I was enchanted by this novel. It pulled me in from the first page with its beautiful, poetic descriptions and unforgettable characters. Elle, mother of three, is married to Peter. They are visiting the paper palace, scene of her childhood. I loved this setting with the pond and swimming, and the clever structure where we witness the events of 24 hours in the present day interlaced with Elle’s life until then. I enjoyed the interactions between Elle’s prickly mother Wallace and her son-in-law, who knows just how to deal with her, and Elle’s relationship with her feisty sister Anna. There is also tragedy and some scenes aren’t easy to read but I couldn’t put this book down and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to lose themselves in a fabulous, absorbing read.

The Paper Palace is a deeply interesting love story that follows one day in the life of Elle Bishop (a professional, middle class, married mother of three, late 40s) and intersperses it with key moments from her past which will inform the crucial decision she needs to make.
The day is spent in a rambling, intriguing place (the Paper Palace of the title) by the shore of one of Cape Cod's beautiful and unspoilt ponds. This is far more than just a holiday home; communal and private, sheltering and wild, permanent and temporary, the Palace has become the touchstone of Elle's life. Hers is a a life of certain privilege but also of privations, and one of the many enjoyable aspects of this novel is precisely how the first person narrator introduces us with a direct, forceful yet always allusive prose to the various elements of her life - family characters, friendships made, problems confronted. All those elements, slowly but surely build up our expectations, and create a world that develops into a deeply believable exploration of childhood survival, the dynamics of divorced families, unexpected decisions, guilt, ... all explored with intelligence and wit. The crux of the decision Elle realises she must make has to do with love in its multifaceted forms, and truthfulness to oneself and others. This moral element informs all of the moments of Elle's past life she happens to look at through the day (or that the Palace inhabitant decides to commit to paper at a given point in the future).
The writing is wonderful in its visual descriptions, but especially strong in its depiction of character through dialogue. There is empathy, human emotion, wisdom and humour in abundance, as well as literary allusions!

A great novel, highly recommended. Thank you to Penguin via NetGalley for an advance copy - a fantastic read and loads of discussion ahead.

I truly had zero expectations when I picked up this book, having barely even read the blurb, and it has absolutely blindsided me. It is stunning. I can’t think of a single other author I’ve read that could span 50 years over a 24 hour period with such beautiful prose. The sheer detail woven into every sentence in this novel is astonishing. I loved it so, so much and this deeply moving, heartfelt and gorgeous story deserves every success. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. An astonishing five star read.

Thank you for the opportunity to read 'The Paper Palace'.

I loved this book and quickly found myself wrapped up in the story of Elle, Jonas and Peter. The story is beautifully written and the author's descriptions of the back woods area of Cape Cod are lovely. I really didn't want the book to end and will look out for the author's next book!

If, like me, you loved Where the Crawdads Sing then you will love this book as well. The situations our narrator Elle experiences are harrowing in places but always beautifully written and I cared about the characters so much. There is so much to talk about that this would make a perfect book group read.

A beautifully written novel that sucks you in from the first page and takes you straight to the Cape in summer. It’s a story that seems so simple at first, but grows in complexity at every jump back into the protagonist’s past. Touching, subtle and atmospheric.

I loved this novel and felt that it has so many ingredients of what makes up a perfect novel for me. It is a beautifully written and compelling read, exquisitely observed. Elle's infidelity at the start of the novel and the following 24 hours of her life are entwined with the history of her family over 50 years and looks at her chaotic and traumatic childhood and shows how we carry our childhood experiences with us throughout our lives. I loved the setting and the pace of this novel. The formatting of the proof made a complete immersion challenging at times so I will definitely be buying myself a finished copy. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC.

