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The Page Turner
A young romance writer makes a discovery that throws her elitist family into chaos.
Emma Page 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. Now Emma must decide: As much as she’s dreamed of the day her parents are forced to confront their own egos, can she really just sit back and watch The Mighty Pages be exposed and their legacy destroyed?
Emma Page 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. Now Emma must decide: As much as she’s dreamed of the day her parents are forced to confront their own egos, can she really just sit back and watch The Mighty Pages be exposed and their legacy destroyed?
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 8, 2025
876 people are currently reading
27743 people want to read
About the author
Viola Shipman
21 books3,505 followersDear Reader:
My latest novel, The Page Turner, is a story about why we too often judge one another – and the books we read – by a glance at the collective cover without knowing what is inside. It is also a story about how reading and books not only change us but also save our lives. They did mine.
Growing up “different” in rural America in the 1970s – with no one like me and no one to talk to about what I was going through – I felt alone in this world. Books allowed me to escape, understand, heal, hope and realize there was a place for me in the world just as I was. My grandma – my pen name, Viola Shipman – sensed I was “different,” and she loved me unconditionally and made sure I cherished my uniqueness. Even though my grandma never finished high school, she was a voracious reader who pushed books into my hands from the earliest of ages and made it clear that reading and education would not only change my life but quite possibly save it.
Books allowed me to see a vast world beyond the small town in which I lived. They allowed me to not only escape from the cruelty I often experienced but also understand the reasons behind the hatred. They allowed me to see – as my grandma instilled in me – that being unique was a gift. Books aren’t just books. Books are family. Authors are friends. The stories we read are timestamps in our memories. They bookmark important chapters in our lives and growth. Books are a chance to right the wrong in the world, an opportunity to rewrite ourselves. We can reimagine and reinvent, see the world in an entirely new way simply by turning a page. Or, sometimes, we can just escape from our own lives.
As Carl Sagan wrote: “What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic."
That’s exactly how I feel when I read and write: Magical. Like a literary unicorn.
Authors tend to write about the same topics – love, death, hope, loss – and we use the same words, the same linguistic tool belt, but it’s how we bring those stories to life that sets us apart.
That is why The Page Turner is also about voice. Not only the voice Emma Page uses to bring her novel to life, but the voice she owns that makes her special and that she is unwilling to silence. We all have a voice. In fact, I bet yours is talking to you in your head right now. However, there’s a good chance that you’ve forgotten the power of your own voice, the beauty of your own uniqueness. As I address in this book, we tend to bury that out of fear: Fear of being different, as I was; fear of being unpopular; fear that our family or friends will disapprove; fear of, well, everything. And slowly that voice becomes so quiet, so distant, we don’t even hear it anymore, and we are no longer the unique souls we once were. We are far from being the people we once dreamed. This novel is about overcoming fear and rediscovering your voice. As I write: Every voice is important. Every story needs to be heard.
I was once consumed by fear. And then I found my voice again. In fact, when I first started writing and dreaming of being an author, I truly believed that there was a golden key that was passed around New York City. It was handed out — late at night, in a fancy restaurant under gilded lights and over expensive drinks — to “certain” authors. And I would never be one of them. I now know — and you certainly already do — that such a key does not exist. The only key you need you already own: The one that unlocks the door to o
My latest novel, The Page Turner, is a story about why we too often judge one another – and the books we read – by a glance at the collective cover without knowing what is inside. It is also a story about how reading and books not only change us but also save our lives. They did mine.
Growing up “different” in rural America in the 1970s – with no one like me and no one to talk to about what I was going through – I felt alone in this world. Books allowed me to escape, understand, heal, hope and realize there was a place for me in the world just as I was. My grandma – my pen name, Viola Shipman – sensed I was “different,” and she loved me unconditionally and made sure I cherished my uniqueness. Even though my grandma never finished high school, she was a voracious reader who pushed books into my hands from the earliest of ages and made it clear that reading and education would not only change my life but quite possibly save it.
Books allowed me to see a vast world beyond the small town in which I lived. They allowed me to not only escape from the cruelty I often experienced but also understand the reasons behind the hatred. They allowed me to see – as my grandma instilled in me – that being unique was a gift. Books aren’t just books. Books are family. Authors are friends. The stories we read are timestamps in our memories. They bookmark important chapters in our lives and growth. Books are a chance to right the wrong in the world, an opportunity to rewrite ourselves. We can reimagine and reinvent, see the world in an entirely new way simply by turning a page. Or, sometimes, we can just escape from our own lives.
As Carl Sagan wrote: “What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person, maybe somebody dead for thousands of years. Across the millennia, an author is speaking clearly and silently inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other, citizens of distant epochs. Books break the shackles of time. A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic."
That’s exactly how I feel when I read and write: Magical. Like a literary unicorn.
Authors tend to write about the same topics – love, death, hope, loss – and we use the same words, the same linguistic tool belt, but it’s how we bring those stories to life that sets us apart.
That is why The Page Turner is also about voice. Not only the voice Emma Page uses to bring her novel to life, but the voice she owns that makes her special and that she is unwilling to silence. We all have a voice. In fact, I bet yours is talking to you in your head right now. However, there’s a good chance that you’ve forgotten the power of your own voice, the beauty of your own uniqueness. As I address in this book, we tend to bury that out of fear: Fear of being different, as I was; fear of being unpopular; fear that our family or friends will disapprove; fear of, well, everything. And slowly that voice becomes so quiet, so distant, we don’t even hear it anymore, and we are no longer the unique souls we once were. We are far from being the people we once dreamed. This novel is about overcoming fear and rediscovering your voice. As I write: Every voice is important. Every story needs to be heard.
