The Page Turner by Viola Shipman ~ my review

In The Page Turner, a novel by Viola Shipman, literary family, Phillip and Piper Page and young-adult daughters Jess and Emma, whip wits against each other—until they realize family loyalty is the only thing that will save them from ruin at the hands of a predatory villain. In the meantime, they argue with each other about the value of romance novels versus serious literature, the value of high society versus life’s simple pleasures, and their trust versus mistrust of various literary agents. Emma, especially, takes on her family over how women are portrayed in fiction, and the importance of protecting her grandmother’s literary legacy. Emma is repelled early-on by the oily contempt of eventually revealed villain, but it takes the rest of this novel for her to figure out why this slithering snake has the power to destroy her family.

 

Because the Page family are all in the publishing business, their arguments take readers inside today’s publishing practices and trends. I liked this aspect! Publishing details are sufficient to bore, however, if this is not an interest of yours. Another enjoyment for me was the setting. In the beginning of this novel, beach, bluffs, and lighthouse descriptions transported me to one of my all-time favorite places, South Haven, Michigan. Then on Page 60, I read: “These are sounds of a South Haven summer.” The Pages split their time between New York and Michigan, but whenever they were in Michigan, I felt right at home. Dialogue in The Page Turner is unrealistically clever, but being a word nerd, I decided to let the intelligentsia have their repartee while I simply relaxed and enjoyed the word play.