Gosh, this was good. It's a book about secrets and lies that bind and break both people and relationships.
The book begins with an act of infidelity and the rest of the book delves into Elle's life at how she has reached this point. Through masterfully woven memories we discover the events that built deceptions and instigated the snap decisions that affect everything. There were a few moments where I thought the language around the sex was a little OTT, but it does depict how Elle considers that sex... dirty and illicit, and how she considers herself too come to that.
Elle's childhood is chaotic and her family somewhat dysfunctional, after all her mother had her own memories to contend with. I felt sorry for the mother, she's a mother who, like all mothers, lives with the knowledge that they could have done better. And Elle, even as a child, understood her mother was more fragile than the bolshy exterior would have one believe. But hindsight is wonderful yet soul destroying stuff. It's where guilt and regret can merge into something that can break you. And it never rests, always there, influencing more crappy decisions and spoiling the best of lives.
Yes, I know, everything could have been so different had everyone, especially the children, just spoken out, but secrets only become secrets when they're hidden. And the longer they're hidden, the bigger they grow and the deeper they cut until they're embedded and so deep they're impossible to release.
I know some readers read to escape the horrors of real life and want to read books about lovely people having a lovely time in a tidy life with roses in the garden etc, etc, and that's fine, this book is not for those readers. This is a book about the complex chaos that surrounds a lot of family life.
I'm going to be getting a paperback copy when it's released so I can have a copy on my shelf. I'll read it again and it'll be available for guests.
I will also be looking out for more of this author's work.
Big thanks to Riverhead Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

A family saga of a book, with two stories running alongside each other until they converge.

Elle is born into a dysfunctional family, and along with her sister Anna, grows up amongst selfish adults who care for their children in their own ways.

The one story takes place over 24 hours in the now, the other story is Elle growing up, falling in love, dealing with horrific situations and getting on with life.

The story is meandering and at times confusing, but parts are beautiful and descriptive. There is no big reveal or tension climb. It took a while to get into the book, but I did enjoy it, though I feel the ending was ambiguous, perhaps what the author intended or maybe I missed something.

Thank you NetGalley.

Having read some extremely positive preview comments about this novel, I promoted it on my reading list - and this was a good decision. 'The Paper Palace' is beautifully written; it is engrossing; it is epic and sad, evocative and memorable. Essentially, It is a superb read, and this is why.

Cowley Heller's novel has two storylines - but these are closely linked, and one is as essential as the other. The story begins in current times, and takes place over a twenty-four hour period. It sees Elle, her British husband Peter, and their three children (Maddy, Finn and Jack) staying at the family's summer house - 'the paper palace' - on Cape Cod. Seemingly, the house has seen better days; it seems to be falling apart, but this doesn't stop the family enjoying their time there. At the start, readers are told that Elle had sex with Jonas, an old childhood friend, and so begins the rest of the story.

At the beginning, the decades preceding the main story are interspersed. We learn of Elle and her sister, Anna; what happened to Conrad; and, the terrible secrets that Elle has carried with her from childhood through to being an adult. As the book progresses, the back story dominates - and readers are privy, then, to the complexities and intricacies of Elle's life, building up to the current day (a full day from where the novel begins) - and it's not until the very end that we have some sort of resolution. Cowley Heller keeps us hanging through to the end - but even then, we're not entirely sure what decision Elle has made.

This novel is clever in that the peripheral characters and essential, even though we're not, as readers, given too much information about them. We feel sorry for Elle - but then we might think she's dreadful for doing what she has done, and there is no right answer to this, I guess. Characterisation is strong - the Britishness of Peter (although I can't help but think he wouldn't smoke in the house, and around his family - seems a little implausible in our modern age, particularly given the type of man he is); and Elle's mum (not 'mom') is brilliant - caustic and dry.

I so want to give this 5 stars but it's a 4 star book for me - and the main reason for this is the somewhat confusing/clunky nature of the time structure and introduction of people at different times. With a little tweaking, I think this would be the perfect novel - it is nearly there, but not quite. Still, it's a stunning read and provides a cerebral and thought-provoking read.

The Paper Palace is a home away from home for Elle, a sanctuary that she has visited all of her life.

This story is the story of a child who plays with her family, a teenage girl who falls in love, and a grown woman, wife and mother trying to navigate her past, present and future. Amid a life time of chaos and tragedy.