I was once consumed by fear. And then I found my voice again. In fact, when I first started writing and dreaming of being an author, I truly believed that there was a golden key that was passed around New York City. It was handed out — late at night, in a fancy restaurant under gilded lights and over expensive drinks — to “certain” authors. And I would never be one of them. I now know — and you certainly already do — that such a key does not exist. The only key you need you already own: The one that unlocks the door to o
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 949 reviews
March 10, 2025
OVERVIEW:
Mediocre at best.
Really slow to get going. Until the impending secret is revealed, our leading lady takes 70% of the book to make any decisions on her post-grad life (*snore*).
The secret mystery is mostly obvious, not shocking at all, and the intended impact falls startling flat.
The tale seems to be more of an exposition on publishing than an entertaining story.
On the plus side, at least there are no sex scenes.
OF NOTE:
Opening seems quite odd: A young man on the college campus is dressed in blonde wig and singing in ‘a beautiful soprano’ to seven acorns. He has just been cast in the Julie Andrews of The Sound of Music. The acorn theme is repeated a couple of times throughout the book, but as far as I can see this opening scene has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the book.
A sprinkling of vulgarity.
Moderate doses of feminism with a woe-is-woman attitude.
CONCLUSION:
Spend your time somewhere else.
- Desiree Reads
The Bookish Birder
March 10, 2025
Find more book recs @ https://bookshop.org/shop/TheBookishB...
Mediocre at best.
Really slow to get going. Until the impending secret is revealed, our leading lady takes 70% of the book to make any decisions on her post-grad life (*snore*).
The secret mystery is mostly obvious, not shocking at all, and the intended impact falls startling flat.
The tale seems to be more of an exposition on publishing than an entertaining story.
On the plus side, at least there are no sex scenes.
OF NOTE:
Opening seems quite odd: A young man on the college campus is dressed in blonde wig and singing in ‘a beautiful soprano’ to seven acorns. He has just been cast in the Julie Andrews of The Sound of Music. The acorn theme is repeated a couple of times throughout the book, but as far as I can see this opening scene has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the book.
A sprinkling of vulgarity.
Moderate doses of feminism with a woe-is-woman attitude.
CONCLUSION:
Spend your time somewhere else.
- Desiree Reads
The Bookish Birder
March 10, 2025
Find more book recs @ https://bookshop.org/shop/TheBookishB...
November 18, 2025
I typically love Wade Rouse, who is an openly gay man using the pen name Viola Shipman. He generally has a beautiful way of getting inside a woman’s head, and knowing how to create characters that are fairly believable and relatable. And, when I get to the end of his books, I know that I just finished reading a story that carried a strong message he wanted us readers to receive, and a personal letter that connected us to him. Kleenex is always recommended.
And, he also writes in a way that makes his selections book discussion worthy.
So, how did this one fare?
What kind of story was this? Was it a standard rom-com? Or, was it a story emphasizing the power and agency of women in defending their own interests?
For me, it definitely was not a rom-com. There was no traditional romance trope, and there really was no comedy. Unless readers want to consider the romance with oneself that is emulated through Emma’s recalled moments of her grandmother GiGi. (Emma is our main protagonist.) In those moments, the message of self-love comes through so clearly, that one can’t help but give oneself a hug.
There were also a lot of quotable moments which I included some below.
Mostly, this was Emma’s story. In so many different ways. She is attempting to find herself. She is taking readers back in time; and, she is interacting with family and others in present time. Readers will connect to the story through Emma.
Or not.
It feels like Emma is having to spend the majority of her time proving herself to a fairly unlikable family. When all Emma seems to really want is to find her own way through her own words, on her own terms, as a writer. And, that family, parents most specifically, seemed much to in to their own superficial personas than they were with what was happening with their daughter.
As readers, we can also feel Emma’s immense devotion to her grandmother, GiGi. And, GiGi to her. Through GiGi’s life lessons Emma was finding her voice, even if she wasn’t getting encouragement from her parents, or her younger, physically stunning sister, Jess.
But what happens when an arrogant successful romance writer named Marcus enters the scene? Will Emma be able to reach through her parent’s plastic veneer? Will this help bring her closer to her sister, Jess?
And, what mystery exists within this family that needs to be solved to help them move forward successfully as a family?
For the most part, when Emma was taking readers through her life with GiGi, or searching to find herself and/or the family mystery to solve, the story had a rapid pace that became an easily compulsive, compelling and focused read. Especially when we hit Chapter 30. Which felt like a true power voice for women. At other times, it was a slow burn which lacked personality. Perhaps because the characters appeared so colorless.
Still, the redeeming characters of Emma, and GiGi carried the story. If readers could be patient with the rest it could be considered an almost satisfying read. And yes, sometimes this is what makes a book, discussion worthy, too.
3.5 stars
And, he also writes in a way that makes his selections book discussion worthy.
So, how did this one fare?
What kind of story was this? Was it a standard rom-com? Or, was it a story emphasizing the power and agency of women in defending their own interests?
For me, it definitely was not a rom-com. There was no traditional romance trope, and there really was no comedy. Unless readers want to consider the romance with oneself that is emulated through Emma’s recalled moments of her grandmother GiGi. (Emma is our main protagonist.) In those moments, the message of self-love comes through so clearly, that one can’t help but give oneself a hug.
There were also a lot of quotable moments which I included some below.
Mostly, this was Emma’s story. In so many different ways. She is attempting to find herself. She is taking readers back in time; and, she is interacting with family and others in present time. Readers will connect to the story through Emma.
Or not.
It feels like Emma is having to spend the majority of her time proving herself to a fairly unlikable family. When all Emma seems to really want is to find her own way through her own words, on her own terms, as a writer. And, that family, parents most specifically, seemed much to in to their own superficial personas than they were with what was happening with their daughter.
