Sophia Rose is her with a new women’s fiction romance from author Viola Shipman. Grab a cuppa and check out her thoughts on The Page Turner.
by Viola Shipman
Genres: Women's Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
A young romance writer makes a discovery that throws her elitist family into chaos in this sharp, witty and entirely delightful family drama for fans of Elinor Lipman and Jennifer Weiner.
Emma Page grew up the black sheep in a bookish household, raised to believe that 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 when 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?
From the wealthy enclaves of the Hamptons to the sparkling shores of Lake Michigan, The Page Turner is a delectable glimpse inside the world of publishing, and Viola Shipman’s most glittering achievement yet!
Sophia Rose’s Review
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.
About Viola Shipman
Viola Shipman is the pen name for Wade Rouse, a popular, award-winning memoirist. Rouse chose his grandmother's name, Viola Shipman, to honor the woman whose heirlooms and family stories inspire his writing. Rouse is the author of The Summer Cottage, as well as The Charm Bracelet and The Hope Chest which have been translated into more than a dozen languages and become international bestsellers. He lives in Saugatuck, Michigan and Palm
Springs, California, and has written for People, Coastal Living, Good Housekeeping, and Taste of Home, along with other publications, and is a contributor to All Things Considered.
Stay Caffeinated!
Never miss a post by adding Caffeinated to your Inbox
About Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
I don’t really read a lot of women’s fiction, but this one sounds like the publishing aspects would be interesting. And that cover is so pretty! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Sophia Rose
I never used to read women’s fic, but there are a few authors now who grab my fancy and Viola Shipman’s heartfelt stories are one. Hope you get the chance at it, Lisa!
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
I’ve read one book by this author and enjoyed it but haven’t read any more of their books. This one appeals to me more than the rest though I’m not a fan of the book snobbery. I need to pick this one up!
Sophia Rose
Yes, this one has a different feel than his past books. Hope you enjoy it, Katherine!
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
Yay for review twins! This was my first read by Shipman, but I have wanted to try him for sometime. This cover was so pretty and it checked off a book in my “Bookish Books Challenge” but I didn’t really get into the story until about the 40% mark (?). I loved the gorgeous setting and the plot of brining down that creep, Marcus, but I could’ve done with less of the commentary on the publishing world and the snobbish “literary” crowd. I do like people championing the fact that you don’t have to read miserable, sad, “highbrow” reads to be a reader. However, it started to feel preachy and it took up too many pages, in my humble opinion. Still, I want to try another one of Shipman’s books. I think I’d enjoy it
Sophia Rose
I don’t disagree with you and I felt that delve into the darker feelings about the literary crowd was an oddity. That’s not the norm for his books. You’ll definitely want to try one of the older ones to see what all the fuss is about his books. 🙂
Mary Kirkland
Sounds like there’s a lot going on with her family at this time. It sounds good though.
Sophia Rose
Yeah, she’s got to figure out her own career and feelings about the family business, fix her relationship with her sister, and then there’s her issues with her parents. 🙂
Marlene Harris
I bounced off this one hard a week or so ago, but your review is making me rethink that experience because I have loved all of the author’s previous books. Thanks for giving me a different perspective!
Sophia Rose
Sometimes its just not a good match even from an author you usually love. This one had prickly points and I took a bit to slip into it. Glad to offer something different. 🙂
Carla@CarlaLovesToRead
Excellent review, Sophia Rose. I am so looking forward to this one. I also love all the Viola Shipman books I have read and he is an auto-read author for me. The inside look at areas of publishing that I am not familiar with sounds intriguing as well.
Sophia Rose
It felt a little different from his usual fair, but I still loved delving into the story. Hope you enjoy it, too, Carola!