This was a very enjoyable story for me. As we followed the women through each of their struggles and changes, it was easy to see myself and people I knew in each of them. Having a teenager at home and facing an approaching empty nest and all the changes that brings to life, I found myself identifying with Claire a great deal, though I found the other characters relatable as well.

Reay gave us well written characters and a charming setting. The right balance was struck between wrapping things up at the end of the story, and still leaving a few threads of possibility open to be tugged.

The book is somewhat faith based from a Christian perspective, but it's not heavy handed. I enjoyed the way faith and prayer were lightly woven in, particularly in one spot where a character has something of a spiritual awakening.

I'm always easily drawn into books about books, and this one was no exception. The Printed Letter Bookshop was a place that you could easily envision yourself getting lost in for an afternoon. Titles and lists of other books are scattered through the text like little Easter eggs, too, so it's fun to make mental notes of a future read or remember one that you've enjoyed in the past.

Overall, this was heartwarming and relatable. It's a book that I could see myself re-reading in future years. If you enjoy a story about books, about women's friendships, or about overcoming life's valleys and reinventing yourself, this one's for you! 4.5 stars!

My thanks to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson for a complimentary digital review copy of this title. All opinions are my own.

Madeline Cullen suddenly becomes the owner of quaint little store called The Printed Letter Bookshop in a small town outside of Chicago. The more time Maddie spends at the shop, the more she realizes some hurts aren’t worth holding on to while some things are worth loving and fighting for.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is a story filled with drama, family secrets, friendships and a sweet bookshop community. This was my first Katherine Reay book and I loved it. The characters are flawed and complicated but endearing. This book is about second chances and starting over. I will definitely be picking up other books by this author.

Thanks Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for providing a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for a unbiased review.

I'm not a huge women's fiction reader, but I loved this book. Reay doesn't sugar coat the brokenness of the three women who run the titular bookshop, but what I especially liked is that she also shows redemption, that wrong decisions don't have to be the end. She portrays this subtly; I wish she hadn't felt the need to also spell it out in some didactic passages that could have easily been left out. Of course, I also loved the literary references and how books impacted the lives of their readers. Yes, it's predictable, but sometimes, especially in a world that feels slightly crazy, that's exactly what's needed.

What better setting can there be for a book lover than a book that takes place in a bookstore? Printed Letter Bookshop is about a niece that inherits her aunts bookstore after she passes away, but she has not had any contact with her aunt in years. Madeline gives up her corporate career as an attorney to take on this struggling bookshop that her aunt and the community loved so much. Not only does Madeline inherit the adorable bookstore, but she also inherits the complex lives of the employees who work in it. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their quirks and struggles. Dialogue was fabulous and I appreciated the author delving into the issues of family dynamics, family secrets, forgiveness, reconciliation, finding your purpose, etc. This was the first book I read by Katherine Reay, but it will definitely not be the last.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

One of my favorite tropes is a book about books in a bookshop. I knew I was going to love it from the beginning. The characters were endearing and the story, while a bit predictable, was engaging. I finished this book in less than 24 hours.

Near Lake Michigan, a local bookshop owner passes away, and the ownership of the shop is left to the owner, Maggie's, estranged niece, Madeline. When Madeline comes to Chicago, she has full intentions of selling the shop immediately.

However, when Madeline meets the bookshop owners and situations lead they selling of the shop to be on standby, Madeline begins to realize that the rift she believed had occurred in the family may not be as she thought.

Filled with newfound friendship, loss, forgiveness, and healing, The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay is a story that will bring readers comfort and hope.

For all those booklovers out there, this is one book you will NOT want to miss! You'll enjoy the journey this story takes you. It's about friendships and the power of good books.

The writing was just lovely and I really enjoyed the story. I loved the characters and the relationship between them. Madeline was so relatable for me. I grew very fond of her.

I really enjoyed this charming book - a story of life, friendship, family, misunderstandings, forgiveness, community, love and new beginnings. This is an interesting story of how particular books can affect your life. I loved the setting around the bookshop and would have loved to have visited the bookshop and have met Maddie. I enjoyed the characters and how they developed throughout the book.

I recommend this heartwarming book - a story of what is really important.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

In “The Printed Letter Bookshop” we are presented with the story of three women: Madeline, Janet and Claire.
Madeline is a lawyer that inherits a house and a bookshop after the death of her aunt Maddie. In said bookshop work Janet and Claire, two older women with their own problems in life that do wish to preserve their jobs, despite the young lawyer first intent of selling the properties. But things change and as Madeline starts working on the bookshop, knowing her employees and the community, a friendship blossoms between the three even through some hard times and misfortunes await them ahead.

I confess that I was drawn in by the fact that it is a book about a bookshop and I didn’t even give much attention to the themes of the book. This led me to only notice that this was a Christian book only when I was about half in. So when I noticed I wasn’t bothered by it. Instead of feeling that it was trying “convert me” I felt like I was reading a story about people that are also Christians. Yet as I kept reading, the Christian theme kept being pumped up and up, to the point that started to be a bit too much. Again it was my fault that I didn’t pay attention.

The bookshop got its name, The Printed letter, because the walls were covered by the letters that were sent to Maddie. This interesting feature that gives name to the shop and the book is in no way relevant to the story and that was a pity. Knowing Maddie and the community through the letters would have been an interesting addiction.

The story was interesting, with a good idea behind it, but I felt that is suffered from problems of pacing. Some parts where we were exposed to the background of the characters dragged a bit too much and the “conflicts” wasn’t well spaced out or planned. Some sections of the book just feel like they drag and drag without going anywhere.

The characters were believable but felt a bit flat overall. Somehow I felt like I knew about the characters problems rather than their personalities. I would have loved to have been exposed more to each character tastes in books, hobbies or views about life, than their problems with husbands, ex-husbands, children...

Did I expect a bit more out of it? Yes.
Do I still recommend it? Not really.

I wanted to love this one, I adore books set in bookstores but I struggled to get into this one. I was hoping for more romance based on some reviews I read, but it's very women's fiction. The writing was good, but I wasn't feeling the storylines when I read it. DNF at 25%

The story is of three women connected by a bookstore. The book follows theor life and how books help them. I read this book and liked it. Leaving few parts. The book had lot of descriptions. But other then that it was a good read.

While I was reading this book, all I could think about was how much I wished I could visit the Printed Letter Bookshop. It sounded like the most amazing hometown bookstore and I just wanted to be a part of the atmosphere there. The way the author described the store and the characters, it truly felt like a place I could just walk down the street and open the door to go in.

Madeline Cullen is shocked to find out that she is inheriting her estranged aunt Maddie's bookstore and home. Madeline is right in the midst of hopefully being named partner of the law firm where she works and has no desire to run a bookstore. However Madeline finds her planned future taking a detour and decides to see why her aunt would leave the bookstore to her. When Madeline arrives she meets the two store employees Janet and Claire, who each have their own views on the store's future and Madeline's involvement.

There are so many amazing moments in this book with touching literary references that made it the kind of book you want to hold on to long after turning the last page. It was such a rewarding experience to see the journey Madeline, Janet and Claire traveled on. I grew to love each one of those fascinating ladies and appreciate their individual stories.

Highly recommend this book to my fellow bibliophiles. You will want to curl up in your favorite chair and dive into The Printed Letter Bookshop.

I received this book courtesy of Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was really looking forward to this book. The idea of spending time with 3 ladies who worked in a bookstore excited me. What book lover doesn’t want to spend all day in a book store? However this story fell flat for me. I struggled to connect with any of the characters and could not get invested in book. I felt like I was on the outside looking in and being told everything that was happening rather than being there with the characters. The storyline felt choppy and the constant switching between character voices drove me nuts. I struggled with a few of the character relationships the main being Chris and Maddie, it is verbalized that they dislike one another, but I never saw any actual evidence of this. I also didn’t understand Madeline, she is portrayed as being loving and caring always trying to bring out the best in others but she hasn’t spoke to her only brother for 20 years, but then leaves her niece everything she owns. This felt like two different people. I cannot stop reading a book once I’ve started one so I continued through. It wasn’t until about three quarters of the way through that I began to care about the future of these characters. I was pleased with the way the story wrapped for each of the women, especially the improvement of the fractured relationship between Claire and Brittney.

itle: The Printed Letter Bookshop

Author: Katherine Reay

Pages: 324

Genre: Christian Contemporary fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Books by Katherine Reay are either hit or miss for me, with more books being misses. However, that was not the case with The Printed Letter Bookshop I don't know if that's because of the sitting of the book or the fact that I listened to it on audio. Madeline Cullen has inherited her aunt's bookshop, but it's a bookshop that's more in the red than the black. Her two employees Janet and Claire were loyal to her aunt Maddie and all they see in Madeline is a niece who never visited. Madeline doesn't want to keep the bookshop she wants to sell it as soon as possible and get back to life as a lawyer. But it seems like nothing wants to go her way.

I loved the small-town bookshop setting as well as the people who popped in and out of the bookshop. The bookshop was a character in its own right in the story. I am a sucker for stories set in a bookshop the better if it is in a small-town.

After enjoying this one on audio I think I going to listen to the rest of her books that I haven't read on audio to see if the audio version makes it easier to read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

"That's what books do, Maddie used to say; they are a conversation, and introduce us to ourselves and to others."

When Madeline Cullen learns she has inherited her Aunt Maddie's beloved bookshop following her death she plans to sell the shop as quickly as possible and get on with her life. But following unexpected changes in Madeline's life she starts working in The Printed Letter Bookshop again alongside it's other two employees, Janet and Claire. Each woman comes to the bookshop every day for different reasons as they deal with the death of their dear friend and personal baggage.

I really wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay but it ended up being a delightful, charming story full of heart and emotion. In particular, I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Madeline, Janet and Claire evolve as they got to know each other better. This was a great story about female friendships and the true power of books bringing people together.

4/5 stars

https://asheleadsisjoy.com/the-printed-letter-bookshop-book-review/

I enjoy wandering into small book stores. It is fun to see the books, an opportunity to hold books and stand there and read the first pages. I look at the photos on the cover and decide if it looks good. I will admit it, I judge books based on their cover. Small town book stores are even more fun to wandering in. You never know who you will find there.

There is something romantic about a small town book store. Maybe it is the shelves filled with characters waiting to introduce themselves to you. Maybe it is the books full of adventure waiting to be explored. It might even be the way that books can help you to grow. Maybe it is the small town feel, you know where everyone knows you and what you enjoy reading.

My Review
Join me in The Printed Letter Bookshop. As the book begins the community is attending Maddie Carter’s funeral. You meet a lady who everyone loved. She knew everyone in the community. She has book suggestions along with love and acceptance for all around her.
There is another Madeline but this one is dressed in a business suit and heels. She is driven to be the youngest partner in the Chicago law firm. She remembers spending time with Aunt Maddie but something happened and communication between her family and Aunt Maddie ceased. Now she learns that she has inherited The Printed Letter Bookshop. Well, I won’t tell you all of the story, but she decides she has no choice but to try to make the shop a success at least until she can sell it.

There were two employees at the shop. Janet and Claire. Each has their areas of specialty. Janet creates the displays but hides from half the people in town. Claire is out to fix the shop.

Madeline, Janet, and Claire together in the shop not sure about each other. Uncertain of what is going to happen. Each has a letter from Maddie with a list of books to read. What will they learn about themselves? Will they learn to work together? What will happen to the book shop that is not making money? Will relationships be restored?

I enjoyed reading how Madeline, Janet, and Claire grow and change through the book. In the background of all their lives was one person who I wanted to just meet a bit more, Maddie Carter. She just seemed like the person that you would go into the shop just to hear her wisdom.

