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-Synopsis-

It was a shop full of wonder; sheets of colorful paper, pots of ink on every surface, and spools of ribbon suspended on gleaming brass hooks. But it was even more magical when it was filled with people. Rumor was that the owner, Tilly, could send letters to long-lost loved ones if you penned them on the long wooden desk…

Everyone on the island would go there, not just to buy writing supplies, but to write these letters. To the people they’d not been able to say goodbye to, to the people they wished would come home. The Paper House was a place for grieving, for remembering, for forgiving.

And now, years later, as Kayla reopens the beautiful front door, and feels the memories of her Great Aunt Tilly come flooding back, it has the chance to become a place for someone who lost everything to finally find herself again.

If only Kayla can find the courage to face the ghosts of the past…

A compelling and captivating novel full of heart, imagination and magic, The Paper House is perfect for fans of The Lost Bookshop, The Glass House and The Keeper of Lost Things.

-Review-

*Trigger Warnings*: one closed door scene (with mainly kissing detail), off page death of a teenaged character, descriptions of traumatic injuries from war, pretty consistent themes of loss and regret.

I would like to thank Bookouture and Barbara Josselsohn for allowing me access to this ARC in exchange for my honest review! Thank yall!

The Paper House is a magical story of self discovery and personal redemption. The characters are faced with the choice to either face the ghosts of their pasts head on, or remain haunted by their intrusive memories. Bridging the gap between years gone by and the here and now, is truly where the magic is born.

This story is written through the perspectives of both Kayla and her great aunt Tilly. Not only that, but both characters also have separate timelines. Kayla’s viewpoints occur in modern times between 2004 and 2024, and Tilly’s occurs mainly during the last year of World War II.

I am not going to lie, split timelines in books are not my favorite as I tend to find it difficult to keep up with all the details and where the timelines intersect. That being said, I thought Barbara managed the timelines nicely in this book. The only time I had any real issue was when flashbacks happened in the same chapter. For example, there was a moment with Kayla where a character was trying to talk with her but she goes into this multi-page jump into her past. At first, I thought there was some sort of typo, until she was pulled back into the present where the other character had been waiting for her attention. It felt a bit awkward, but still it was not so bad.

The majority of the story is set within the town situated on Celestine Island, part of Long Island Sound of New York, USA. While New York City has been the main stage for multiple books I have read, this was the first that took place on one of these smaller islands. The familiar hustle and bustle of The Big Apple has disappeared, lending attention to the quaint and peaceful setting of this coastal town where everyone knows everyone else.

On the flip side, Tilly’s chapters predominately take place in various parts of Europe during WWII. She had an administrative job in which she transcribed reports from France so she begins at a central headquarters north of London. At one point, she is called to a medical tent closer to the front lines, assisting with triage efforts. The juxtaposition between the two settings could not have been more poetic. Going from relative peace, to witnessing the casualties of war first hand was whiplashing (in a good way).

It was during her tenure in the war effort that pushed her to discover the magic of writing letters. One of her responsibilities included transcribing letters for the wounded to be delivered to their families back home. There was no way she could guarantee the letters would make it to their intended destination all the time, but the fact their words were written down nonetheless was what ultimately mattered. This idea is what spawned The Paper House.

Tilly wanted to share this therapeutic past time with others so she opened up her paper supplies store on Celestine Island. It was here that anyone could come in and pen letters to anyone that may have needed some sort of closure. People would write to estranged family members, long lost friends and even those who had already passed on. Tilly would either mail the ones with known addresses, or stockpile the ones with none.

Personally, I love the whole idea of healing through writing. It can truly become a much needed remedy for the more heavier and ever-present emotions. As mentioned in the book, grammar and spelling matters very little when it comes to just getting your thoughts on the paper. So beautiful!

As far as characters are concerned, both Kayla and Tilly had their own ways of dealing with their own traumas and emotional baggage. Tilly had the mindset of dealing with things head on, while Kayla was more avoidant of anything that caused her emotional pain. I appreciated that difference in mentality between these two. With Tilly being the older great-aunt to Kayla, there were so many examples of her wisdom being used within Kayla’s own life. Their relationship was definitely rocky at times but the legacy that was left and will, without a doubt continue, was one the most beautiful aspects from this book.

There are three different romantic plots that occur in this book. These endeavors cover both women and take place at different periods of time. What I appreciated about these different stories was the reality that not every love story has an ideal happy ending. While it is unfortunate, that is reality and I appreciated the honesty and raw emotions these situations brought out.

There is one relationship I was not the biggest fan of and that was between Kayla and Evan. I found their attraction to each other to be hot and cold, particularly where Kayla is concerned. They had only known each other for a couple days before they decided to escalate into a physical moment. For someone who was planning on going back to her life in D.C, I could not help but feel like Kayla was stringing Evan along and vice versa. While I can understand the high emotions that were running through Kayla, this is definitely not the best time to jump in any sort of relationship, especially when she still had lingering feelings about her first love, who Ben just so happens to remind her of.

All in all, I found The Paper House to be a quite inspirational and emotional read. While it is difficult for me to cry while reading, there were some scenes that had me tearing up a bit, definitely feeling the burn in my sinuses. Just keep some tissues on hand perhaps! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys magical realism featuring split timelines with historical fiction and romantic elements.

Once again, thank you to Barbara Josselsohn, Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinions! Thank you.

-About the Author-

Barbara Josselsohn is a best-selling author known for her captivating contemporary and historical novels, including her latest, THE PAPER HOUSE, an ode to letter writing and a story of the power a well-crafted message has to change someone’s future. Barbara’s work is marked by richly developed characters, intricate emotional landscapes, and immersive settings that transport readers to the heart of each story.

With a talent for blending history and human drama, Barbara’s novels explore complex themes of love, loss, family, resilience, and the enduring power of secrets. Her storytelling often spans generations, drawing readers into a tapestry of personal and historical struggles. Known for her lush descriptions and evocative prose, Barbara has garnered praise for her ability to bring history to life while crafting deeply emotional, character-driven narratives.

Her books resonate with readers who appreciate stories that combine rich historical details with powerful personal journeys.

In addition to her writing career, Barbara teaches novel writing at Sarah Lawrence College, Westport Writers Workshop, and other venues. When not writing, Barbara enjoys ballet, yoga, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family, which includes her beloved rescue pup named Albie.