Absolutely LOVED this book! I just discovered Katherine Reay this year and have read through all of her books sequentially and waiting on pins and needles for this last one. I wasn’t disappointed. Each of her books are new and fresh and she weaves such a beautiful tapestry of story.
As i have said in other reviews of her books....her characters are real, flaws and all. Her story lines deal with the flaws, keeping the characters authentic.
I believe i could walk into any small town bookshop and there i would find Claire, Janet, and Madeline ... and through them, discover Maddie.
I have definitely found a new favorite author!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishers for the advance copy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Katherine Reay has an amazing literary style that keeps me coming back for more. I love all the witty references to so many well loved books. Her characters are real and living out believable hardships. I love that she does not sugar coat any of the hard times and paints beautiful pictures of forgiveness, restoration and new beginnings. A delight from start to end.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What an incredible story. Katherine has such an ability for making a setting come to life. I was taken to a delightful bookstore, that I still can see in my mines eye. Raising our girls outside of the Chicago area, it took me right back there. At the beginning I wasn't sure if I cared for some of the main characters of the story, but by the end I couldn't chose a favorite. The dynamics between Janet, Claire and Madeline was very heart warming. I also loved the way Aunt Maddie continued to be present throughout the story. I would love for people to remember me with such love and affection when I am gone. This story is quite different from Katherine's prior novels. If you have read her previous works, you are in for a wonderful surprise. I love her way of writing, but I found this to be outstanding.
I received a copy from Thomas Nelson Publishers through NetGalley. The opinions in this review are my own.

There was a lot going on in this one. It centers around 3 women (and one in absentia...and may I just say, everyone needs an Aunt Maddie!) and is told in alternating chapters between them. The bookshop itself becomes its own character as they live and learn through the wisdom from beloved books, their past mistakes and their friendship. I enjoyed that this book really celebrates female friendships and how very important they are. And for a fun bonus for bibliophiles, there are 70 books alluded to throughout the book. 😊 Enjoyable read.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #ThomasNelson for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

Out 5/14

This...is not a book for me. I found the poor writing to be a detriment to my ability to even make it past the first few chapters of this book. It was stuttering and halting, and I could not find a point of access to empathize with the characters or engage with any of the plot. It might be a personal preference and others might greatly enjoy the writing techniques used in the book, however it is not something that I enjoy, nor is it something that I would recommend even for a summer beach read.

This book was a tough read for me right now due to the emotional topics within it. I adore bookshops, I mean who that would volunteer to do NG reviews doesn't? But, with a funeral and wills and the taking over of the deceased business.....it was all a bit much given that I am dealing with a lot of that in my real life at the moment. I'm not sure I want my reading life to reflect the same.
WIth that being said, I think the author handles these topics well and my mindset is certainly no knock on her ability. This was a solid book, but probably would have been more enjoyable to me at a different point. I may need to give it another try in a couple of years.
#ThePrintedLetterBookshop #NetGalley

A very interesting book! I love it because it seems so real, so relatable. The problems that the characters faced felt to me like the problems a friend might face. I didn't feel the disconnect of character from reality. Rather, I could truly imagine the character's pain and struggles as though they were a friend telling me the trials in their life.

I believe this was a harder read than other books by Ms. Reay, simply because the subject matter contained topics such as divorce (heart-wrenching topic) and death (another heart-wrencher). I did not feel as though the topics were approached casually though, but reverently as one would in the work-a-day "real" world. I also loved the aspect of the characters' having direction and movement. It wasn't them struggling and struggling (extremely hard to read books like that and also rather uninspiring), but them striving and striving. They were always moving toward something. Maybe not always toward the right thing, but still always moving.

Thank you for the enjoyable book! I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a deeper (more heart-wrenching) though inspiring read!

A funeral, a will read, a bookshop, and a lost job. Three women come together to try and save the Printed Letter Bookshop. Madeline is a lawyer working her way up the ladder, when her aunt dies, she is the one left to run her bookshp. A story about finding yoursef and learning to forgive, when things don't turn out the way you thought they would.

This is such a fun book. The emotions that the characters experience are so real and raw. Loved the story!

Madeline has it all. A high-powered career as an attorney in Chicago, a chance to make partner and a beautiful condo full of gorgeous antiques. But then her estranged aunt dies and she inherits her book shop along with its debt. It's the beginning of a series of events that will upend her life and force her resolve long standing personal issues with herself and her relationships with others.
Told in three alternating voices, that of Madeline and the bookshop's two employees Janet and Claire, the novel weaves through the women's lives and loves.
This was a sweet, gentle story and while the plot and resolution were somewhat predictable, the journey was enjoyable and emotionally satisfying. Initially, having three narrators was a bit overwhelming and it took some time to sort out the different voices and stories. Having the action take place primarily in the small town of Eagle Valley and the Printed Letter Bookshop was delightful and created a yearning for small town life. And watching the characters grow and change by reading the personal booklists left for them by Maddie was a treat. In the end, the novel was uplifting and a very pleasant read. Anyone who loves books, and libraries and bookstores will enjoy this novel. And, the list of books referenced in the novel is a gem for any reader.
I will definitely recommend this title to my library patrons. 4 stars

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a gem of a novel about three women at very different times in their lives who are united by their connection to the Printed Letter Bookshop. Madeline who is a young woman who is in the rat race to make partner at her law firm, inherits the bookshop from her Aunt. Madeline's family is estranged from this aunt and she starts to realize that assumptions that she made about her aunt were not true. Working at the bookshop are Claire and Janet. Claire is the mother of two teenagers who has recently moved to town and finds solace in her work at the bookshop. Claire is feeling disconnected from her husband and kids and is looking for a sense of who she is. Janet is divorced from her husband of many years because she made a horrible mistake. Her kids want no connection to her and she still has deep feelings for her ex-husband. Janet needs to reflect on her flaws to learn how to forgive herself as well as how to learn to express her sorrow. Along the way, there is a bit of romance and a lot of friendship. The only suggestion that I have for the story is that I would have liked to see a bit detail drawn into Claire's marriage. I didn't really get a sense of her marriage until the end and then I wished to know more.

