Amid literature and lattes, three women come together and find that sharing one’s journey with best friends makes life richer.



When attorney Madeline Carter inherits her aunt’s bookstore in a small town north of Chicago, she plans to sell it and add the proceeds to her nonexistent “investment portfolio.” But plans change when Madeline discovers the store isn’t making money and she gets passed over for promotion at her firm. She quits in protest, takes the train north, and decides to work at the store to prep it for sale. Madeline soon finds herself at odds with employees Jessica and Courtney; when she also finds herself attracted to an affianced man, it only confuses the entire situation. After blowing up her marriage two years earlier, Janet has found solace working at the bookstore and a kindred spirit within its owner, Maddie Cullen. But when Maddie dies and her niece, Madeline, barges in like a bulldozer, Janet pushes at the new owner in every way-until she trips over common ground. Soon the women are delving into online dating and fashion makeovers, and Janet feels the pull to rediscover her art, a love she thought long behind her. After a night of bad decisions leaves the store in peril, Claire arrives and tries to save the day. While she, too, found sanctuary in the little bookstore, she knows it’s under-insured, in the red, and will never survive. When she discovers her teenage daughter has played a part in vandalizing the store, Courtney taps into strength she didn’t know existed or had long forgotten. The quietest of the three, she steps up and finds a way to save her family, the store, and the precious friendships that have grown within it. The Printed Letter Bookshop is the story of friends who find each other-and themselves-in a place none of them ever expected.



This is a wonderful read. It's hard to put down once the reader begins the story. One shop, three women and their lives are connected through one woman, Aunt Maddie. In this story, we learn through three women how one magnificent woman helps each woman, Madeline, Janet, and Claire take a look into their lives through books that she has left them to read after her death.


I love bookstores, and this one is more than a bookstore; it's a place where friends come together for love, help, and healing. It's about friendships that can last through trials and tribulations. It's about one woman's legacy and how she looked at life. It's a story that one should not miss.


This is a story of finding one's calling in life, of love, forgiveness and true friendships that last through trials and tribulations, not just in the good times but in the worst of days. This was a wonderful book that teaches us that reading is beneficial, soothing and can always be a learning experience.


I loved the shop; I wish it were real if it were I would visit everyday!

Wonderful Story of Women
This is the best piece of Women's Fiction that I have read in a long time. Quality fiction about women in the different stages of life, written without sex, is a rare find. Not to say that there isn't romance and love in this tale, because there is plenty of that. This story is heart-warming, haunting, realistic and worth savoring. It is the story of finding oneself, of moving on and forgiving ourselves. This story is so good that I am recommending it to friends and know I will re-read it. I also plan on checking out this author's other work. I received the ARC book from Net Galley at no cost. This is my honest opinion.

There’s a reason that Katherine Reay’s books are all best-sellers. She has such a unique way of telling a story. I have absolutely loved every one of her novels, and I was so excited for The Printed Letter Bookshop. The first couple of chapters were a bit confusing, but I gave it a little time…and I’m so glad I did!

This story is told from multiple points of view (which is probably what caused my initial confusion!) and follows the lives of three women. Madeline has just found out that she has inherited a house and a failing bookstore--The Printed Letter Bookshop--from her aunt, Maddie. Madeline has a life in the city, and isn't interested in taking over the shop. She decides to try to make it profitable and sell it. 

Janet and Claire are employees of the bookshop, and they hate to see it closed. Still, they determine to help Madeline turn things around for the dying shop. Maddie left each woman a list of books she recommends for them to read. As they read the books and spend their time working together in the bookstore, they begin to learn new things about themselves. Just when it seems things are taking a turn for the better, a terrible tragedy occurs that will shake them to their cores--and force each one to take a look at what her life really is. 

The Printed Letter Bookshop is an amazing book. I loved the characters. Katherine somehow writes characters that you love, even through all their imperfections. As with her other books, there is a romance involved here, but it's more of a side-story than the main attraction. Once again, Katherine has written a story about relationships--with ourselves, with family and with friends. It also takes a hard look at things the characters believed to be true, but suddenly see from a new viewpoint. I loved this book so much. I already know it'll be on my yearly favorites list this December!

