Madeline's life is turned upside down when she unexpectedly inherits a small town bookstore after the death of a family member. Over time, as she prepares the store for sale, she gets to know the two women who work there and looks at her own stressful, high-power lawyer life with a new perspective.

This story is split between Madeline, Claire, and Janet, the three women now in charge of keeping the bookstore afloat. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each of them and watching them grow as they dealt with the issues in their own lives. This novel is full of hope and forgiveness and just the perfect amount of faith.

There's also the fascinating behind the scenes peek at what it's like to run a bookshop. Those glimpses into the trials and triumphs of owning a small business were some of my favorite parts of the book.

There are few things I love as much as books celebrating the amazingness of book shops. That's what's made 84, Charing Cross Road into one of my favourite books ever, and it's what made The Little Shop of Happily Ever After into one of my favourite reads of 2018. So when I read the premises for The Printed Letter Bookshop? Well I knew I had to read it. Suffice it to say: I was not disappointed.

The Story
One of Madeline Cullen's happiest childhood memories is of working with her Aunt Maddie in the quaint and cozy Printed Letter Bookshop. But by the time Madeline inherits the shop nearly twenty years later, family troubles and her own bitter losses have hardened her heart toward her once-treasured aunt--and the now struggling bookshop left in her care.

While Madeline intends to sell the shop as quickly as possible, the Printed Letter's two employees have other ideas. Reeling from a recent divorce, Janet finds sanctuary within the books and within the decadent window displays she creates. Claire, though quieter than the acerbic Janet, feels equally drawn to the daily rhythms of the shop and its loyal clientele, finding a renewed purpose within its walls.

When Madeline's professional life takes an unexpected turn, she questions her plans and her heart. She begins to envision a new path for herself and her aunt's beloved shop--provided the women's best combined efforts are not too little, too late.

The opinion
More so than about romance, this book is about growth and the way books can guide you through this. Madeline, Janet and Claire are all vastly different. From their careers to their interests to their personal lives, however, they all find themselves at cross roads. Before she died, Maddie left Madeline, Janet and Claire a list of books to read. As the story starts, they each see their lives fall apart in some way or form. But the books Maddie listed for them, offer support, guidance and inspiration to each of the three women.

Throughout the story of The Printed Letter Bookshop, what struck me again and again is to what extent each of the main characters was allowed their own path and growth. And, something which not many authors manage to get right: the characters weren't forced to like each other. There were no over-emotional moments, no forced recognition of "shared interests"...

Katherine Reay was a revelation in not only the respect she offers her characters, but also in the love for books that just about jumps from the pages. Whatever book is recommended, referenced or talked about: I immediately wanted to go add it to my TBR. (Sure, this might also be a personal deficiency, as I am that way about most any book title I come across, but still).

The rating: 5/5
This was my first read of 2019, and I honestly can't imagine a better book to start of the year. The writing was beautiful, the characters well-developed, the love for books clear as day... If you love books, small villages, or immense personal growth for women through various kinds of hardships? Then this is 100% the book for you!

-Saar

Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair review. This book was a heartwarming delight and a change from my usual thriller/darker reading choices. If you love books/bookshops/people focused feel good books this is definitely one to add to your TBR. I loved getting to know these 3 ladies, what made them tick and how a wise old Aunt uses her love of books to bring her estranged niece right back to where she needs to be in her life. #netgalley #theprintedletterbookshop #katherinereay #heartwarming #booklovestory #litsy #goodreads #tea_sipping_bookworm #amazonreviews #bookstagram

Okay, so this is about three women and a bookshop...how much better does it get? Oh, did I say troubled bookshop and troubled ladies? Yep. This is a slow unfolding of everything that’s going on, and plenty of small-town intrigue going on as well. Broken relationships, troubled kids, and so on. Can working together around the books, trying to save the bookstore, do anything to turn these women’s lives around?

This one’s more of a literary fiction than her previous ones have been, and the faith message is very subtle, but present: true peace is only found in God, not in an affair or in a bottle of wine. General market readers would probably hardly even notice it.

I will say a word of caution about the books quoted. Unlike <i>Dear Mr. Knightley</i>, which was the reason I discovered a few more clean authors (notably Anne Perry’s mysteries), this book is about a bookstore and there are many, many books mentioned and/or discussed. Some are clean and some aren’t (Lolita, etc). So for the younger readers out there, I’d advise checking any reading list with an adult or a more mature friend before making out a want-to-read list.

Content: drinking, books mentioned in passing that have content in them

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a free ebook. A positive review was not required.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is a well written tale of friends. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I received an arc from Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

I enjoy Katherine Reay’s books and always look forward to reading her newest story. This one did not disappoint me. The setting of the bookstore is perfect—-you have to love a bookstore that’s a hub of a small town! But it’s the characters that drive this storyline and give this book its heart.

The book opens with the funeral service of Maddie, the much-cherished owner of the bookstore. Although we don’t actually meet Maddie in this book, we get to know her by the positive impact she left on the lives of those who loved her. Maddie unexpectedly leaves the bookstore to her niece, Madeline, a big-city attorney with plans for the future that do not include running a bookstore. Madeline loved her aunt, but has every intention of selling the bookstore. And that’s where this heart-touching story really begins.

We view this story through the eyes of three women: Madeline, Claire, and Janet. Each one has a struggle or problem to solve in her life. As the three work together in the bookstore, strong friendships are developed. As Maddie’s influence lives on through them, broken hearts are healed and new hope is given.

This is the type of Christian fiction I love best: An inspirational , well-written story about real-life situations combined with the themes of faith, hope, and love. Give this book a try. I think you’ll love it, too.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Great cover, great book. A good book for any book lover.
Thanks to both NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for my eARC of this book in exchange for my honest unbiased review

The cover and description is the first thing that drew me to this book. It sounds like my kind of bookstore! I enjoyed the characters and how they all grew. I loved the story!!

This kind of writing lets you see everything in both the settings and the characters, and this bookshop is adorable. Reay was clever in giving us three characters to follow, as getting their perspective is important at times in how the story plays out and how the bookshop tackles its problems.

Three women with different issues and ways of dealing with life. Three women determined to keep the bookshop not just afloat but thriving. Three women who have to not only talk to each other and strategize together, but who can't really do a great job until they find peace within themselves first.

Yes, there's a handsome hunk of burning love in the picture too, but he isn't the center of this lovely story of courage and the ability to find your compass and start traveling to your own true north.

The description of the bookstore was absolutely perfect, as someone who loves books and readings I found the author was spot on. I liked the interwoven stories as well as all the books mentioned in it. It's overall a very positive story and I enjoyed reading it.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is a fascinating book written by Katherine Reay(The Jane Austen Escape) about a funeral of an eccentric character, a legacy and a bookshop.



It is not uncommon that when bookshop owners are close to the end they need to find someone who, in love for books won't decide of selling, changing activity once they die. Books are a story of love and if people don't understand it, it can be the end.

Surely the eccentric, called also "crazy" - by Madeline s dad- aunt of Madeline, Maddie, must have thought this, when, close to the end decides of leaving all her possessions, bookshop included at her niece Madeline.

Madeline is not exactly in this business created romantically decades before by Maddie and Pete, her beloved husband.

The name of the bookshop appears singular but there is an explanation. This lady created a lot of joy in people thanks to the fact that she shared with people a lot of books. It meant that these people became readers and most of them did not forget Maddie, and so with the time she received a lot of thank-you letters.

If Maddie wouldn't have been around maybe people wouldn't never started to read. So, when they created the bookshop, to Maddie important to call it shop, and not store for giving an idea of more simplicity and warm, the letters needed to be included.
All of them; close to them notes of Ernest Hemingway and Francis Scott Fitzgerald.

Claire and Janet, very well defined characters are the historical shopgirls and one of them took also great care of the latest moments of Maddie; a bookshop is a place where friendship are cemented and people in general are not just customers.
They love to spend time with shop girls and the bookshop s owner ; and they are helped by them; sometimes shopgirls, these ones mature, were ladies (one in particular) who at first searched this place because in grade of presenting warm and security. Shopgirls are the soul of a bookshop: they suggest titles, help readers in search of something new and exciting or the best classics for the season.

