Paper Doll Lina

A Novel

By: Robyn Lucas

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

One rip is all it takes to expose the devastating truth behind a seemingly perfect life.

Lina Henry is a wife and mother who likens herself to a pretty paper doll. She lives in a beautiful home in the Atlanta suburbs. Her husband, David, is a well-to-do investment banker. She’s raised two wonderful teenagers. To the outside world, the Henry family is perfect. What no one knows is that Lina’s paper doll life is being torn apart in a controlling and abusive marriage. When Lina develops an unexpected friendship with another man, and reconnects with her former best friend, she begins navigating a way out of the emotional minefield that is her home.

But as David senses his loss of control, he becomes more dangerous, and Lina must do everything in her power to protect herself and her children. In order to take back the happiness she deserves, Lina must first rediscover the strength and the fearlessness of her three-dimensional self.

©2021 by Robyn Lucas. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Narrator Bahni Turpin expertly embodies wife-and-mother Lina Henry in this complex story of a family in chaos behind the facade of a perfect life. Turpin's versatile narration skills are highlighted as she breathes life into the withdrawn and isolated "paper doll" wife, Lina, while also portraying her aggressive husband, David…. While this is a difficult listen at times, Turpin exquisitely illuminates Lina's metamorphosis.” (AudioFile Magazine)

“This is a gripping story with characters that come to life on the page, but it is a difficult, possibly triggering read. The heartbreak of an abusive marriage should be fertile ground for book groups.” (Library Journal (starred review))

“Lucas paints an alarmingly accurate picture of a family held hostage. While at times difficult to read, Lina’s journey is ultimately one of hope.” (Booklist)

3 stars

I rate Paper Doll Lina by Robyn Lucas 3 stars since it's Robyn's debut. I tried to be understanding of Lina and her predicament but found her actions/choices to be annoying. What solidified that is the dated paper doll theme throughout. She assumed a lot and didn't listen when she was told something (by Noah, her attorney, etc.). There was also an entire chapter where Lina listed every day of the week repeating her tasks for each day. And how her solution to everything is to block someone's number! Hard to believe she was 40 acting this way. Just...no.

I liked her burgeoning friendship with Noah and her BFF. I believed most of the abusive scenes and actions. I don't mind the relationship overlap but hated that she (or her kids) wasn't given time to heal.

Bahni Turpin is pretty good. There were some awkward pauses in the middle of scenes, but that may have been editing. When she voiced angry David, I occasionally flinched because she fully goes there.

Story of strength and love

A wonderful story of hope and love. More than a domestic violence story, but a story of love and watching a women use her strength. Well worth a read by any person in a relationship. A story of how relationships should work and how they should not.

Great!

I loved this book! So different, couldn’t stop listening, wondering what next? The narrator was fantastic.

Was predictable

This book had promise the character development was very good, better than most books, but the story was way to predictable.

Brave

Felt and Lived every word of this in my soul. To many time we forget ourselves for someone else or brought to believe we are nothing. This book is for everyone daring to take back themselves. love love love