As readers, we can also feel Emma’s immense devotion to her grandmother, GiGi. And, GiGi to her. Through GiGi’s life lessons Emma was finding her voice, even if she wasn’t getting encouragement from her parents, or her younger, physically stunning sister, Jess.
But what happens when an arrogant successful romance writer named Marcus enters the scene? Will Emma be able to reach through her parent’s plastic veneer? Will this help bring her closer to her sister, Jess?
And, what mystery exists within this family that needs to be solved to help them move forward successfully as a family?
For the most part, when Emma was taking readers through her life with GiGi, or searching to find herself and/or the family mystery to solve, the story had a rapid pace that became an easily compulsive, compelling and focused read. Especially when we hit Chapter 30. Which felt like a true power voice for women. At other times, it was a slow burn which lacked personality. Perhaps because the characters appeared so colorless.
Still, the redeeming characters of Emma, and GiGi carried the story. If readers could be patient with the rest it could be considered an almost satisfying read. And yes, sometimes this is what makes a book, discussion worthy, too.
3.5 stars
January 19, 2025
A florid piece of crap featuring one dimensional villains and a tiresome heroine who goes around declaiming all the time.
It’s deeply unshocking that this book, featuring a misogynistic author writing women’s fiction under a pen name, is actually the work of a male author using a female pseudonym. He clearly has a terrible opinion of women — they’re all either vapid and shallow and spend most of their time screaming at each other, or bound by an equally shallow “girl power” type code rooted in their own sense of youthful superiority.
And he must particularly hate young women, since his “heroine” can apparently be bribed into putting up with continued sexual harassment and stalking from a dude because he sends her …. stickers and a Taylor Swift t-shirt.?
Anyway. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy. It was fucking terrible.
It’s deeply unshocking that this book, featuring a misogynistic author writing women’s fiction under a pen name, is actually the work of a male author using a female pseudonym. He clearly has a terrible opinion of women — they’re all either vapid and shallow and spend most of their time screaming at each other, or bound by an equally shallow “girl power” type code rooted in their own sense of youthful superiority.
And he must particularly hate young women, since his “heroine” can apparently be bribed into putting up with continued sexual harassment and stalking from a dude because he sends her …. stickers and a Taylor Swift t-shirt.?
Anyway. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy. It was fucking terrible.
September 23, 2024
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!
March 28, 2025
The biggest problem with the book is Emma. She’s pretentious and judgmental and constantly criticizes everyone around her while doing nothing to change her situation. Her tendency to go on long tirades to anyone around her–her family, publishing professionals, and even her friends–makes her a character who is impossible to root for. The flashbacks with her grandmother, Gigi, feel awkward and shoe-horned without adding any emotional depth. The remembrances feel more like filler than meaningful backstory.
The novel does too much info-dumping and frequently tells rather than shows, which bog down potentially significant moments with lengthy and unnecessary explanations. It ends up feeling more like a lecture than a compelling narrative.
Furthermore, the male author, Wade Rouse, uses the female pseudonym Viola Shipman, which feels very Twelfth Night as he attempts to fool his readers into thinking he understands a woman’s psyche; instead, he shows a shallow understanding of women and their relationships. The female characters, including Emma, come off as overly emotional or ruthlessly ambitious caricatures with little nuance or complexity. It’s abundantly clear the author has a lot to learn about women. The only thing I found interesting were the bits about the publishing industry and all the stages of producing a novel.
Overall, The Page Turner is a disappointing read. Despite its beautiful cover and promising premise, it fails to deliver a satisfying story.
The novel does too much info-dumping and frequently tells rather than shows, which bog down potentially significant moments with lengthy and unnecessary explanations. It ends up feeling more like a lecture than a compelling narrative.
Furthermore, the male author, Wade Rouse, uses the female pseudonym Viola Shipman, which feels very Twelfth Night as he attempts to fool his readers into thinking he understands a woman’s psyche; instead, he shows a shallow understanding of women and their relationships. The female characters, including Emma, come off as overly emotional or ruthlessly ambitious caricatures with little nuance or complexity. It’s abundantly clear the author has a lot to learn about women. The only thing I found interesting were the bits about the publishing industry and all the stages of producing a novel.
Overall, The Page Turner is a disappointing read. Despite its beautiful cover and promising premise, it fails to deliver a satisfying story.
December 26, 2024
Emma is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan. Her parents run a small publishing house for literary fiction and her sister is an influencer working for them. Emma was close to her grandmother, Gigi, and loves Gigi's summer cottage on Lake Michigan, which contains surprising secrets. When her parents sign an agreement to partner with Marcus, a successful but smarmy author, Emma and her sister Jess find out that he had a connection to their beloved Gigi and that his motivation is revenge. The sisters are determined to not only save their parents' publishing house, but also to have Emma's novel published. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
April 12, 2025
This is the fifth book by Viola Shipman (Wade Rouse using his grandmother's name as a pen name) I have had the pleasure of reading, and I enjoyed them all. Every time I see this author has a new book out, I pick it up and dive in. I haven't been disappointed yet.
Description:
Emma Page 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. Now Emma must decide: As much as she’s dreamed of the day her parents are forced to confront their own egos, can she really just sit back and watch The Mighty Pages be exposed and their legacy destroyed?
My Thoughts:
I loved Emma's close relationshp with her grandmother and all her memories of their time together. I felt bad that her parents made her feel she wasn't good enough and had to hide her romance writing from them. Marcus is certainly a piece of work and it was easy to hate him - and I'm sure everyone reading the book will feel the same. The surprise at the end was something I had figured out early on, so it wasn't a big surprise to me, but certainly made a satisfying ending. I enjoyed the book and think anyone who likes books about family relationships will enjoy.
Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
Emma Page 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. Now Emma must decide: As much as she’s dreamed of the day her parents are forced to confront their own egos, can she really just sit back and watch The Mighty Pages be exposed and their legacy destroyed?
My Thoughts:
I loved Emma's close relationshp with her grandmother and all her memories of their time together. I felt bad that her parents made her feel she wasn't good enough and had to hide her romance writing from them. Marcus is certainly a piece of work and it was easy to hate him - and I'm sure everyone reading the book will feel the same. The surprise at the end was something I had figured out early on, so it wasn't a big surprise to me, but certainly made a satisfying ending. I enjoyed the book and think anyone who likes books about family relationships will enjoy.
Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Graydon House through Netgalley for an advance copy.
January 14, 2025
Wow this was disappointing. It's pretentious and trying too hard, with a deep philosophical life lesson on every page. Ironic when the protagonist claims to hate pretension. The characters lack depth, the main girl is a caricature of a Strong Female Character, and the villain is comically evil for the scope of the novel. I was vaguely invested in the plot, but not enough to keep picking it up from feeling like a chore. Not for me.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.
September 8, 2024
The Page Turner is a Viola Shipman novel like you've never read before. With biting social commentary on the ins and outs of the publishing world, the novel is a deeply personal exploration of not only the power of long held family secrets but also a think piece on how readers judge themselves for what we read, whether it be more literary or commercial fiction.
The main character, Emma, is an inspiring writer, who has long been working on a manuscript that she believes in, but she believes her parents, book publishers of high brow literary novels would balk at her career choice if she ever discussed it with them. Still coping with the grief from her grandmother GiGi's passing, THE PAGE TURNER takes readers on Emma's journey of growing into her own strength and facing the challenges of life. There's so many more complex layers to Shipman's novel that deal with not only publishing's darker side, but the complexities of defining "home" when faced with family strife. Shipman balances it all beautifully in a still warm hearted novel that will leave you longing for a vacation to Michigan, which is what Viola Shipman always does best. Shipman's longtime fans will see the familiar themes that circle in their novels, but I see this book drawing a whole new readership!
Thank you Graydon House for a very early ARC; out April 2025!
The main character, Emma, is an inspiring writer, who has long been working on a manuscript that she believes in, but she believes her parents, book publishers of high brow literary novels would balk at her career choice if she ever discussed it with them. Still coping with the grief from her grandmother GiGi's passing, THE PAGE TURNER takes readers on Emma's journey of growing into her own strength and facing the challenges of life. There's so many more complex layers to Shipman's novel that deal with not only publishing's darker side, but the complexities of defining "home" when faced with family strife. Shipman balances it all beautifully in a still warm hearted novel that will leave you longing for a vacation to Michigan, which is what Viola Shipman always does best. Shipman's longtime fans will see the familiar themes that circle in their novels, but I see this book drawing a whole new readership!
Thank you Graydon House for a very early ARC; out April 2025!
October 3, 2024
Viola Shipman has written a beautiful novel that's not just a love letter to books, but is also a powerful reminder of the strength of women despite all of the bs that we have to fight against every single day. It's a story of the true meaning of family - having each other's backs. It's a story of staying true to yourself, even when it's scary and the people around you aren't being supportive.
So many women will identify with Emma, a young woman just out of college and struggling with trying to figure out her place in "the real world". But all of the women in this book are women that we can cheer for, they're all women that we know in real life....the characters are so easily relatable.
And then there's the author's note at the end - it reduced me to tears. Viola Shipman is such a beautiful soul. That's all I'll say.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Viola Shipman for allowing me to read this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I deeply appreciate it.
So many women will identify with Emma, a young woman just out of college and struggling with trying to figure out her place in "the real world". But all of the women in this book are women that we can cheer for, they're all women that we know in real life....the characters are so easily relatable.
And then there's the author's note at the end - it reduced me to tears. Viola Shipman is such a beautiful soul. That's all I'll say.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Viola Shipman for allowing me to read this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I deeply appreciate it.
April 6, 2025
Something was…off about this book. It had all the makings of a good story, but it fell flat and felt hollow. I pushed through, hoping the ending would redeem it, but upon reading the author’s note at the end, it all made sense. This entire book is centered on women and their struggles, and yet it always missed the mark. Well, imagine my surprise when I realized the author was a man posing as a woman! No wonder it didn’t resonate. The very last thing we need right now is more men pretending to be women and acting as if they have any idea what the struggles are that we face. Wish I could unread, but instead I’ll give it one star.
September 29, 2024
I didn't know this book was written by a man using a woman's name until I finished it. I would have skipped it, had I known. You can skip it and read something better.
May 29, 2025
3.25 Stars
This book took me a long time to read.
I kept having to stop & restart reading it.
I found it depressing.
It could have been me; I’m not sure.
I usually enjoy Viola Shipman’s (Wade Rouse)
stories.
They come from Wade/Viola’s heart & soul.
They are definitely thought provoking.
Hopefully, I’ll like the next novel much better.
Please see other reviews for more information and other opinions.
This book took me a long time to read.
I kept having to stop & restart reading it.
I found it depressing.
It could have been me; I’m not sure.
I usually enjoy Viola Shipman’s (Wade Rouse)
stories.
They come from Wade/Viola’s heart & soul.
They are definitely thought provoking.
Hopefully, I’ll like the next novel much better.
Please see other reviews for more information and other opinions.
April 11, 2025
A woman with a hidden dream has been caving to family pressure and expectation until she discovers a secret about her grandmother that just may be what she needs to let that dream loose and be true to herself. Viola Shipman’s warm and cozy women’s fiction tales have been anticipated go-to reads for a few years now and I was eager to read this latest set against the book industry and Michigan’s beautiful western coast.
