The Page Turner
- Judith D Collins
- Jun 19, 2025
- 7 min read
By: Viola Shipman
Narrator: Katharine Chin
Harlequin Audio
ISBN: 978-1525831638
Publisher: Graydon House
Publication Date: 04/08/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars (ALC)
“A tasty, dishy inside look at the world of publishing. Readers will be begging for a sequel!”—Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of Summers at the Saint
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!
My Review
Viola Shipman's (favorite author) enchanting novel, THE PAGE TURNER, immerses readers in the poignant journey of Emma Page. As she delves into the layers of her family's history, Emma discovers a long-buried secret that poses a dire threat to her parents' esteemed publishing business and their carefully crafted reputation.
The narrative beautifully intertwines themes of love, loyalty, and the complexities of family bonds, inviting readers to explore not just the literary world but the intricate tapestry of relationships that define us all.
About...
Emma is the "black sheep" of the family. She is an aspiring writer who loves romance novels, a genre her elitist parents, who run the prestigious but struggling literary publishing house "The Mighty Pages," ridicule as "fluff". She writes her own romance manuscript in secret.
Following the death of her beloved grandmother, Gigi, Emma retreats to the family's Lake Michigan cottage and finds comfort in Gigi's collection of summer romance novels.
While at the cottage, Emma discovers old manuscripts and other belongings of her grandmother's that reveal Gigi was a hugely successful, anonymous romance novelist under a pseudonym. Her parents had hidden this fact out of shame.
But this secret has the power to ruin her parents’ business and destroy their reputation in the industry—then it falls into the hands of an unscrupulous publishing insider with a grudge to settle. Now
Emma is faced with a difficult choice: expose her parents' hypocrisy and watch their business crumble, or find a way to save the family while staying true to her own voice and Gigi's legacy.
Ultimately, Emma and her sister, Jess (a book influencer), must set aside their own rivalries and differences to work together and save the family business from the villainous insider, leading to a mending of family ties.
My thoughts...
I absolutely adored THE PAGE TURNER! This captivating journey compels Emma to embark on a heartfelt exploration of her identity, guiding her to discover her own authentic voice. As she navigates the challenges ahead, Emma not only uncovers her strength but also embraces her deep-seated passion for romance writing. Through this transformative experience, she learns to celebrate her individuality while honoring the cherished memory of her grandmother.
At its core, the novel delivers a poignant message: every story holds intrinsic value, and the most profound act of self-love is finding the courage to embrace and express your unique voice.
THE PAGE TURNER serves as a "love letter" to romance readers and a critique of literary elitism. It argues that no genre is "fluff" if it makes a reader feel seen, educated, or comforted, and that we should not judge books (or people) simply by their covers or genre.
The protagonist, Emma, learns that silencing her authentic voice to "fit in" with her elitist family is a form of self-betrayal. Through the discovery of her grandmother’s secret, Emma realizes that a fulfilling career is not defined by prestige or highbrow intellectualism, but by the honest connection a writer makes with their readers.
The title holds multiple layers of significance that tie together the novel's characters, plot, and overall message about the value of storytelling.
It highlights the central conflict between highbrow "literary" fiction and popular commercial fiction. While Emma’s family prizes intellectual prestige, the title celebrates the "page-turners"—books that are unputdownable, emotionally resonant, and accessible to everyone.
Metaphorically, the title refers to "turning the page" on old chapters of life. It represents Emma’s journey to move past her family’s elitist expectations, uncover her grandmother Gigi's secrets, and finally start a new chapter where she owns her true voice as a writer.
I love how the story highlights how books save and change lives. Healing through reading helps us navigate difficult chapters of growth, grief, and self-discovery.
As an avid admirer of the author, I find that he beautifully reflects a cherished lesson imparted by his grandmother. The novel powerfully conveys the profound message that the most significant love story is the one we cultivate with ourselves. It is this self-love that serves as a pillar of strength, empowering us to navigate the often tumultuous journey of life. I am captivated by the inspiration that flows through the pages, a testament to the author's deep affection for his grandmother and the lasting legacy she has left behind.
