The Paper Palace (Reese's Book Club): A Novel

Easily one of my favorite books of all time and one I know I will reread again and again. It’s one of those books where I feel like each time you read it, something else stands out. The character development is phenomenal- the trauma, the realness, relatable yet not at the same time- it’s difficult to put down. I also find the imagery simply beautiful. This is a must read.I brought the book user and it was in good condition! Ever so slightly used but the pre-loved feel made the book all the more enjoyable !

This book is filled with so much angst and yearning. I was at the edge of my seat the whole time just trying to see it all unfold. There was no way for a happy ending here. Either way, someone gets hurt. I loved both of the characters. They were all so fully developed in the story and both of the male characters had me wanting her to choose them. The ending was confusing at first but in the end, I still can’t figure out if I love her choice. Either way, it was a great book!

Good read

Entertaining vacation reading. It's hard to get traction at first but once you get past the first 30% you can't stop reading. Overall I liked the characters and the time structure. I ended up falling in love with Jonas and Peter as well as the main character. What I didn't like AT ALL, was the fat shaming. Totally unnecessary. I'm not a fat or curvy person, I'm an average weight but as a woman I feel the pressure to be skinny and wear size 0 or 2 and repeatedly throughout the narrative, characters talk about how they are bad “because they are fat” or that they “look good” because “they are skinny”. I understand that the author is of a certain age and comes from television, but in 2022 these types of narratives are already obsolete. That is why I gave it 3 stars. That aside, it's an entertaining novel to read on your vacation.

I’m surprised this book has such great reviews.It throws you into child molestation without a warning. No clue this book was about sexual assault. Where’s the warning?How dare the author take me on this journey without first warning me. Give me the choice first if I choose to participate in reading about that subject. Not cool at all.

I purchased this book for a book club in school and enjoyed it’s story line a reflective perspective a book that provokes thinking about the one they got away with. Look forward to reading more from the same author.

I just finished this book, and I need to write my thoughts before they fly out of my head.This book definitely has the discussion worthy story and triggers that aren't going to be for all. The heart stopping situations that I felt prompted me to say, "ummmm" would be a psychologists anticipation to pick apart. I'm sorry that I can't say more on that without giving away the plot.This is the story of Elle. We follow Elle through 24 hours of her life on Cape Cod...but we also follow her throughout her life. Her family goes to Cape Cod to a place called The Paper Palace (dubbed by her grandfather) every summer while growing up. It is a place where families meet to swim, sail, have bon fires, pot lucks and fun! Families know families and kids play with kids. Jonas and Elle are two of those kids and they become the best of friends. Although, Jonas believes it's love from the beginning.When tragedy strikes in Elle's life, things shift between Jonas and Elle. He no longer comes to the Cape, instead opting for camp. During which, Elle deals with life in the 80's with her dis-functional family. As with distance, they "grew apart" though out that time. Will Elle find her way back to Jonah? Will she stay with the ever so kind husband, Peter? And how did they all get to find peace in this crazy tangled friendship?There were many things I loved about this book....the writing (IMO) was amazing. The story kept me turning pages to find out what insane situation came next. The timeline was one I was very familiar with...I too was born in '66 (shhhhhh) and was/is the same age as Elle. There were many similarities to our lives and raising....it was the 80's!!!I look forward to book club and the discussion of this book. If you haven't read, there is a lot to ponder here. There are a lot of hits to the heart. There is a lot of forgiveness and understanding as well. It's not a 'light' read by any means, but it is a fascinating read and one that I will definitely revisit for a different perspective!

I rarely write recode but loved this book! Really easy read and kept me interested throughout which isn't always easy for me. Very enjoyable!