The arrival of Madeline - and not only - will create some frictions at first, because her new idea of launching a big sell during the Christmas Time and when in general people tend to read less for restoring the not florid economical situation of the bookshop left by auntie Maddie for later selling the bookshop in Spring, without to count the entrance of social medias will be a change.

But after all, with a lot of intricate, funny, romantic situations, who knows if Madeline, who in the while discovers, living in the house of auntie Maddie a lot of affinities with her beloved relative, will sell the bookshop?

Tender story, pretty crowded, with a lot of book suggestions for every possibile tastes, if you love books, every chapter is narrated in first person. Janet, Madeline, Claire...Beauty.

I thank NetGalley for this ebook.

This was a novel about books, families and relationships. Madeline inherits her Aunt’s house and bookshop. For many years Madeline was too busy working as a lawyer to take time to visit her Aunt but after inheriting the Printed Letter Bookshop, Madeline gives up her life as a lawyer and gets to know the two women working in the bookshop. Gradually Madeline starts to
This story is told from the point of view of Madeline, Clare and Janet and how their lives revolve around books, reading and their desire to follow their dreams.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

THE PRINTED LETTER BOOKSHOP by KATHERINE REAY appealed to me especially, as I am a book lover and like the idea of a book store that is an important part of the community. In fact I cannot understand anyone who doesn't enjoy reading!
It is a most enjoyable read, with the emphasis on friendship, belonging and forgiveness.
When Madeline inherits the Printed Letter Bookshop from her aunt Maddie she also inherits her friends and a lifestyle that is very different from that of a big city lawyer. The two women who run the shop with her are Janet, a divorced artist, and Claire, who is married with two children.
All three of these women have been heavily impacted by Maddie, and, as they read through the book lists she has chosen for each one, their lives are changed for the better.
It is a cleverly written book with quite a bit of depth. I can recommend it to anyone who loves reading.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

A lovely, gentle story about books, reading, friendship and so much more. This book has it all and delivers in bite-size pieces which last til the final page. Here’s to books and bookshops everywhere.

First of all I want to thank Netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

This book is about the Printed Letter Book Shop and the people that worked there: Maddie (the founder), Janet (an artist), Claire (that helps running the business) and Madeline (that inherited the book shop).
This was such a lovely and fun read!
It is well-written and shows us how reading can connect us all.

I loved how the stories of Madeline, Janet and Claire, with their different POVs, intertwined throughout the book. The beginning was quite slow, but I think it was necessary to introduce all the characters and to get to know them.

My favorite parts were when the characters shared quotes and gave recommendations to the customers about the books. The author is definitely a fellow book lover!
At the end of the book there was also a list of all the books mentioned, such a cute touch!

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

Thank you for the early copy.
This was well-written and interesting novel. I will be checking out more from this author in the future.

Charming book that is sure to delight lovers of books and bookstores. It’s a quick read and highlights the value of female friendships.

Unique and special, the Printed Letter Bookshop is a delightful read. I was drawn into the beautiful story of a woman whose life touched many, even after she was no longer here on earth. The characters were interesting and their journeys were well-written. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have read several books by Katherine Reay and will rank this one among my favorites. It is the story of three women who run a bookshop following the death of one of the protagonist's relatives. The main characters are Madeline, who inherits the shop; Clare who feels unseen by her family and struggles with her teenage daughter; and Janet who made one mistake that led to the end of her marriage and another that led to a major crisis for the store. The stories of these characters overlap and form the basis for the novel.

The novel takes place in a small town outside of Chicago. The location feels idyllic as does the bookshop.

If you have ever had a dream about owning a bookstore that enhances a community, you will enjoy this novel. There are definitely struggles for the store but the author makes owning a bookshop feel so worthwhile.

I enjoyed this novel very much. There are friendship, romance and books, books, books within these pages. An added bonus was the number of books that are named in the novel and the complete list of those titles at the end. This list is a great resource for future reads.

So...if you like a light story with a great setting, think about this one. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book about books.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Netgalley.com and the publisher. My thanks to both for the opportunity to read Ms. Reay's newest work.

This is a book for the bookish. A fun read, interesting characters and story. A bit of mystery and romance and a lot of the relationships between women. Highly recommend.