The Page Turner begins with Emma recently graduating from university, losing her grandmother, and needing to head to the family vacation cottage where Gigi and Emma shared a love for those mushy mainstream romances that make Emma’s highbrow literary publishing parents’ hair stand on end. Emma, influenced by her favorite books has her own manuscript and plans use that private time at the cottage to good results.
Only, she discovers a secret among Gigi’s papers that will spell the end for The Mighty Pages, her parents publishing and literary agency and her influencer sister whose reviews can make or break a book. What she finds is also known by fake charmer, Marcus, an author who was just signed. Marcus is out for revenge and he’ll get it if Emma sits on what she knows and does nothing. Emma has always struggled with the way her parents look down on her favorite kind of fiction and wonders if it would really be a bad thing if The Mighty Pages went down. But, the dire situation, her grandmother’s legacy and the setting of the cottage work on her and Emma grows and figures out her life and what she wants in this tender and gently-paced page turner.
Like with all Viola Shipman books I’ve read, The Page Turner is all about the characters even the gorgeous Michigan setting as the unnamed character. Diving deep into Emma and the connected family and associate lives, drawing out truths that were hidden, and pains that need healing, the story presents a quandary and then a triumph in the end. Emma has to confront her family and that was never going to be easy- and wasn't.
I found it interesting how The Page Turner gives an insider view into some facets of the book industry and explores some of the prejudices that don’t always make it a nice place like the book snobbery her family has for anything they deem isn’t ‘real literature’. I didn’t engage with this one as much as past works by the author, but it was still an emotionally satisfying read showcasing women’s relationships, figuring out self for Emma, and appreciating the glories of a lakeside cottage community setting in Michigan.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer 4.9.25.
The Page Turner begins with Emma recently graduating from university, losing her grandmother, and needing to head to the family vacation cottage where Gigi and Emma shared a love for those mushy mainstream romances that make Emma’s highbrow literary publishing parents’ hair stand on end. Emma, influenced by her favorite books has her own manuscript and plans use that private time at the cottage to good results.
Only, she discovers a secret among Gigi’s papers that will spell the end for The Mighty Pages, her parents publishing and literary agency and her influencer sister whose reviews can make or break a book. What she finds is also known by fake charmer, Marcus, an author who was just signed. Marcus is out for revenge and he’ll get it if Emma sits on what she knows and does nothing. Emma has always struggled with the way her parents look down on her favorite kind of fiction and wonders if it would really be a bad thing if The Mighty Pages went down. But, the dire situation, her grandmother’s legacy and the setting of the cottage work on her and Emma grows and figures out her life and what she wants in this tender and gently-paced page turner.
Like with all Viola Shipman books I’ve read, The Page Turner is all about the characters even the gorgeous Michigan setting as the unnamed character. Diving deep into Emma and the connected family and associate lives, drawing out truths that were hidden, and pains that need healing, the story presents a quandary and then a triumph in the end. Emma has to confront her family and that was never going to be easy- and wasn't.
I found it interesting how The Page Turner gives an insider view into some facets of the book industry and explores some of the prejudices that don’t always make it a nice place like the book snobbery her family has for anything they deem isn’t ‘real literature’. I didn’t engage with this one as much as past works by the author, but it was still an emotionally satisfying read showcasing women’s relationships, figuring out self for Emma, and appreciating the glories of a lakeside cottage community setting in Michigan.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer 4.9.25.
May 6, 2025
0/5. lol this was a bunch of woo woo "feminism" about what women have to endure and learn to find their power or whatever. then you get to the end and find out it was written by a man, because of course a woman would never be able to write a book!! what a joke.
June 30, 2025
In my humble opinion, The Page Turner by Viola Shipman (Wade Rouse) is not only his best work, but the closest his fans have come to just how much his grandmother (the real Viola) meant to him. The story is a true heart and soul family love story! With a bit of mystery thrown into the mix.
Emma Page has just graduated from college. She wants desperately to be a writer. No surprise there, since her family owns a publishing company called The Mighty Pages. But Emma has always felt like an outsider on the ins and outs of the publishing world. She has always left that to her parents and her sister.
She has always identified more with her grandmother, Gigi who was her mentor. Gigi, with words of wisdom had an unheard-of work ethic. She would get up before everybody and work and cook and put in almost a full day before anyone was ever awake. Thus, making a vast fortune.
But Gigi is gone and now her parents are running the show, spending it seems way too much money. When her sister Jess and her parents ask her to join the company, Emma must make a decision feeling as if no matter what she decides, she will once again disappoint.
But when suddenly an author Emma thinks is very shady and sexist agrees to an imprint at The Mighty Pages, she decides she needs to intervene only to be told by her family that he is there to bail the company out as they are bleeding money.
But Emma discovers something which changes everything. Her grandmother had kept a secret from all of them. By signing this deal with the author, they will be headed for disaster. Now Emma must try and fight not only for her family but for her grandmother. How will she be able to convince them she knows what is going on and make them believe her?
Now is the time for the Page family to put all their arguments and jealousies aside and come together not only for their own good, but for Gigi.
The Page Turner is the essence of a family love story. Your heartstrings will be pulled at and will make you truly appreciate the beautiful dynamic of Viola Shipman and Wade Rouse. Please read the afterward by Wade Rouse for even more touching stories of his life with his grandmother.
Thank you #NetGalley #GraydonHouse #ViolaShipman #ThePageTurner for the advanced copy.
Emma Page has just graduated from college. She wants desperately to be a writer. No surprise there, since her family owns a publishing company called The Mighty Pages. But Emma has always felt like an outsider on the ins and outs of the publishing world. She has always left that to her parents and her sister.
