Wade Rouse

Viola Shipman’s The Page Turner is an engaging mix of family drama, literary intrigue, and self-discovery. At its heart, it’s a novel about embracing one’s passions despite external judgment, wrapped in a compelling, multi-layered story.

Emma Page has always felt like an outsider in her book-obsessed family. Her parents run The Mighty Pages, a struggling publishing house that values only highbrow literature, while her sister, Jess, is a powerful book influencer. Emma, however, secretly show more writes romance—the very genre her family dismisses. When she uncovers her late grandmother’s hidden legacy as a beloved romance author, she finds both inspiration and a shocking secret that could shatter her family’s reputation.

As Emma wrestles with her identity as a writer, she must also face a vengeful industry insider threatening to expose her family’s hypocrisy. What follows is a thought-provoking exploration of ambition, integrity, and the divide between literary prestige and popular fiction.

One of the novel’s standout elements is its behind-the-scenes look at publishing. Shipman delves into how books are chosen, marketed, and judged, shedding light on the lingering bias against commercial fiction. Many readers will relate to Emma’s frustration with literary snobbery and the undervaluing of books that bring joy to millions.

The characters are well-developed and authentic. Emma is witty, self-aware, and relatable as she navigates family expectations and her own creative dreams. Jess is a fascinating mix of confidence and insecurity, while their parents, though pretentious, are not without complexity. Their rigid ideals create tension, but their love for their work and family remains evident.

Shipman’s writing balances humor, warmth, and insight, making The Page Turner more than just a novel about books—it’s about self-acceptance, resilience, and the power of storytelling in all its forms. Whether you love romance, literary fiction, or simply a great story about following your dreams, this book is a must-read. show less

Real Rating: 4.25* of five

The Publisher Says: In this poignant and hilarious story inspired by TV’s beloved The Golden Girls, bestselling author Wade Rouse celebrates love, aging, finding your people, and the art of impeccably timed one-liners.

Theodore Copeland has created a fabulous life in the desert oasis of Palm Springs, where he shares a fabulous pink mid-century home with three fabulous friends: Barry, a former actor still clinging to his youth, his hair, and the memory of the dream show more role that killed his career; Ron, an uprooted Christian from the Midwest with a big heart but no one to give it to; Sid, who, after coming out late in life, has never found love. Teddy is the caustic, unspoken leader of “The Golden Gays”—the foursome’s monthly drag tribute to The Golden Girls. Despite their foibles and bickering, they have turned their golden years into a golden era.

But the harmony of their desert enclave becomes a carousel of emotional baggage when Teddy’s estranged sister, Trudy, shows up on their doorstep, her dramatic teenage granddaughter in tow. While Teddy keeps Trudy at arm’s length, she manages to wheedle her way into the lives of the Golden Gays, until the real reason for her visit is revealed and the secrets they’ve all been keeping from each other unravel faster than a hastily stitched hemline.

A novel that gives thanks to “old” friends, That's What Friends Are For proves that while family may be the tie that binds, it’s the chosen family that truly keeps us together.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.

My Review: Four older...old, "of a certain age" is such an absurd weasel-wording...gay guys live in Zsa Zsa Gabor's Palm Springs home, in the absence of other places to be as they live out their invisibility, bond to each other the way the Golden Girls did, and perform as a drag troup reenacting episodes of the show.

You need to be charmed by the premise to enjoy the book. I was; I did.

It was more true to the spirit of the show than I expected. In novel form, that meant packing in a lot of trauma recall, a lot of wistful nostalgia, a lot of regrets for pasts "misspent" in all the ways people do that, in not a lot of space. The gestalt of these four charmers is just *chef's kiss* and the repartee flows like Veuve Cliquot from a marabou mule. (Zsa Zsa is, after all, the former owner of their house.)

If no one is currently in development talks for this book it will utterly stun me. Heartstopper for the teens, Heated Rivalry for the horny adults, That's What Friends Are For representing the generation that fought these stupid necessary battles for all y'all that seem to've been erased from the collective memory. *ahem* I meant to say "the seasoned citizens." Of course I did.

