The Paper Palace

A Novel

By: Miranda Cowley Heller

Narrated by: Nan McNamara

Reese's Book Club Pick

“A magnificent page-turner...as intoxicating as a summer night by the sea.” (Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, New York Times best-selling author of Good Company)

"It's been ages since I was so absorbed in a contemporary novel. I loved it." (Nick Hornby, New York Times best-selling author of Just Like You)

"A soulful debut that plumbs the depths of a midlife Sophie’s Choice." (People)

A story of summer, secrets, love, and lies: in the course of a singular day on Cape Cod, one woman must make a life-changing decision that has been brewing for decades.

“This house, this place, knows all my secrets.”

It is a perfect July morning, and Elle, a 50-year-old happily married mother of three, awakens at “The Paper Palace” - the family summer place which she has visited every summer of her life. But this morning is different: Last night Elle and her oldest friend, Jonas, crept out the back door into the darkness and had sex with each other for the first time, all while their spouses chatted away inside. Now, over the next 24 hours, Elle will have to decide between the life she has made with her genuinely beloved husband, Peter, and the life she always imagined she would have had with her childhood love, Jonas, if a tragic event hadn’t forever changed the course of their lives. As Heller colors in the experiences that have led Elle to this day, we arrive at her ultimate decision with all its complexity. Tender yet devastating, The Paper Palace considers the tensions between desire and dignity, the legacies of abuse, and the crimes and misdemeanors of families.

©2021 Miranda Cowley Heller (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Captivating debut...full of lush atmospheric details. This will keep the reader guessing all the way to the end.” (Publishers Weekly)

“The moody and atmospheric setting of the shadowy paths and ponds of the Back Woods is described in lush detail that makes a sharp contrast to the colder, sharper elements of Elle’s story.... From the first pages of her debut novel, Heller pulls no punches. Some of them just sneak up on you later on.” (Kirkus)

"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 best-selling author of The Interestings and The Female Persuasion)

Excellent

Story was lovely frowning up in RI same time she captured New England life perfectly. She describes things so beautifully I could picture myself there. Nan was fantastic her characters were clear and crisp and I didn’t want the story to end. My favorite book this year! A must!!! Thank you 💕💕

Wouldn’t recommend

I couldn’t stand the graphic rape scenes and the secrecy. It just made me sad.

Split decision

I completely agree with other viewers that the nature descriptives are mesmerizing. I felt I was there at the pond and on the sand. Some of the surrounding story though was just completely unbelievable. This woman finds her self and so many situations muggings, attacks, rapes, drownings, armed forced entry …How is this possible? It’s just too much to be believable.
The graphic sexual language was an absolute turn off, and I am no prude at all. I just found her way of describing sexual acts so repulsive!

Creative, but dark

Overall I enjoyed it. I loved how it was written, it has multiple timelines and goes back and forth throughout to give more insite to the characters. Certain things with the plot I found unnecessary to move to story and the plot along. I like it was dark just to be dark, as opposed to have meaning and purpose. The narrator had good cadence and her performance was enjoyable. worth the listen? Yes. Would I read it again. No.

Horrible Ending!

The narration was wonderful and the story held my interest, but the ending was confusing and anti climactic, and left me feeling disappointed, sad and a little depressed.

I enjoyed the different Generations, the staggere.

timeline kept me engaged I enjoyed the different Generations, the detail of the nature in the cape was enjoyable. I heard your review on n p r and I am glad I read your book I enjoyed it thank you

Loved this book!

I simply could not put this book down! One of my absolute favorites of the year.

Beautiful

I will admit it took me a little while to get into this book...but once I did I was so taken with it. The writing is like nothing I have heard before. The authors descriptions of every day moments left me mesmorized. So much of what is importnat in life is between the lines. This story is brutal at times...the pain of it hard to bear. But it's a beautiful portrait of authentic Amercian life that is rare. Some of the other reviews of it being "crude" clearly are not deep enough to take in such story.

Really good!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading others by this author! Great character development and plot which unfolds over time. Highly recommend this one

Really looking forward to her next book

What I really liked the most about this book is that it wasn’t predictable like so many books are. Character development is great. It’s like looking at a picture. All of the main characters are in the forefront, we feel we know their physical characteristics like an old friend. The supporting characters are in the background, and, although they add to the overall picture, it is known that they aren’t the main focus.

Narration was perfect. Just the right amount of kindness, fun sarcasm when called for, and pensiveness when calls for.