She has always identified more with her grandmother, Gigi who was her mentor. Gigi, with words of wisdom had an unheard-of work ethic. She would get up before everybody and work and cook and put in almost a full day before anyone was ever awake. Thus, making a vast fortune.
But Gigi is gone and now her parents are running the show, spending it seems way too much money. When her sister Jess and her parents ask her to join the company, Emma must make a decision feeling as if no matter what she decides, she will once again disappoint.
But when suddenly an author Emma thinks is very shady and sexist agrees to an imprint at The Mighty Pages, she decides she needs to intervene only to be told by her family that he is there to bail the company out as they are bleeding money.
But Emma discovers something which changes everything. Her grandmother had kept a secret from all of them. By signing this deal with the author, they will be headed for disaster. Now Emma must try and fight not only for her family but for her grandmother. How will she be able to convince them she knows what is going on and make them believe her?
Now is the time for the Page family to put all their arguments and jealousies aside and come together not only for their own good, but for Gigi.
The Page Turner is the essence of a family love story. Your heartstrings will be pulled at and will make you truly appreciate the beautiful dynamic of Viola Shipman and Wade Rouse. Please read the afterward by Wade Rouse for even more touching stories of his life with his grandmother.
Thank you #NetGalley #GraydonHouse #ViolaShipman #ThePageTurner for the advanced copy.
April 9, 2025
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.
I voluntarily read/listened to an advanced copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
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.
I voluntarily read/listened to an advanced copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
April 15, 2025
I always enjoy Viola Shipman's novels. They are cozy and provide a gorgeous armchair adventure in various parts of Michigan. The Page Turner takes us to a cottage in South Haven, right by the beach, and immerses us in a world of books and writing.
Emma is a sympathetic and compelling character. Just out of college, she's expected to join her family's publishing business even though she doesn't like the kinds of books they work with. They (the books) are snobby and elitist, compared to the stories she grew up reading with her beloved GiGi. Her parents also have connected with an author Emma completely hates. And she has a good reason to! He reminds me of a certain person who took over a social media outlet and changed its name to a single letter, if you get my drift. I don't want to say anything else as to not spoil what happens next or anything beyond that, but just know that you will be rooting for Emma the entire time!
I could relate to Emma over being different from others in my family. I usually feel like an outlier, but for different reasons. At least I share similar book interests with my mom and sister. I love that this novel had a villain, as it added a whole new layer to the story. I don't remember many of Viola's novels having villains, although I think there was one in The Secret of Snow. I also loved that this wasn't a typical romance, but was instead about family and following one's passion. There's even a mystery aspect that kept me turning the pages, so to speak!
Overall, another treat from Viola Shipman and I already can't wait for whatever she writes next.
(Trigger warnings below.)
Movie casting suggestions:
Emma: Jane Widdop
Jess: Olivia Holt
Phillip: Justin Theroux
Piper: Jessalyn Gilsig
Marcus: Christian Bale
Originally posted at Chick Lit Central.
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TW: Death of grandparent, emotional abuse, sexual harassment
Emma: Jane Widdop
Jess: Olivia Holt
Phillip: Justin Theroux
Piper: Jessalyn Gilsig
Marcus: Christian Bale
Originally posted at Chick Lit Central.
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TW: Death of grandparent, emotional abuse, sexual harassment
April 12, 2025
Received an ALC though NetGalley🫶🏼
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 booo high when I really only enjoyed less than half of it.
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 booo high when I really only enjoyed less than half of it.
May 5, 2025
“Every character was icky.” I was hoping this was the book to snap me out of my funk but it wasn’t to be. The premise is cute but all the characters are so unlikeable that I couldn’t get through this. I made it about 25% through Emma’s incessant diatribes and eventually gave up. Too much “flash”, not enough substance.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #HarlequinAudio for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #HarlequinAudio for an honest review.
March 2, 2025
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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.
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.
April 17, 2025
This is a book for book lovers who are not always able to articulate why certain books speak to us. I discovered Viola Shipman at The Pelican Bookstore, an Independent bookstore I have visited in Sunset Beach, NC since it opened in the late 1990’s. If I am introduced to an author that captures my heart and/or mind, I tend to read all their books, whether it’s fascination with style, plot, character, setting, or voice. As in all his other novels, The Page Turner captures a love of place, family, and humanity. Since the first one I read, I find myself taking pictures of pages and paragraphs which I hold in my heart long after I close the book because unlike Emma, I cannot quote the lines I hold dear, but I feel a need to return to them. After a difficult three years as an educator, I have often said, “I live in hope.” Books continue to give me strength, empathy, understanding, and a kinship that I only feel when surrounded by other readers young and old. The Page Turner, like all books we find at the right moment, delivers characters who speak to readers by giving voice to our reading lives. It reminds us that we can love our families, regardless of their flaws. For me, it bolsters my resilience in what can feel like a dark time for teachers, librarians, and young people who are denied access to stories that matter. Every reader will have a different lens as you journey through The Page Turner. For those who see books as vehicles of both escape and illumination, I believe you will find a voice in its pages that feels like a kindred spirit. If not, you will be given license to seek your spirit among other authors and genres, without judgement. This Viola Shipman surprised me differently. For that I am grateful.
March 4, 2025
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.
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.
March 20, 2025
In Page Turner, Emma finds herself entangled in family drama, secrets, and unexpected revelations as she fights to save her family’s legacy. With themes of love, resilience, and the complexities of relationships, this story is an emotional rollercoaster that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
I read this book in one sitting—I simply couldn’t put it down! It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Emma’s journey, her relationship with Gigi, and the powerful family dynamics made this story truly unforgettable. I loved how the book explored how perception, lack of communication, and past wounds can hold us back from truly connecting—especially with family. The ending sealed it for me—watching Emma and her sister, Jess, finally come together and fight for their family’s future was so satisfying. This book touches on so much: love, resilience, and how hatred can eat away at us if we let it. It makes you feel seen, heard, and empowered—I’m sure every reader will find a character to connect with. I can’t recommend this one enough!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this incredible book!