I love the reference to numerous books in this book. I guess it should be that way in a book about a book store. There is a list of all the books mentioned at the end. I will say that there are a few books on the list that were mentioned in the book but honestly as this is a Christian book should have just be left out of the story.

It was an excellent book to read.

This is one of those books that took me forever to get too, and once I read it, I was super frustrated with myself… THIS BOOK IS AWESOME… I was I thinking passing it over for other books!

I just loved these three ladies, Janet, Claire, and Madeline… they were beautiful souls that were written in such a way it made me fall in love with reading all over again.

I loved the pain and heartache that each went through, I loved the transitions and change that happened in each one just through knowing each other, I loved the forgiveness, the grace that they freely gave to each other. But most of all I loved the strong bond of friendship that became so deep, even though it started out so very rocky!

And Chris, he was a beautiful soul… ahhh… I knew from his first introduction that he was going to be marvelous, and he was!

If you haven’t read this book, you must! It’s the perfect fall/winter book, that will make you want to own your cozy own bookstore!

The Printed Letter Bookshop

by Katherine Reay

This fictional work opens with the rather stark and extremely well attended funeral of Maddie and shares the perspectives of her estranged, but much loved, niece Madeline and of Janet and Claire, two ladies who are employees and friends of Maddie. What follows takes us into the lives and families of all of these ladies. They struggle with work and relationships, but Maddie leaves each an encouraging letter listing books that will help them in their life journeys. Maddie has a reputation for matching up readers with just the right book. Life is a battle for each of these ladies, and there is some characteristic in one or more of them that readers can identify with.

Part of The Printed Letter Bookshop draws attention to Proverbs 31 in the Bible which describes a wise woman and provides a model for the characters in forming their aspirations. I followed the ups and downs of the characters with hopes for successful resolutions to their problems. Will Madeline continue on her intended path to become a successful law partner? Will the town’s beloved bookshop survive during an online economy and after some bad business decisions? Can Janet find restoration with her husband and children? Is there a way for Claire to be a good mom while meeting her own needs? The story builds at an adequate pace as we are introduced to the characters and storyline, but accelerates towards the end as things come to a head for each of the characters in solving their personal dilemmas. Although there is closure for each of the ladies, it is not a puffy pink, cotton candy kind of resolution. There are surprises, heartbreaks, and difficult situations along the way as they learn what is important, how to forgive, and the need to avoid jumping to conclusions based on appearances.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Thomas Nelson for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Romance, Women’s Fiction, Christian Fiction

Notes: I would LOVE to visit this bookstore!

Publication: May 14 , 2019—Thomas Nelson

Memorable Lines:

You can miss your family so much you have to look down to see your chest rise and fall, to confirm that it hasn’t been cut open and you’re not bleeding out and you’re still breathing. Friends can’t hurt you like that, nor can they fill that fissure.

“I remember Aunt Maddie saying you could lose yourself in a book and, paradoxically, find yourself as well.”

I do remember that his resignation ignited my anger. Anger always comes first for me. Anger keeps embarrassment, humiliation, shame, all manner of painful emotions at bay—for a time. But it requires so much fuel. And while it burned hot that night, and for a couple weeks after, it soon flickered out. Shame replaced it, and shame doesn’t need much fuel to thrive. It can live on tiny nibbles for years, possibly a lifetime.

I have a penchant for loving books set in bookstores, libraries, and museums...maybe because I've worked in all of them and enjoy visiting them. Katherine Reay's The Printed Letter Bookshop tells us the story of Madeline Cullen, who's happiest memories include the time she spent working with her Aunt Maddie in the Printed Letter Bookshop. When she inherits the now struggling bookshop, 20 years later, family issues and life have hardened Madeline's feelings toward her beloved aunt. She hopes to sell the bookshop as soon as possible, but the bookshop's employees have other plans. The shop's loyal clientele, quirky employees, and a handsome gardener may change her mind. Maybe there's more to this shop after all.