This is a delightful novel exploring three women and the unlikely friendship among them. The imperfect women are suddenly thrown together when, Maddie, the owner of The Printed Letter bookstore dies. Her niece, Madeline inherits the business. Madeline is a high power attorney, passed over for partnership. Claire works at the store and feels she has been a failure at being a mom. Janet also works at the store and knows she failed at her marriage. Very different women find they have to work together if they want to keep the beloved bookstore open.

I enjoyed reading how each of the women grew, faced issues in their lives, and came to depend on each other. These women have issues just like ours. They make mistakes and struggle with making situations right again. They get agitated with one another but learn how to work together. Little by little strong bonds are formed.

While the previous owner of the bookstore seems to be a strong Christian, there is little mention of faith among the three women. I would have liked to see Christian faith having a greater impact in the women's lives. Nonetheless, the novel is a touching one and very much a rewarding book to read.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Endearing, charming, and fun. It's a story of second chances and friendship. And being set in a failing book shop made it so much more captivating.

I had never read this author, but now I'd like to. I also have a list of books to check out.

I enjoyed my time getting to know the three women featured in this book. They all came from different backgrounds, but they had more in common than they knew. I felt like I spent everyday at the bookstore as customers came in, browsed, read and made friends. The bookstore is the focal point of the story as rumors abound that the new owner will sale.

Madeline is very smart and loyal which has caused her to lose touch with her Aunt Maddie. What a shock she had when her aunt's will was read. The timing could not have been more perfect since it was time for a change of scenery for Madeline. What does a respected lawyer do when she inherits a bookstore? The beauty of this story is getting to know each character and watch them struggle, feel remorse, look for forgiveness and find themselves.

I loved all the books mentioned in the story and the list of books each woman receives from Maddie. They don't understand the list at first, but Maddie knew just what each one needed to read. I would love to have an Aunt Maddie in my life. She was the glue that held this story together. She touched so many lives and gave her time and wisdom unconditionally.

Janet is unsure of herself and my heart broke for her as she longingly wanted to be part of her grandchild's life. There seems to be a theme going throughout the book of bitterness and pride in families . Janet loves working at the bookstore and finds peace there. I think she was looking for acceptance and longed to feel needed.

Claire was easy to relate to for me. She seems to feel like a failure when it comes to her teenage daughter. it is hard for them to connect with Claire working at the bookstore and Brittany pulling away from her guidance. There will be a crisis that will have Claire examining her purpose and wanting to protect her daughter.

The story is easy to read and I loved watching each woman grow, depend on each other and watch their dreams blossom. There are times when Madeline isn't sure she can save the store and wonders why her aunt left it to her. It was wonderful to see how each woman discovers something about themselves and how they grow as friends. Come join them as they find true friendship and trust in a bookstore.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit and Netgalley .The review is my own opinion.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.

What a fun one this was. I love a book that centers around a bookstore, so this book was perfect. I also loved the ages of the women in the book. I liked how the book focused on women in three different places in life. I think that this added to the richness of the book, and made it so it appeals to many different readers.

I also liked the romance side plot. I think that it was well done and believable. These were characters that I rooted for throughout the book, even if I got annoyed at times with their decisions – which shows how much Reay pulled me into this world. I also loved all of the book references throughout the novel.

I had read a couple Katherine Reay books prior to this one and enjoyed them, but The Printed Letter Bookshop is by far my favorite. It is a must for a booklover. It has already cost me money because I have ordered a couple of the books Maddie recommended as I read through the chapters. There were so many ways I connected with this novel.. Like many of the characters, I have always felt bookstores are sanctuaries. I can also relate to how good female friendships can help you work through internal battles that are just impossible with a spouse or family member, sometimes. I spent a good part of the first half of the book not liking Madelyn at all until I realized some of her mentality was not that different from mine. Funny how you can see the ugliness of some thoughts in others that you never even notice yourself having until you witness it in someone else. I related to the prickliness of Janet, where she didn't even understand her own anger sometimes. I related to the marital and mothering travails of Claire. All the characters in this novel were easy to relate to. The Printed Letter Bookshop was so endearing, I hated for it to end. This was the PERFECT summer novel. I am giving it 5 stars because it is a book lovers book that I will remember.

