The Paper Palace
By: Miranda Cowley Heller
When I first began to read this book, I had mixed feelings. As this novel flips back and forth between the past and present, I was worried I would be lost in the flashbacks. But, to Miranda Crowley Heller’s credit, the flashbacks proved to be provocative, eye-opening and kept me wanting more.
The Paper Palace covers lies, secrets, family baggage, personal growth, happiness, dreams, and much, much more. The complex storyline connects memories of the past, both good and bad, with future possibilities and opportunities. It sheds light on the dynamics of mixed families. It shows how different people handle trauma. It describes the emotional rollercoaster a love triangle can create. It brings to life the daydreams one may experience as a child, and the very tangible life events reality may hand us as adults. It really makes you question what was, what is, and what could be.
When visiting the ever-familiar lake house that has been in her family for generations, Elle Bishop spends the trip caught up in an internal struggle with very real, external consequences. She is faced with choosing the boy she loved in her youth, and the life she once dreamed of as a child or her husband and children whom she adores. Between flashbacks to previous trips to the lake, a reminder of a very traumatic experience, and the butterflies that accompany private moments with her childhood love, Elle must make a choice that could change the course of her life.
The Paper Palace brings to life very relatable themes and experiences, while captivating readers with each twist and turn. This novel proved to be a great summer read, and I have no doubt it would do just as well when read curled up on the couch with a cup of hot chocolate and a warm blanket. Hats of to Heller for a provocative and captivating read!