Celebrating found family, talking honestly about what life looks like as "The End" hoves into view without crowding you (yet), flexing the wicked-humor muscles developed from years of deflecting nastiness...it's a grown person's happy place, this. Drama arises because humans create drama the same way we breathe—automatically—but it never feels calculated, like Author Rouse said "let me rile these queens up now" while twirling his mustachios. I bought into the dynamics he built, accepted the moments when the men had trouble dealing with things as natural and inevitable. Author Rouse uses the conflicts the way a good therapist urges one to use them: get to know your friend better, get to know yourself better, apply kindness and acceptance like the balm it truly is, and move on.

A big issue in the story is staying stuck. It's a huge issue in almost everyone's life, from what I can tell. It's good to see it addressed openly, with candor, and in such a humorous setting. (I admit I want to bash Barry for chasing his long-past youth. Grow up!!) What Author Rouse has done is deliver a warm-hearted, clear-eyed, just sentimental enough look at the unforgiving terminal illness of Getting Old, in a relatable and enjoyable visible way denied to queer folk by our heteronormative culture.

Kudos! More soon? Please? show less

Viola Shipmen (pen name of Wade Rouse, in honor of his grandmother) is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This book is so beautifully written. Once immersed in it, you will not be able to put it down. From deep in the Ozarks to the summer beauty of a resort town in Michigan, the love, and protection of a mother, Miss Mabel, will lead daughter Sutton to try to find the answers to long held and newly buried secrets. Heartbreaking, I found myself crying at so many different parts. As show more a parent we try to hide the dark side from our children, always wanting more or better for them then we had. But, as we know, curiosity will always win out. And once secrets are uncovered, are they what we hoped for? Facing life full on and moving forward is what needs to be done. Buttons are a focal point of this story and brings life full circle! Characters are wonderful, you will love some and dislike others. You will cheer for Sutton all they way thru, especially when she finally realizes her worth and learns how to stand up for herself.

Thanks to Ms. Shipman, Grayson House and Goodreads giveaway for this book. Opinion is mine alone! show less

This is a Reading Good Books review.

* In compliance with FTC guidelines, it should be noted that I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Imagine me saying this in a sing-song voice: “I looooove it!!!”

From the hilariously sweet foreword from Chelsea Handler’s dog, Chunk, to the very last essay, this anthology put a smile on my face at every page turn. This book has twenty essays from twenty different writers/dog owners. TWENTY tales that will definitely warm your show more heart, brighten up your day, make you laugh out loud and say, “Yes, I do that too!”

I am a dog person and currently dogless so this made me want to get a four-legged best friend as soon as possible. I mean, how can you say no to adorable eyes looking straight at you, almost pleading to walk with you to a loving home? I get chills just thinking about it. The stories about adopting a dog were so touching and it is a helpful look at what happens AFTER an adoption. I particularly like “Dogs are the New Children” by Jen Lancaster. Because they are. Couples decide not to have children but they get dogs. Then the attention they would’ve showered on a child would be placed upon their pet. Alice Bradley’s “Menage a Dog” talks a bit about that too.

The essays about how their dogs helped them in their lives. The very touching “Walking My Dog Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death is a Nice Way to Start the Day” by Bob Smith had me in tears. As well as “The Little Rascal” by Beth Harbison. I just… love how the authors wrote about their dogs with so much love and appreciation. Another one of my favorites is “Are You A Rascal or a Ringo?” by Jeff Marx (I love Avenue Q). It shows how dogs are not just their owner’s friend, but can be to other dogs as well.

If I had to pick ONE favorite, it has to be “A Dog Day of Summer” by W. Bruce Cameron. HI-LAR-IOUS. If this is any indication, I cannot get my hands on his book A Dog’s Purpose. I loved it so much, I read it twice in a row. Then passed it to my mom and she was laughing out loud too. A close second would have to be “Scratching at My Door, Tail Between his Legs” by Caprice Crane. It has WIN written all over it. I mean, imagine an ex-boyfriend asking for visitation rights for your dog? WIN!

It would’ve been great to see photos of the dogs with their owners. You know, to put a face to the name. A lot of people know who Chunk Handler is but to see Cindy, Maisy, Boz, Rascal, Maeby, and Bridget would have been fantastic.

Rating: 5/5.

Recommendation: Dog lovers! Pet lovers! Hell, I want EVERYONE to sit down and read this while your pet is frolicking on the grass with his/her friends. show less