I love everything Katherine Reay writes, so I am always anxiously awaiting her next release. This is her best work, in my opinion. It is full of nuance and through-provoking female characters. Reay gives us three woman of different ages and life stages, and she weaves them together into a family with the bookshop as their home. I love how she draws the women, their internal struggles, and their expressive eyebrows. It's a book for lovers of books, with references to many classics and popular novels alike. If your idea of a good time is strolling a little bookshop with a latte, then this book is the thing that will soothe your soul.

So much life and literature packed into such a small space. Claire was referring to the Printed Letter Bookshop when she made this observation, but she could just as easily have been summing up this story as well. Family, friendship, and romance—their challenges and their beauty—fill the pages of this book as three very different women, each facing their own individual struggles, come together to try and revive the Printed Letter Bookshop.

It took me a little longer than I expected to get into this story, partly because there were three main characters to get to know but also because each of the women narrated in a different person and tense: Madeline in first person past tense, Janet in first person present tense, and Claire in third person past tense. I found this a little unsettling in the beginning, but it soon became clear that this was done very intentionally, and I actually ended up loving that the author had taken this approach.

The story unfolds in Reay’s gently elegant prose as mistakes, challenges, and unwelcome surprises threaten the Printed Letter Bookshop. I couldn’t help but be drawn in by the way the three women responded as their circumstances shifted—a wonderful combination of vulnerability, soul-searching, courage, and strength. I loved the relationships that were explored, particularly the subtle undercurrents between Madeline and Chris that had me wondering “will they/won’t they”, and I loved the combination of personalities.

It was somehow warm and unexpected all at once, and left me feeling richer for having shared the journey.

I'm a sucker for any book that is set in a bookshop so this novel immediately went on my To be Read list. The structure of this book is told in alternating perspectives between the three main characters. While I enjoyed all the women, I did, at times, feel like we were covering the same event multiple times so it got a little bit repetitive. However, the storylines were interesting and each character brought a different problem/solution to the table. It was so cool to see three women able to come together and work well with each other and support one another. At the end of the book, I did feel like I took away some life lessons that I won't soon forget. While the book did have flaws, overall the read was completely enjoyable and read very quickly! Finally, if you love a bookshop book, this book really was set and centered around a bookshop. Lately I've read several books that give that impression in the synopsis, but don't deliver and this one definitely does.

* I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to read this book! I appreciate the kindness. <3

I missed this book on my to-read list from Netgalley and when I finally saw it, it had already been released. I was able to listen to this on audio and I am so glad that I did. This was a beautiful story of coming to realize one’s true potential and challenging the things you once thought to be true.

This is a book about women, friends, mothers, family and books. The perfect combination and a must read for any book lover.

I picked up this book because of how much I loved Dear Mr. Knightley a few years back. That book instantly pulled me in. I'll admit I had a harder time getting into this book. It took effort to remember which character was attached to which background and story. It was not an "easy" ready, the pacing was a little slow. It was however, beautifully worded, and deeply moving. I loved all the book references, and the lovely description of the small town and its quaint bookshop.

My thoughts


Narrative and plot

This story is centred around the lives of three women. A single woman, a middle age teenage mom and an estranged elder woman in her fifties. The story is told in their perspectives. It is an interesting version because we get to see the these characters in each other's light.

The plot revolves around the Printed Letter Bookshop as the title suggests. It is your tried and tested outline where you unexpectedly inherit a favourite deceased aunt's property.
However, given enough spin you can bring all the freshness you need to that formula and this book is a proof.

Characters and Conflict


Madeline, Janet, Claire and Aunt Maddie are the pivotal characters of the story. Aunt Maddie even though not direct is such a mesmerising presence. Each of these ladies, start at a particular point of the book and have their own inner journey through which they find themselves. How it reflects their outer world and the people around them is what you see in the book.

