Paper Doll Lina

A Novel

By: Robyn Lucas

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

One rip is all it takes to expose the devastating truth behind a seemingly perfect life.

Lina Henry is a wife and mother who likens herself to a pretty paper doll. She lives in a beautiful home in the Atlanta suburbs. Her husband, David, is a well-to-do investment banker. She’s raised two wonderful teenagers. To the outside world, the Henry family is perfect. What no one knows is that Lina’s paper doll life is being torn apart in a controlling and abusive marriage. When Lina develops an unexpected friendship with another man, and reconnects with her former best friend, she begins navigating a way out of the emotional minefield that is her home.

But as David senses his loss of control, he becomes more dangerous, and Lina must do everything in her power to protect herself and her children. In order to take back the happiness she deserves, Lina must first rediscover the strength and the fearlessness of her three-dimensional self.

©2021 by Robyn Lucas. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Narrator Bahni Turpin expertly embodies wife-and-mother Lina Henry in this complex story of a family in chaos behind the facade of a perfect life. Turpin's versatile narration skills are highlighted as she breathes life into the withdrawn and isolated "paper doll" wife, Lina, while also portraying her aggressive husband, David…. While this is a difficult listen at times, Turpin exquisitely illuminates Lina's metamorphosis.” (AudioFile Magazine)

“This is a gripping story with characters that come to life on the page, but it is a difficult, possibly triggering read. The heartbreak of an abusive marriage should be fertile ground for book groups.” (Library Journal (starred review))

“Lucas paints an alarmingly accurate picture of a family held hostage. While at times difficult to read, Lina’s journey is ultimately one of hope.” (Booklist)

3 stars

I rate Paper Doll Lina by Robyn Lucas 3 stars since it's Robyn's debut. I tried to be understanding of Lina and her predicament but found her actions/choices to be annoying. What solidified that is the dated paper doll theme throughout. She assumed a lot and didn't listen when she was told something (by Noah, her attorney, etc.). There was also an entire chapter where Lina listed every day of the week repeating her tasks for each day. And how her solution to everything is to block someone's number! Hard to believe she was 40 acting this way. Just...no.

I liked her burgeoning friendship with Noah and her BFF. I believed most of the abusive scenes and actions. I don't mind the relationship overlap but hated that she (or her kids) wasn't given time to heal.

Bahni Turpin is pretty good. There were some awkward pauses in the middle of scenes, but that may have been editing. When she voiced angry David, I occasionally flinched because she fully goes there.

Story of strength and love

A wonderful story of hope and love. More than a domestic violence story, but a story of love and watching a women use her strength. Well worth a read by any person in a relationship. A story of how relationships should work and how they should not.

Was predictable

This book had promise the character development was very good, better than most books, but the story was way to predictable.

Brave

Felt and Lived every word of this in my soul. To many time we forget ourselves for someone else or brought to believe we are nothing. This book is for everyone daring to take back themselves. love love love

Great!

I loved this book! So different, couldn’t stop listening, wondering what next? The narrator was fantastic.

Liked/hated this book

This is one of those books that I often found myself sitting in my car long after reaching my destination just listening. I found it hard to tear myself away at certain parts because I wanted to listen more and see just how incredulous and ridiculous the main characters could get. My husband caught me angrily talking back to this book on more than one occasion. Certain characters get under your skin, which I imagine is exactly what the author intended. Yet I cheered on other characters and hoped for their success. The narrator does a great job switching between all the different accents and characters. Worth the credit.

Cheap tricks

Emotionally turbulent book, but the plot was full of cheap tricks that made me dislike it

Good until the last two hours

First off, the narrator is excellent as always. The story was good up until about the last two hours. That is the point at which the author decided to make the abused wife do some really stupid things that no sane person, in my opinion, would do if they were trying to end their marriage and retain custody of their children. But, of course, everything worked out in the end since it is a work of fiction Having said that, I did like most of the hours spent listening to the book.

Great storyline

This was a good story, and the narration was also great. I'm short on words. Well, it was very informative on domestic abuse and its consequences. I really don't like to give the story away! But this was a great read/listen.

Wow!

One of the best books I've listened to in a long time. Bahni Turpin's narration made it even better!