Scan barcode
lavienne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Dementia, Infertility, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Animal death, Miscarriage, Blood, and Cancer
lusignank's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
2.0
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Incest, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Miscarriage
bombshellbibliophile's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Death, Incest, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, and Cursing
Not worth the read. Terrible ending. Past and present was too back and forth. Characters were utterly unlikeable. Very slow. Author has poetic descriptive writing style but when not paired with good plot and characters it’s wasted. Way too much sexual trauma, with minors at that. that don't really add more to the plot. Surprised this is a NY times and Reese’s book club rec, now I know not all endorsements of such will be to my liking.chapterchatswithcaroline's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Paper Palace had been sitting on my TBR ever since this book came out and was hyped.
The story follows Elle, who is vacationing in Cape Cod at her grandfather’s family home called the Paper Palace, along with her family and long-time best friend. When she is met with an unexpected situation, she must choose between her long-awaited love or the life she has with her loving husband and three children.
The book is certainly beautifully written, but there wasn’t anything that wowed me much about it. I felt the author played it safe. However, it was a story that kept me hooked because I wanted to see how it would end and who Elle would ultimately choose. That curiosity was a good enough reason to keep me engaged.
The book was a slow burner, and some chapters dragged on. The dual timeline also got confusing at times, making it difficult to distinguish between past and present, especially since 80% of the book is written in flashbacks. Additionally, dividing the book into five parts with three parts named after the main characters seemed unnecessary, as the story continued in the same style and was told from Elle’s point of view. If the story had been told from multiple points of view, this division might have made more sense.
The characters were okay, not much to love or hate; they all had their own secrets, lies, and burdens to carry. The book is full of trigger warnings and explicit sex scenes that readers should watch out for when picking this one up.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, especially if you’re not in a hurry and looking for a slow-burn, character-driven book.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Child abuse
jessiehg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
- the time cuts exploring a similar theme across generations are so close to being too obvious and trite, but there’s enough complexity and difference that they work well
- the characters verge on 1 dimensional, but they’re also not overwritten which I’m grateful for
- Elle’s motivations and the deep rippling effects of her childhood on her choices are very well done, as is the reasoning (absolution) behind the affair finally occurring
- the end will bother some, but I think it was the only option
- I saw most things coming, but you could take that as well constricted and neat rather than obvious
There’s something here about starting in a simplistic idea of lifelong longing finally acted upon, and then simultaneously strengthening the reader’s belief in that “cosmic connection” and (through an unreliable narrator) revealing flags of the flawed, bad (but not in the way they think they are!) people who would in reality not ride off into the sunset but likely hurt each other like all partners do. Jonas is a dick to his wife, Elle is obviously coping with her mistakes and explores those things (eg lying, distance to husband).
Once I hit about halfway I found it difficult to put down. I was deeply affected. But I didn’t LOVE it.
This may be better on screen than on paper - what verges on flat in the book could be fleshed out with great acting.
It helped me to keep reminding myself that this is my parent’s generation, and in a lot of ways her reactions are very well written for that.
Starting this book in the affair and love triangle is indicative of the target audience. The average airport/rom com reader wants empty longing and sex as a hook to then become invested in the real story. Personally, the real story is what it took for me to give any amount of shits about the affair. An understandable and commercially wise choice, but not to my liking.
Graphic: Miscarriage, Vomit, Incest, Child abuse, Death, Sexual content, Cancer, Child death, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
Minor: Terminal illness and Animal cruelty
cpete's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Death
fabi1998's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Sexual violence, Murder, Cancer, Blood, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Grief, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Death
kati_k's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Sexual content
curtinbrit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Infidelity, and Sexual content
thewordapothecary's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Blood, Cancer, Sexual violence, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Incest, Violence, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pregnancy, and Rape