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The Paper Palace

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The Paper Palace

By: Miranda Cowley Heller
Narrated by: Laurel Lefkow
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

2 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE

LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE 2022

A PAGE-TURNING SUMMERTIME READ FOR FANS OF WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING AND LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE

On a perfect August morning, Elle Bishop heads out for a swim in the pond below 'The Paper Palace' - her family's holiday home in Cape Cod. As she dives beneath the water she relives the passionate encounter she had the night before, against the side of the house that knows all her darkest secrets, while her husband and mother chatted to their guests inside...

So begins a story that unfolds over twenty-four hours and fifty years, as Elle's shocking betrayal leads her to a life-changing decision - and an ending you won't be able to stop thinking about.

'A deeply emotional love story that follows one day in the life of Elle Bishop as she navigates the unravelling of secrets, lies and a very complex love triangle' REESE WITHERSPOON

'Glorious and gorgeous. I was absolutely immersed and gripped and I'm devastated to have finished it' MARIAN KEYES

'Here is a love triangle that keeps you turning the pages' Rachel Joyce

'Utterly addictive' Rosamund Lupton

'Dry, sharp and with devastating depths plumbed so elegantly' Pandora Sykes

'Smart, atmospheric and seriously juicy' Stylist

'Earthy, intoxicating, shimmering' Sunday Times

© Miranda Cowley Heller 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

 Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Heartfelt

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Critic reviews

A deeply emotional love story that follows one day in the life of Elle Bishop as she navigates the unravelling of secrets, lies and a very complex love triangle
It's glorious and gorgeous. I was absolutely immersed and gripped and I'm devastated to have finished it (Marian Keyes)
This accomplished family saga is gripping and poetic, capturing the complexity of the human heart
A family drama, a forbidden love story, a childhood tragedy, The Paper Palace is a stunning literary debut that will eat you up and leave you reeling - you won't want it to end
It's been ages since I was so absorbed in a contemporary novel. I loved it (Nick Hornby)
In rich and sensuous prose, Cowley Heller, cracks open the human heart and exposes her character's choices: the paths not taken and the devastating consequences. I smelled the old cabins and the backwoods, felt the pond water lapping around my ankles, experienced the love and loss of family. A perceptive and powerful story which will stay with me for a long time (Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled Ground)
Tightly woven and immediate, The Paper Palace takes us deep into a vivid summer landscape, a family, and a private, longstanding love story, and holds us there from start to finish (Meg Wolitzer, New York Times bestselling author of The Wife and The Female Persuasion)
I can't think of a more brilliant debut than The Paper Palace. Enticing, assured and multi-layered, it introduces a major new voice in American fiction . . . A marvel (Cressida Connolly)
Absolutely phenomenal novel - dazzling writing and utterly addictive. Read it (Rosamund Lupton)
It felt as if I read The Paper Palace in one go. It was completely immersive, and shocking, and utterly alive. I loved it (Nina Stibbe)
All stars
Most relevant
I couldn’t get enough of this book, I listen to a book a week and finished this in a couple of days. It was a extremely well written book. The descriptions in the book added to the atmosphere, I could feel, smell and see all the experiences the author was portraying. I loved that it started in the 60s and we traveled through the lifetime of the main character. I will say there are descriptions of abuse and if this is a triggering subject you need to be aware before listening, as it’s very upsetting.
The book as a whole is amazing, real and authentic. I will listen to it again for sure and I rarely do that with books. I would love to find something like it on the future. I cried in parts and related to some of the experiences the main character goes through. You won’t regret this book.

A must listen

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I loved this book. I was totally engaged. Great characters and really well written. 100% recommend.

Brilliant

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I was so looking forward to this as it seemed very popular! I am however a bit disappointed, perhaps I missed the storyline but there seemed no purpose and the ending just sort of fizzled out.

Hmm

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I waited for this book to come out as was really keen to read it after Reece’s Book Club recommendation. I actually purchased extra Audible credits so that I could get it on release date. I started and stuck with it up to chapter 9 but found the delivery so frustrating and confusing that I had to return it.

I REALLY wanted to love this book. It’s not the narrators voice, she has a very pleasant voice. It’s the delivery. The way she doesn’t stop between sentences and jumps from one era to another without even a breath in between. it’s almost like the editing has been poorly done or it’s been released at the wrong speed?. If I was the author, I would not be happy.

I’ve gone down the middle with the star rating for ‘overall and story’ as I can’t leave a review without marking them. I did not get far enough in to the book to give a fully informed review but felt it unfair to the author to leave any less. This book has great reviews elsewhere, so it’s a shame that the audible version does not do it justice. For now, I will purchase the hard copy, or maybe even just wait for the TV show.

Hard to follow due to delivery - so disappointed.

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I inhaled this book. It pulled at my heartstrings. Such beautiful descriptive writing. One can feel the protagonists emotions. All of the characters are well written and understood. Ties the past and present together throughout.

Beautiful Story

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