I loved it to be honest, it took me a while to get into the book, but once I found my feet and understood what was going on (it jumps back and forwards a bit) I powered through.

Some fantastic supporting characters, Wallace, the edgy and distant mother/grandmother and Anna the rebellious sister.

A really sad story in places, but easy to read and some real depth.

Really enjoyed the story through the bulk of it however did feel a little overwhelmed at the ending which let the book down in my opinion.

Unfortunately, I could not finish this book. I didn't enjoy it and only made it until 10% in. It just wasn't for me but maybe other people will enjoy it.

A story spanning 24 hours interspersed with 50 years in flashback. It takes place in a simple holiday home in Cape .Cod where Elle Bishop is staying with her much loved husband Peter, her mother and her two children. Something happens after dinner that causes her to reflect on what might have been if she, and the boy she loved at that time, had not been involved in the drowning of a 19 year old youth. The back stories of the main characters are pretty harrowing and their respective families clearly carry much of the blame for the irrational behaviour that is subsequently exhibited.
Much of the writing is lyrical especially where it is describing the beauty and peace of this Cape Cod sanctuary but this only serves to make the incursion of rape, killing, betrayal and suicide all the more harrowing.
One is left wondering if the participants ever found real happiness or whether the best they could hope for is to live forever wondering "what could have been?"

I was hooked from the beginning to the end. It was beautifully written and the story flowed well. By the end I felt I knew the characters and loved for each of them. An intriguing love triangle which kept you reading to find out what way Elle will turn. Fascinating and totally captivating.

I really wasn't sure about this book when I first started it but I'm pleased I never gave up on it. It was a slow burner for me and then I couldn't put it down!
The story of Elle, her stolen childhood and the two men that she loves

"The lies begin early. But so do dreams and hopes and stories"

What a beautifully written book. The author's use of language paints outstandingly beautiful pictures. The way she effortlessly weaves the story through different times is wonderful. The ending was satisfying, but I was also sad that there was no more to read!

This book has an attractive and romantic setting mainly at the Cape in New England but also in
New York and London. The setting at the Paper Palace is beautifully devised and used. The palace is a self constructed building in need of attention but a good retreat for family and friends. The major character in the book is Eleanor whom we get to know from childhood, when she meets a younger boy,Jonas, on holiday up there. They have a continuing love affair but marry others. The families involved in the book are all dysfunctional.entering and leaving marriages on a regular basis. Much of the story reflects the effect of all that on the various children. The book makes a ‘nice’ read but there is no tension, suspense or pressure to know the ending. So, well written, but no surprises.

This is the first book that I have reviewed for Netgalley and I was not disappointed. I read it slowly as I wanted to savour the wonderful descriptions. The Paper Palace holds many secrets. The story is told in flashback with plenty of page turning suspense. The characters are well depicted and there is much for the reader to relate to. I don’t want to give away spoilers but this book will be one that we will read in book group. As a librarian, I love this paragraph “ I hold my book to my face, sniff the pages. I love the way library books smell: more important than regular books, a grand olden-days smell, like the steps of a marble palace, or a senator”. I eagerly await Miranda’s next book.

I don't usually read family saga type books but something about this one caught my attention. It takes place over twenty-four hours, with flash backs that cover almost fifty years. This is a story of lost innocence and first love and the corrosive effect of secrets.

Elle grew up with her sister in a dysfunctional family. Holidaying in the backwoods in the paper palace of the title, she meets Jonas. Although he is a couple of years younger than her, they develop a close friendship. All is well until Elle's step brother comes to stay.

In the present, Elle is again holidaying in the same place with her husband and children. Jonas is also there with his family.

The relationships are well drawn. Cowley Heller gives them all the complexities of real life. I particularly liked the way the relationship between Elle and her sister grows from childhood animosity to adult friendship.

At the heart of this novel are secrets and tragedy. Past events echo down the years. As the past is revealed the reader comes to understand the main characters actions and why Elle finds herself having to chose between the husband she loves and Jonas who she has loved since childhood.