The Paper Palace is the debut novel by Miranda Cowley Heller, published in 2021.
The book was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2022 and although it lost out to Ruth Ozeki’s The Book of Form and Emptiness, it still received a lot of praise. It was also a Richard and Judy book club pick and a number 1 New York Times bestseller.
It was described as a ‘page-turning summer read’ and a ‘deeply emotional love story’ so I decided it would be the perfect read to take on holiday with me.
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Plot
Elle Bishop seems to have a perfect life. A husband who adores her, two children and a holiday home in Cape Cod.
This holiday home, affectionately named The Paper Palace, is the scene of Elle’s greatest betrayal. As her mother and husband chat inside, Elle enjoys a passionate encounter with her oldest friend.
Despite outward appearances, Elle’s life has been far from perfect. Devastating past experiences have led her to this point and the decision she now has to make.
The story unfolds over twenty-four hours with flashbacks over fifty years, as Elle finally has to decide what, and who, she truly wants.
The Paper Palace Book Review
I need to start this review by stating that this was not a lighthearted beach read!
With quotes such as ‘glorious and gorgeous’ and ‘intoxicating and shimmering,’ I was, mistakenly, expecting something along the lines of Malibu Rising, which was my last year’s summer holiday book choice.
That certainly wasn’t the case! Some of the topics covered were really dark. Incest and child sexual abuse are featured within the story and I just wasn’t expecting it.
The book covers just one day in the life of Elle, but with flashbacks to the past. These flashbacks allow us to fully understand Elle and the choices she makes.
I found Elle, as a main character, pretty unlikeable and difficult to empathise with. I’m not sure she deserved either man, and I questioned why they were both so besotted with her.
However, the story itself is really well written. The poetic prose and descriptions of Cape Cod were beautiful. I could almost feel the sand between my toes.
I could easily understand the comparisons between this book and Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. Both authors really bring the settings to life.
The story is an exploration of the choices we make, and the paths we choose to go down. It highlights the impact secrets and lies can have on a family and how these repercussions can be felt by those around us.
Despite my misgivings and finding Elle an irritating character, I couldn’t help but be captivated by the story which is a testament to the author’s skill.
It’s so hard to rate this book, because I didn’t dislike it. I just didn’t love it either.
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller