Do some decorating, having returned book (9)
I believe the answer is:
paperback
'book' is the definition.
(I know that paperback is a type of book)
'do some decorating having returned' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'do' could be 'ape' (both can mean to impersonate) and 'ape' is found in the answer.
'some' could be 'a' and 'a' is found within the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for paperback that I've seen before include "Book with soft cover" , "Publication" .)