Publication Date: April 8,2025
I read this book in one sitting—I simply couldn’t put it down! It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Emma’s journey, her relationship with Gigi, and the powerful family dynamics made this story truly unforgettable. I loved how the book explored how perception, lack of communication, and past wounds can hold us back from truly connecting—especially with family. The ending sealed it for me—watching Emma and her sister, Jess, finally come together and fight for their family’s future was so satisfying. This book touches on so much: love, resilience, and how hatred can eat away at us if we let it. It makes you feel seen, heard, and empowered—I’m sure every reader will find a character to connect with. I can’t recommend this one enough!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this incredible book!
Publication Date: April 8,2025
March 14, 2025
Emma Page just graduated from the University of Michigan with an English degree and designs on being a writer. Her parents are both authors and own a small publishing house with a desire to publish only the best literary fiction. Her older sister is a popular media influencer for authors, with a large following.
Emma thinks they’re all too snooty caring only about appearances and an elite audience. She was very close to her grandmother who died a few years ago and loved spending her summers at her Lake Michigan cottage. The cottage is her home base since she feels comfortable there and still close to her Gigi.
As her parents’ business is threatened with slacking sales they plan to partner with a popular and wealthy author who may not have their best interests at heart. Emma and Jess pair up to search her grandmother’s old office for some surprising secrets.
The novel really takes off at the 60% point living up to its Page Turner title. Thoroughly enjoyed!
Thanks to Edelweiss and Graydon House.
Emma thinks they’re all too snooty caring only about appearances and an elite audience. She was very close to her grandmother who died a few years ago and loved spending her summers at her Lake Michigan cottage. The cottage is her home base since she feels comfortable there and still close to her Gigi.
As her parents’ business is threatened with slacking sales they plan to partner with a popular and wealthy author who may not have their best interests at heart. Emma and Jess pair up to search her grandmother’s old office for some surprising secrets.
The novel really takes off at the 60% point living up to its Page Turner title. Thoroughly enjoyed!
Thanks to Edelweiss and Graydon House.
January 17, 2025
The Page Turner
By: Viola Shipman
Pub date: April 8, 2025
Publisher: Graydon House
Make sure you read the author notes, as the author gives you an insight to his life and his pen name.
This novel is one on a personal level for the author. Family secrets and the publishing world collide in this novel.
Emma is the daughter of two book publishers who are high society of the literary world. She is trying to become a writer but not in the same genre her family publishing. Emma has lost her grandmother, GiGi and will learn she has strengths she never thought possible. Michigan is the setting and this novel will make you want to go back as his books always take us to his beloved state.
Wrap yourself in a warm blanket and grab a hot cocoa or cider and read this little gem. Thank you Graydon House for the advanced e-ARC. I adore Shipman’s novels.
By: Viola Shipman
Pub date: April 8, 2025
Publisher: Graydon House
Make sure you read the author notes, as the author gives you an insight to his life and his pen name.
This novel is one on a personal level for the author. Family secrets and the publishing world collide in this novel.
Emma is the daughter of two book publishers who are high society of the literary world. She is trying to become a writer but not in the same genre her family publishing. Emma has lost her grandmother, GiGi and will learn she has strengths she never thought possible. Michigan is the setting and this novel will make you want to go back as his books always take us to his beloved state.
Wrap yourself in a warm blanket and grab a hot cocoa or cider and read this little gem. Thank you Graydon House for the advanced e-ARC. I adore Shipman’s novels.
June 30, 2025
I loved it. For real.
I didn't expect to like it that much, honestly. It was, for me, a cozy reading and I was hooked when Emma started to dig somes clues about her grandmother and the whole shannanigan about the editors.
What I liked the most about this story was the painful truthness of the real world behind a book. The games, the tactics, the "money before passion", the competition, the hypocrisy. The dark side of what readers do not see if they do not publish. I liked it a lot, because not a lot of books or writers or even editors talk about that side. We need more stories like that.
I didn't expect to like it that much, honestly. It was, for me, a cozy reading and I was hooked when Emma started to dig somes clues about her grandmother and the whole shannanigan about the editors.
What I liked the most about this story was the painful truthness of the real world behind a book. The games, the tactics, the "money before passion", the competition, the hypocrisy. The dark side of what readers do not see if they do not publish. I liked it a lot, because not a lot of books or writers or even editors talk about that side. We need more stories like that.
March 5, 2025
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.
October 9, 2025
This book hit some personal nerves for me, but that is the mark of effective fiction, no? I just need to you to keep that in mind when you get to my very personal quibbles.
First, the book itself: this is a fun, if improbable, story about recent college grad, Emma Page, a lover of romance who's the child of literary minded parents. Viola Shipman aka Wade Rouse has penned an unapologetic love letter to grandmothers and genre, two of my favorite things. Looking for a story that tackles the patriarchy with plenty of references to the magic of books? This is your jam.
Okay, now I'll talk about my stumbling blocks because it's my review or, really, my reaction. I stopped giving books a star rating because I don't want people to not rate books and, also, it felt squicky to give stars to other authors. (This is a policy that I may change very soon, however, because those ratings mean a lot to my fellow authors)
First, this is a story about a 22-year-old wannabe novelist who loves her grandmother. Well, I have lived that story. I did not, however, live it as a gay man, and the author in question didn't quite have the same experience, either. It's so odd to have an author, who I know to be a man, talking about the patriarchy. I put that aside, though, because even. if Shipman/Rouse didn't have my experiences, he certainly had others that marginalized his experiences and, I have to say, he writes his women well. Bless.
