This is the best feel-good book that I have read in a really long time! It is the story of Madeleine, Janet and Claire, the three women who work tirelessly to keep The Printed Letter Bookshop open. Told with empathy for each character, from the viewpoint of each woman, the story is one that will remain long in the hearts and minds of real devotees of reading books. Maddie, Madeleine’s aunt has died, and at the same time Madeleine needs a place to go, a purpose for her life. Enter the bookshop and the women who knew her aunt the best and who are more than a little leery of Madeleine’s motives. I enjoyed the development of all the characters, but none more so than Claire who was facing an empty next, an absentee husband and a teen who was determined to rebel at all costs. Having lived through that life myself, I was drawn to her story. The struggles in life and in keeping the business going are portrayed so realistically that I was immediately drawn into the story and mesmerized by each woman and her story of love, loss and life’s challenges. Readers of contemporary fiction will fall in love with this novel and it should find a place of honor in the circles of book lovers everywhere.

Is there anything better than a book about books? This story takes place in a charming small town where the main characters are trying to keep a bookstore afloat while grappling with the relationships in their lives and trying to find an honest view of themselves in the process.

*ARC provided by NetGalley

As a librarian I'm drawn to books about books, libraries, bookshops so of course I asked for an ARC of The Printed Letter Bookshop. I was delighted! The Bookshop is owned by Maddie and operated with the help of Janet and Claire in a small village outside Chicago. Maddie dies from cancer after keeping her illness hidden from the rest of her estranged family. She leaves the Bookshop, her house and everything else to her niece Madeline, who used to come stay with her during summer but hasn't been back since a big blow-up between her father (Maddie's brother). Madeline was shocked to learn of Maddie's death and her subsequent inheritance. At first, Madeline wants nothing to do with anything that will interfere with her plans to climb the corporate ladder within her Chicago law firm. As often happens in life, things don't turn out as she planned and Madeline finds herself trying to get the shop and Maddie's house in shape to sell to relieve the large debt that was also part of her inheritance. A she familiarizes herself with the shop and the people, Madeline gets to know Claire and Janet as well as more about her aunt, She learns more about herself, too, as she discovers the reason for her family's estrangement from Maddie and takes another look at her life.

The story is told from alternating points of view and goes into the lives of the three main characters: Madeline's, Janet's ( a lonely, divorced, gifted artist in her 40's), and Claire's ( happily married, mother of teenagers who are growing away from her). The three very different women find family in the quirky customers who visit the store and the people who Maddie loved and helped. Maddie left them each a letter including a list of books she recommended for each of them. As they work through their lists, they find common ground, and a new understanding of the woman who loved them.

I really enjoyed this book and the opportunity to read an advanced copy! It was a little slower paced then some, but the characters are well-developed. I found myself wanting to be a part of the Bookshop family and friends with the ladies in spite of their self-realiized flaws (also well-developed). Many will be drawn by the title, but the writing and story will keep them !

I reviewed this title for Hope By The Book magazine's 2019 Spring issue. "In a widely appealing story of life and loss, three vastly different women unite for a common goal and with lots of books and coffee, reminding readers of some important yet often neglected truths."

Katherine Reay is one of my must read authors...A lovely book w/ memorable characters. I loved every page of this book...I'm sure you will, too.

Ok, the three stars are solely because of the charming setting of the Printed Letter. (With a different setting, this would have been a 2.) I loved the description of this small town, locally owned shop. It connotes nostalgia of a simple time before Amazon takes readers (like me) to buy cheaper books (I felt so guilty!)

The story just never flowed like it should have for me. I was gone putting this story down as there was so much repetition but then so many twists and turns that seemed out of place. Janet’s portrayal was heartbreaking, Madeline’s was somewhat maddening, and Claire’s was depressing, but these three women needed each other, and they formed an unlikely bond. I enjoyed the female friendships and the bookshop, but the story was so put-down-able (word?)

If you love books and quaint, charming bookshops, you’ll enjoy this. If you don’t find pleasure in a bookshop, don’t pick this one up.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC edition of this novel. This is the first of Katherine Reay's novels I've read and it kept me up all night! It's the story of young, aspiring attorney Madeline who unexpectedly inherits her Aunt Maddie's beloved bookshop. During her aunt's brief illness, the shop has been kept afloat by two women, Janet and Claire, who get as much out of working at the shop as they give to the shop. While the three women figure out how they can keep the shop in business, they learn through many trials how to forge strong friendships with one another and how to go after the lives they truly want. I thought this might be another one of those quirky, kitschy bookstore stories but I found it filled with several believable storylines and snappy, contemporary dialog that kept me flipping pages. I also enjoyed the many references to books that are either classics or that have been very popular in recent years--I have read a great many of them myself, so felt I was a kindred spirit to not only the characters, but to Katherine Reay herself. I highly recommend this book to those who like stories of female friendships and to those who love reading.