The audiobook...
The audiobook comes alive through the remarkable talent of Katharine Chin. Her voice captures the essence of the story, intertwining themes of healing and the profound impact of storytelling. Each word resonates with emotion, immersing listeners in a vivid tapestry of experiences that makes the book feel alive in a way that goes beyond mere written words.
Recs...
If you enjoy Shipman's signature style of storytelling, family focus, and emotional depth, you might want to explore his other works, many of which share similar themes and a compelling narrative style:
Special thanks to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for sharing an advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Apr 08, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
Praise
“A tasty, dishy inside look at the world of publishing. Readers will be begging for a sequel!”
—Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of Summers at the Saint
"A celebration of books that lives up to its title, The Page Turner is a deeply personal exploration of the power of stories -- especially the ones we tell about and to ourselves. Viola Shipman delights."
—Steven Rowley, New York Times bestselling author of The Celebrants and The Guncle
"A twisty, propulsive love letter to romance readers, The Page Turner is ultimately about personal courage and the importance of owning your voice."
—Annabel Monaghan, bestselling author of Summer Romance
"Viola Shipman’s The Page Turner is a love letter to complicated families, but also a reminder that books themselves can be family too. It’s an ode to the types of stories we read with our toes in the sand, but also to the generations of women who’ve loved and shared books of all stripes."
--Ali Rosen, bestselling author of Recipe for Second Chances and Unlikely Story
About the Author
WADE ROUSE is the internationally bestselling author of nine books, which have been translated into nearly 20 languages. Wade chose his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman, as a pen name to honor the woman whose heirlooms and family stories inspire his fiction.
Wade’s novels include The Charm Bracelet, a 2017 Michigan Notable Book of the Year; The Hope Chest; and The Recipe Box. NYT bestselling author Dorothea Benton Frank says of Wade and his latest novel, The Summer Cottage: “Every now and then a new voice in fiction arrives to completely charm, entertain and remind us what matters. Viola Shipman is that voice and The Summer Cottage is that novel.”
Library Journal writes that Wade has “hit upon the perfect formula to tell heartwarming, inter-generational family stories by weaving together the lives, loves and history of family through cherished heirlooms.” He recently signed a three-book book deal with HarperCollins. His next novel, The Heirloom Garden, will publish in April 2020.
Wade’s books have been selected multiple times as Must-Reads by NBC’s Today Show, featured in the Washington Post, USA Today and on Chelsea Lately and have also been chosen three times as Indie Next Picks by the nation’s independent booksellers.
His writing has appeared in a diverse range of publications and media, including Coastal Living, Time, All Things Considered, People, Good Housekeeping, Salon, Forbes, Taste of Home, Country Woman, Writer’s Digest and Publisher’s Weekly.
Also a noted humorist of four memoirs, Wade was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Awards in Humor (he lost to Tina Fey) and was named by Writer’s Digest as “The #2 Writer, Dead or Alive, We’d Like to Have Drinks With” (Wade was sandwiched between Ernest Hemingway and Hunter Thompson).
Wade earned his B.A. from Drury University and his master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. He divides his time between Saugatuck, Michigan, and Palm Springs, California, and is also an acclaimed writing teacher who has mentored numerous students to become published authors. WEBSITE
THE STORY OF VIOLA SHIPMAN
My novels are a tribute to my Ozarks grandma, Viola Shipman. The jangling of her charm bracelet was as ever-present as the call of the whippoorwill, the scent of her hope chest as vivid as cedars after a spring rain, and her burnished wood recipe box stuffed with family recipes that still make my mouth water.
Her heirlooms, life, lessons and love not only inspire my fiction but also inspired me to become a writer and, I hope, the person I am today. She taught me that the simplest things in life – family, friends, faith, fun, love, and a passion for what you do – are truly the grandest gifts. My fiction is meant to honor the elders in our lives whose sacrifices and journeys helped make us who we are today. I couldn’t be prouder of my novels, which I hope reconnect you to your own family’s stories, heirlooms, histories and traditions.
For more about the author, please visit Wade Rouse’s official website.