But this novel churned up two memories in particular. The first happened when I was in grad school. The editor of a literary journal came to talk to my fiction class and said he never wanted to see another story from a woman about her grandmother. He literally said, "the story isn't as special as you seem to think it is." Ouch. And here I am reading a book about a girl and her grandmother. I think I initially changed Ginger from Beulah's grandmother to an acquaintance due in large part to that one moment in my personal history. It wasn't the wrong change, but the whole thing has made me wonder if Shipman would've gotten this story published if actually a woman. Probably. Because the other intersection going on in that class was a celebration of the literary over genre. The editor in question definitely had more in common with Emma's parents than with Emma.
A second memory came to mind as I was reading: an undergrad professor read a short story I was really proud of because he'd offered extra critiques to any student brave enough to take advantage of the offer. The short story in question was about a very young wife who was weighing whether or not she should get an abortion. She didn't want to, but she and her husband were so poor. Having a baby would sink them. Then she watches a cat eating one of her kittens. I left the ending open. The professor in question asked me if the story was satire because it was so cliche. He pointed to a moment where the woman pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. Mortified, I took the critique and went back to my dorm never to touch that story again. Then I thought about it. If you have long hair, you're gonna push a strand behind your ear. That's how long hair works. But, to my knowledge, no one has ever compared a cat eating a kitten to abortion before thus that part could not be cliche. If anything, it was very Flannery O'Connor in the grotesque. Don't get me wrong, that story needed work. I was nineteen for heaven's sake, but to call it cliche and satire in such a condescending tone was so utterly male in its assessment of any story that involved the crunching of bones. (I am shuddering at the memory because I took a real life experience and put it into that story. Gah)
Finally, I would like to get to the improbable part.
Now that I've unpacked all of my luggage, I want to say again that I enjoyed this book. Much of the dialogue is witty. Many of the insights are spot on. The rogue agent is redeemed--and hilarious--while the villain gets their due. Ultimately, family wins over profit. Big yays all around. If you are more reader than writer, then this may be your feel good read of the summer.
First, the book itself: this is a fun, if improbable, story about recent college grad, Emma Page, a lover of romance who's the child of literary minded parents. Viola Shipman aka Wade Rouse has penned an unapologetic love letter to grandmothers and genre, two of my favorite things. Looking for a story that tackles the patriarchy with plenty of references to the magic of books? This is your jam.
Okay, now I'll talk about my stumbling blocks because it's my review or, really, my reaction. I stopped giving books a star rating because I don't want people to not rate books and, also, it felt squicky to give stars to other authors. (This is a policy that I may change very soon, however, because those ratings mean a lot to my fellow authors)
First, this is a story about a 22-year-old wannabe novelist who loves her grandmother. Well, I have lived that story. I did not, however, live it as a gay man, and the author in question didn't quite have the same experience, either. It's so odd to have an author, who I know to be a man, talking about the patriarchy. I put that aside, though, because even. if Shipman/Rouse didn't have my experiences, he certainly had others that marginalized his experiences and, I have to say, he writes his women well. Bless.
But this novel churned up two memories in particular. The first happened when I was in grad school. The editor of a literary journal came to talk to my fiction class and said he never wanted to see another story from a woman about her grandmother. He literally said, "the story isn't as special as you seem to think it is." Ouch. And here I am reading a book about a girl and her grandmother. I think I initially changed Ginger from Beulah's grandmother to an acquaintance due in large part to that one moment in my personal history. It wasn't the wrong change, but the whole thing has made me wonder if Shipman would've gotten this story published if actually a woman. Probably. Because the other intersection going on in that class was a celebration of the literary over genre. The editor in question definitely had more in common with Emma's parents than with Emma.
A second memory came to mind as I was reading: an undergrad professor read a short story I was really proud of because he'd offered extra critiques to any student brave enough to take advantage of the offer. The short story in question was about a very young wife who was weighing whether or not she should get an abortion. She didn't want to, but she and her husband were so poor. Having a baby would sink them. Then she watches a cat eating one of her kittens. I left the ending open. The professor in question asked me if the story was satire because it was so cliche. He pointed to a moment where the woman pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. Mortified, I took the critique and went back to my dorm never to touch that story again. Then I thought about it. If you have long hair, you're gonna push a strand behind your ear. That's how long hair works. But, to my knowledge, no one has ever compared a cat eating a kitten to abortion before thus that part could not be cliche. If anything, it was very Flannery O'Connor in the grotesque. Don't get me wrong, that story needed work. I was nineteen for heaven's sake, but to call it cliche and satire in such a condescending tone was so utterly male in its assessment of any story that involved the crunching of bones. (I am shuddering at the memory because I took a real life experience and put it into that story. Gah)
Finally, I would like to get to the improbable part.
Now that I've unpacked all of my luggage, I want to say again that I enjoyed this book. Much of the dialogue is witty. Many of the insights are spot on. The rogue agent is redeemed--and hilarious--while the villain gets their due. Ultimately, family wins over profit. Big yays all around. If you are more reader than writer, then this may be your feel good read of the summer.
Read
April 21, 2025DNF.
I could not get into this.
I hated the characters from the start.
Emma does nothing but complain and judge others.
I’m not sure what it was with this read, but it was off to me.
I wanted to love it so much and appreciated the way the author tried to get into the “deeper meaning” of things but it ended up being a drag for me 😫
Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for the ALC 🎧
I could not get into this.
I hated the characters from the start.
Emma does nothing but complain and judge others.
I’m not sure what it was with this read, but it was off to me.
I wanted to love it so much and appreciated the way the author tried to get into the “deeper meaning” of things but it ended up being a drag for me 😫
Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for the ALC 🎧
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