This book is written in first person by three different main characters. It's nice to get into each one's head and truly know what they are feeling and thinking. At first, I found the book confusing and hard to follow. It would take me a page or two to remember who was speaking and their background. But after a while, I found myself being drawn back to the book and wondering how things were going to work out. Maddie, the book store owner who dies in the first of the book, plays a magical part throughout the book. It makes you want to have that type of person in your life. Get into this book and learn the lessons that are taught in its pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed this book. It was taking me a little longer to get through than normal, but I'm not sure why. I loved the characters and hoped for a good outcome. I think this story was complete and I don't need a sequel. It was just a feel-good story that takes place in a bookshop (the best kind)!

I loved this book. I have read a lot of book store related books lately for some reason. This one was different int that it had three well described characters and worked in romance, family, and mystery. It would be great for a BookClub. I enjoyed it immensely for the story and characters.

Being a librarian, I knew I would love this book! It's about loving friendships, imperfection and forgiveness. I felt for these women and related to some of their struggles with the pain in their lives. The ending was very satisfying - this book will stay with me for a while!
Thanks to Katherine Reay, Harper Collins and NetGalley for the ARC of this great book!

I loved this book so much :) It felt a bit like a love letter to all bookish people. The writing was amazing, and Janet, Claire and Madeline’s stories were exactly what I needed in my life right now. It was about friendship, love, loss and basically just life. It was so charmingly written, I didn't want the book to end. I will definitely go and read some more books from this author.

A book about the importance of looking deeper, searching for your true place, and finding friends where you never thought to look are themes that run deep in this glorious novel by Katherine Reay. I was overwhelmed by the delight of having a bookstore be its center since so many are dying out because of big stores and the ebook craze. This is a prefect tale for those who want a feel good book about a jaded woman in need of friends and someone to love her when she can't love herself. It also reminds us that friendship is a very powerful force that sometimes becomes all someone older or lonelier has. Definitely a great read.!!

**thanks to Thomas Nelson for the Arc. These opinions are mine alone.

Katherine Reay's newest novel is a beautiful story about friendship, fresh starts, healing, and second chances, and a beloved bookshop becomes the perfect setting for three women beginning this journey.

Katherine Reay has a beautiful way with words that feels like she was able to incorporate a style reminiscent with the classics into her own unique contemporary setting. I don't think she could write a bad book if she tried, and The Printed Letter Bookshop may just be her best work yet. I tend to really enjoy books that have a bookstore setting, especially when the bookstore plays an integral role in the story. That's definitely the case here, as the bookstore becomes interwoven with each women's story, and plays a central role in the friendship that eventually forms between them.

Often when you're reading a novel with three different main characters, one or two will stand out above the rest. I'm happy to say that with this one I actually enjoyed each woman's story equally, and never found myself bored or confused with who's point of view I was currently reading. Madeline's beloved aunt Maddie owned the bookstore, but thanks to familial issues, she never had the chance to know her aunt the way she truly wanted to. When Madeline is left the bookstore, her first thought is to sell it, but when she's passed over for promotion at her big time law firm, she decides to take a step back to reevaluate her life, and decides to spend some time working at the bookstore. Janet has been working at the bookstore for quite awhile, and thanks to a huge mistake she made, the bookstore and Maddie were all she really had left in her life. She's bitter about the way her life's gone, and she can't imagine what will happen if Maddie's niece decides to sell the bookstore. Lastly, Claire has come to feel like her family no longer appreciates or needs her in their lives, and she's begun spending more and more time at the bookstore. She's determined to help Madeline make a go of The Printed Letter bookshop, but they may have bitten off more than they're able to chew.

This is the type of Christian fiction novel I really love. It's about real people facing real problems, and learning that only by turning to God, and truly letting yourself heal that you can move forward and overcome past hurts. The bookstore setting is perfect in this novel, and makes an already amazing story even more of a stand out. I especially enjoyed the way many popular book titles are featured throughout, and the way that Maddie uses many of these books to help the three main characters deal with their grief.

I couldn't have enjoyed this one more, and I gave it five out of five stars. I think it would be a perfect book club read, and it'll be one that get the highest recommendation from me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I was not required to give a positive review.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is a softly elegant and invitingly intricate ode to books and the power of their communal solace. With the charm and insight of Nina George and the sheer reckless book love of Jenny Colgan, The Printed Letter Bookshop enfolds the reader in a welcome literary embrace. Reay’s natural talent of putting the reader at ease in her fictional world is evident from the first page. But the story is also deceptively accessible, for the moment you fall into its continued spell, you are confronted by a mature narrative that allows three remarkably different women to become the unlikely heroines of their own stories

This is a stunningly, beautiful contemporary novel that stayed with me long after I finished reading it. It's the kind of book that just needs to sit in your soul for a while before you can really talk coherently about it...or at least that's how I felt about it. I absolutely loved the journeys this book took me on with all four of the women featured, one of whom dies before the book even starts but she nevertheless plays such a pivotal role in so much of the book that you feel like she was your best friend! I will read this book again and again. I absolutely loved it, and I have no doubt that I will love it over and over again for different reasons each time.