and family. to unconditional love. This was definitely a feel good read.

The book is wonderfully written! I couldn't put it down!
Thank you for letting me read this book! Definitely recommend!

Viola Shipman has never disappointed me with any of her books and she once again hits a "home run". I always love her characters and her story lines. Shipman fans cannot miss her newest novel!! Thanks, as always, for the advance copy.

In this novel, Viola Shipman delves into the complexities of family secrets and the publishing world, but the execution sometimes fell flat. Emma deserves more than the one-dimensional characters surrounding her, like Marcus Flare and her clichéd mother. The story builds toward a predictable happy ending, I did like the characters quite a lot and found this to be quite enjoyable.

If asked, Emma Page, would tell you that she never really fit in, especially in her own family. She certainly would never tell you that her words, her courage, and her love of that family would be the things that will help them protect all that matters to them. Viola Shipman's new book is a tribute to books, and more importantly, the power of embracing our own voice.

Viola, you wrote an absolutely fantastic story! I devoured this book. I could not put it down. I talked about it with everyone. My husband kept asking how things were going in the story. It was beautifully written, and just darling. I loved it! Highly, highly recommend this book. Viola, you have a gift for writing.

I've heard really great things about this author but haven't read any of his books until now. I liked the premise but the characters felt very basic - evil author, optimistic college grad, aloof mother, etc. I liked the South Haven, Michigan setting for Gigi's place and the love was clearly felt for "rom-com beach reads". Also, this is a minor thing but it felt weird that Emma's friends were referred to as "Gin and Juice". Why can't we just call them by their name?

2.5 stars, rounded up.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Violet shipman does not disappoint with this new story. I enjoyed the welleveloped characters and the interesting plot line. His loyal followers will enjoy this one!

Viola Shipman does not disappoint. I liked the family aspect of this book. A family in the book industry. It wasn't a typical Viola book but still had all the elements.

I adored this book with the themes of family and loyalty, and the insight into the publishing world. The characters lacked a bit of depth plus some parts were very far fetched so this is definitely a light-hearted read that is meant to not be taken seriously. Think of it as a good palate cleanser book.

I enjoyed this read. Set in South Haven, Michigan, the book also offers a charming look at the publishing industry, with a fun family mystery woven in. I especially enjoyed following Emma as she navigates her first year post-college, balancing her dreams of becoming an author with the realities of life. It delves into family, loyalty, strength, and the fight for what’s right, with characters who are complex yet lovable—just like life. The family at the heart of the story shares a vision for the future, but they each have very different ideas on how to achieve it. The dynamics are relatable, reflecting the challenges we all face in our own relationships.

This was my first Viola Shipman book. I enjoyed the insight into the publishing industry and how different genres of books are regarded. I loved the main character’s relationship with her grandmother. I found it hard to like several of the other characters, and I found their eventual transformations into nicer people somewhat unbelievable.

I loved this book!!! I have loved every book that has been written by Viola Shipman. This book is about family, loyalty, fighting for what is right, and strength.
The characters in this book, like all of life, are complicated, and lovable. It is about a family, who has a vision for their future, but they have very different ideas on how to reach that goal!! It is easy to see in the writing, how we all share a similar dynamic in our own relationships, which makes this book very relatable. I highly recommend this book!!!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved the cover and description of the book. The look behind the scenes of the publishing industry was very interesting. I alwayes love a look behind the curtain. The story and characters, though, I didn't connect with or understand a whole lot. It all felt a bit sensationalized.

This is a really cute book that digs deep into the publishing industry and a fun family mystery. I loved the South Haven, Michigan setting, the family dynamics, and the challenges of Emma as she navigated her first year post-college as an aspiring author.

An outstanding book that gives an interesting glimpse into the publishing world and books! The settings were amazing. This story captivated me. A great read. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Easy read though ultimately unsatisfying. Cute enough but lacking depth. Still, the book industry background information will be interesting to many readers. 3 Stars.

I seem to be having issues with believability in the books I've read recently, and The Page Turner was definitely quite far-fetched in many ways for me. Since many of these issues relate to the main plotline, I will have to include spoilers here... Marcus Flare. His entire character is such a storybook villain for me. While unfortunately people like him undoubtedly exist in real life, he just seemed entirely too one-dimensional and trite. While I was reading, I kept picturing him as an evil cartoon character. Come to think of it, many of the characters were quite trite in my opinion. Viv, Emma's mom, the rarely mentioned but apparently pivotal in the final scheme best friends Gin and Juice (?!), etc. And of course we got the very predictable happy ending when Emma's sensational first novel becomes a huge success and saves her family's company. I'm just not buying it.