In 'The Paper Palace,' we follow the life of 50-year-old Elle, who is haunted by the choices of her past while facing a pivotal moment in the present. Set against the backdrop of a summer retreat on Cape Cod, the novel intricately weaves memories of a long-ago summer romance with her current life and family. As Elle navigates the complexities of love, fidelity, and personal desire, readers are drawn into a poignant exploration of what it means to choose one life over another. With richly drawn characters and lyrical prose, Heller invites us to ponder the weight of our decisions and the ghosts they leave behind. Will Elle follow the safe path, or dare to reclaim the wild heart of her youth?
By Miranda Cowley Heller
Published: 2021
"It’s the stories we tell ourselves that shape who we are, the places we return to that remind us of what we’ve lost, and the choices we make that define our future."
REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER OVER 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE THE PAPER PALACE IS: “Filled with secrets, love, lies and a summer beach house. What more could you ask?”—Parade “A deeply emotional love story…the unraveling of secrets, lies and a very complex love triangle.” —Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club July ’21 Pick) "Nail-biting." —Town & Country “A magnificent page-turner.” —Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author “[An] irresistible placement of a complicated family in a bewitching place.” —The New York Times 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 August morning, and Elle, a fifty-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 twenty-four 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.
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“It’s the stories we tell ourselves that shape who we are, the places we return to that remind us of what we’ve lost, and the choices we make that define our future.”
The Paper Palace
By Miranda Cowley Heller
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Miranda Cowley Heller is a contemporary author known for her evocative storytelling and deep character exploration. Her notable works include 'The Paper Palace,' a bestselling novel that received critical acclaim for its intricate narrative blending themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. Heller's writing is characterized by lyrical prose and a keen insight into human relationships, often drawing on her own experiences and background to inform her narratives.
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