A heart warming tale of three women brought together by the death of a beloved bookshop owner, Maddy. Jane, Claire, and Madeline take us a journey of both discovery and healing as they each have to navigate life after Maddy especially Madeline has she is given the bookshop by her Aunt Maddy even though there has been a division in the family for several years. I love how Maddy demanded the bookshop be called that because a bookstore was too impersonal. This story made me want to go to my local bookshop, curl up in a chair, and read there. Book lovers will enjoy this delightful story that highlights our love of reading.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book by Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Author Katherine Reay provides readers with an upbeat story that should appeal to any independent bookstore lover. Main character Madeline has a few curve balls thrown her way. A successful attorney, she's ready to make partner and her hopes are dashed as the book opens. The hard work and years of pouring all efforts into her career have not paid off, much to her frustration. She's drawn to a small community to lick her wounds as she delves into the recent inheritance of a small book shop from an aunt she ignored for years.
What she finds are two employees, Janet and Claire, each dealing with life challenges while trying to keep the store afloat financially. Rather than close up shop and walk away from the small town life, Madeline is compelled to try to honor her aunt's efforts in running the business. Madeline's view of small town life changes as she sees that relationships among her employees, the business and the townspeople are all important community components.
Throw in a little bit of mystery, a little bit of romance, and a lot of small town good feelings, and Reay has created an ideal book for a cozy winter tea and reading afternoon.

2.5 stars

I was looking forward to reading a book that had to do with a bookshop. I liked how the story followed three women, each trying to find their place. This was a relatively light read. I would have liked a bit more character development. I found a few too many lulls in the plot, which is the reason for the lower rating.

I wish someone like Aunt Maddie would leave a recommended reading list for me that would positively impact my outlook on life! I admit that this book became a little tedious because of the frequent switching in voices, but overall I came to know the characters and be interested in the resoulution of their problems.

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

If you are a book lover, a book that features other book lovers warms your heart. This book is totally that way.
The author takes a story of friendship surrounding books that will make you wish the bookstore truly exists somewhere. One thing that is unique about this story is that none of the characters have it "all together". They have messed up, some more than others. They were not really destined to be friends, until life throws them together.

Love, forgiveness and finding what is truly important in life are the themes of this novel. It is published as Christian fiction, but it is more for the thread of hope, love and forgiveness throughout the novel than for sermons, bible verses and quotes.

I found myself wanting to highlight portions of the novel and remember what was said. I would highly recommend it.

I obtained this book through the publisher and NetGalley. The opinions contained herein are my own.

This book is a must read.
The strong characters Madeline, Janet and Claire felt like old friends retelling their story to me about how, what and why things happened.
It revolves around the The Printed Letter Book Shop, when you start reading it’ll become clear as to why the shopped is so called. The three women are all so different but help each other through they’re personal problems, the matriarch who brought them all together was a special lady and knew they would achieve wonderful things.This was her legacy to them. Very cleverly written.

I loved this book. I was giddy to read it as soon as I received the advanced reader copy but I forced myself to wait till I had a chance to read it in one sitting because I knew I wouldn't want to put it down. I was right!

Katherine Reay is one of my favorite authors because she writes encouraging books that are engrossing without including anything obscene or vulgar. She captures real life in her characters, making each one unique while also completely relatable. This book was fairly predictable for me- but I still wanted to read every word. I saw myself on every page; my strengths and my struggles, but also the person I want to be and can be.

This particular book felt like a love letter to bookworms. There were over two dozen references to books both classic and modern that the devout reader will catch and savor, but won't detract from the enjoyment of a less ardent reader.

I give this book four stars. I'll happily recommend it to friends and will enjoy rereading it for pleasure again in the future I know. Only it's predictability kept it from being a five star book.

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

This story is the kind I love to read : a story about ordinary people, meeting in special circumstances which will have a great impact on their lives.

The premises were good, a young woman who inherits a lovely bookshop where two older ladies still work after the recent death of a beloved aunt - beloved but estranged since a dramatic quarrel between her and the young woman's father, the deceased own brother.
There are some mysteries: why this woman who seems to have been an angel, worshipped by all the town, has reacted so violently for money? Why one of the other women working in the shop is being violently spurned by all her family and all the town after her divorce?

