23.03.26

The group had mixed feelings about this book as some struggled with the way the narrative skipped from the present day to events when the characters were younger. However, it was felt that the dysfunctional family, bohemian lifestyle and characters were well described and there were many layers to the storyline. It was agreed that the sex scenes could have left a lot more to the imagination and that the story ending was very ambiguous.

On a perfect August morning, Elle Bishop heads out for a swim in the pond below ‘The Paper Palace’ – her family’s holiday home in Cape Cod.  As she dives beneath the water, she relives the passionate encounter she had the night before, against the side of the house that knows all her darkest secrets, while her husband and mother chatted to their guests inside.

So begins a story that unfolds over twenty-four hours and fifty years, as Elle’s shocking betrayal leads her to a life-changing decision.