There are also some predictable developments: a romance, friendships, revelations about the aforementioned mysteries.
Theoretically I could have loved this story.
But at the third I decided to stop reading.

At the third of the book the mysteries were already stretching too thin: There were hints that the divorced woman has been cheating on her husband but she's treated by absolutely everybody like she had committed infanticide! The deceased aunt is depicted as so perfect (too perfect, I was beginning to find her insufferable) that the fault was probably on the brother side. The expected friendship and romance were still keeping me waiting.
Those promised developments were still at their very beginnings, as if the author thought that waiting for them would improve the reading experience.
It didn't.

Above all, I still wasn't interested in the story, even putting aside all this grating narrative tricks. I wasn't absolutely bored, but nearly so. I hadn't connected with any of the characters and couldn't care less about their futur. I was reading half-heartedly, hoping for some sparkle, any sparkle.

To be honest it wasn't the author's fault, as she took many pains to depict all the characters, with many details that I usually crave in this kind of story. She was also very enthusiastic about books, giving various references. But all this efforts were in vain, the story remained for me tasteless, bland, flat. The characters weren't endearing, there wasn't the least tiny hint of humour and I was getting annoyed by the insistence of concealing those mysteries like the Holy Grail while fantasising upon the bookshop and Wondrous Maggy (the late aunt) (too much of a good thing is nauseating, yes, yes even bookshop, perfect old dead lady and books' lovers).

In the end it wasn't a read for me. Dull and excruciatingly lacking brillancy. Nothing like my beloved Victoria Clayton's books, alas.

Actual rating 4.5 stars

The Printed Letter Bookshop is lovely, cozy read, perfect for reading under a blanket with a mug of one’s favorite hot chocolate!
This book included many things that I like in a book like characters who love books and reading, and multiple POVs. Not one POV, nor two POVs, but three! (It was also awesome how Claire’s narration was in fact in third person!)

I loved the story, the characters, and the setting (who wouldn’t love a cozy bookstore in a small town??) Reay’s writing style is smooth and flows well, making the book an easy and enjoyable read. Also, the romance wasn’t too much or too little, just on point.

You should definitely add this books to your 2019 TBR!
The one thing I wished for was that the story would have continued just a bit longer so we get to see what happens next! 😉

A cozy setting, interesting and complex characters...all in all a sweet read that you can't help but enjoy.

Don't let the unlikability of the main character stop you from reading this wonderful book about change, sense of sekf, love, friendship and heartache. By the end I loved these women and admit I teared up a bit several times that doesn't mean it's mushy. It's not at all the strength and the fight for self awareness and the need to feel 'seen '. Beautiful scenes

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me this arc for an honest review

A book about books or bookstores is most always a can't miss for me. I was definitely intrigued by the premise of this one. Madeline is a successful lawyer in a top firm in Chicago, working 70+ hour weeks to make partner. About the same time she find out she didn't make partner, she discovers she has inherited a bookstore in the suburbs from her once beloved, long estranged aunt. She also inherits Claire and Janet, the ladies (and dear friends) who work in her Aunt Maddie's bookstore. While Madeline struggles to understand the business of the bookstore and establish some sort of relationship with Claire, Janet and the rest of the community, she becomes aware of some truths she had long been avoiding.

It was interesting to see how all three ladies grow and change and step into a life they chose, not one they settled upon. I loved that Maddie left a reading list to each of the ladies and how the reading choices affected their choices.

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

The Printed Letter Bookshop was a delightful read that I cannot wait to recommend to women everywhere! Madeline Carter is shocked when her life takes a complete deviation from her perfect plans. First her career as an attorney is jeopardized when she doesn’t make partner and suddenly she is the new owner of her somewhat estranged Aunt’s home and bookshop. Madeline quickly learns that the bookshop is in financial distress, not that different from her own finances. Determined to bring the shop out of the red so that she can sell it, Madeline finds herself in a new career filled with authors, readers and co-workers.
The circle of women in this novel are a fantastic cast of complex characters. There is heart, wit, compassion, knowledge and love deep in each of them. Together they remind us that life needs friendship and women need to be able to lean on each other. Furthermore, Madeline, Claire and Janet are all proof that even with husbands, jobs and children, relationships with other women feed the soul.
Centered on a bookshop, any reader will be quickly captivated by the cozy nature of this store. I found myself wishing I could step through the doors. Rooting for Madeline’s heart and complex life to find its true course, I was quickly engaged and enjoyed this book throughout. A perfect read for a day at the beach or curled up on the couch, The Printed Letter Bookshop is a hit.
A big thanks to NetGallery and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.