Since, the central theme is built around a bookshop, it is a reader's paradise. By the
end of it, you would want to step into such a gorgeous bookshop and do whatever you can to save it. The entire plot is beautifully correlated with a book lovers perspective. How, what we read affects us, and what we take from each book is close to heart.

The little bit of romance that the book has is enjoyable. It has spiritual elements but is not too preachy. Every little thing is placed rightly and comes back when required. It didn't seem forced.
If you need to point out something, certain characters were only in the background to be used as plot devices and didn't develop fully. But it is a minor thing and does not take away anything from the overall story.


Conclusion

If you're a book lover, then this is a must read. This book really shows how good books open our minds to new things and develops our personalities. And an added bonus, there is a list of books mentioned within the book which you can pick for a book club. I am keeping that list with me and try my best to cover most books. What about you? Is the Printed Letter Bookshop on your list?

It’s my first book by this author, a title more than highly recommended by Jazzmen, one of our reviewers. I couldn’t wait for its release because I thought it’s the kind of book I could like.
First indication of importance: this title isn’t a romance novel but a woman’s fiction, of which I was sure by reading the synopsis. If you’re not fan of this kind of books move on.

I finished the book some weeks ago but didn’t post a review at once. Indeed, in spite of Jazzmen’s raving review, unfortunately I fast became disillusioned by the story. The book is well written, the style is flowing and we want to know what will happen to these three women. My big problem is that I found them all unpleasant and that impression lasted in time. What I appreciate in a woman’s fiction is the personal evolution in the heroine(s), and here it’s much delayed. A good point for the author however, we believe in their redemption and their final choice but that’s not enough for me to recommend this book.

Madeline is the youngest of the three women. She’s the one who inherited her aunt’s possessions including The Printed Letter bookshop. I didn’t appreciate her egoism, her unshakable opinions and her haughtiness. Janet is the oldest of the three. Divorced, she doesn’t have any contact with her ex-husband and her children. Even if we’re sad for her at times, her past behavior doesn’t make her a really likeable character. As for Claire, she has family problems, especially with her daughter. She’s the most likeable of the three unfortunately the way she acts with her daughter just made me want to shake her.

To conclude a medium novel because of its heroines and it’s too bad as it had all to please me originally.

This took me three weeks to finish (a ridiculously long time if you're me), but I'm blaming that on this busy season of life, not the book.

Because I loved this book.

I fell in love with Reay's writing style when I read A Portrait of Emily Price awhile ago, so I was excited when I first saw The Printed Letter Bookshop. Also, that cover is so whimsical, I was instantly intrigued! And I was not disappointed.

The Printed Letter has a somewhat slow and even meandering at times plot, but I would not say that is a bad thing in this case. (Although it certainly didn't help my reading slump) It was, in fact, a delightfully fresh breath of air after several dud reads and fast-paced suspense books. I fell in love with this fictional bookshop, its people, and its city. Reay creates a beautiful location to set her story.

Our main characters are three women--all in different walks of life. Madeline, a young attorney; Claire, a forty-something mom and wife; and Janet, a divorced, middle-aged woman who is trying to find her place in this life. They all are, trying to find their place. And that alone makes each of these characters incredibly relatable, I believe. While the POV jumps were confusing at times for me, I think Reay does a fabulous job keeping each of these characters unique and individual, all the way down to switching up the points of view, having both third-person and first-person points of view--something you don't see a lot, and some may find unenjoyable, but I personally liked that decision. They each had their own beautiful and complete storyline, yet the three interwove so perfectly to form the novel as a whole.

Reay tackles some difficult and serious issues in The Printed Letter, not the least of which being adultery, divorce, and teen issues. Yet she does so with incredible tact and realisticness, weaving lines of grace, forgiveness, and mercy throughout the pages of this lovely story.

Overall, I highly recommend The Printed Letter Bookshop! Katherine Reay is an incredible author and I look forward to reading more.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Sometimes what I enjoy most is a light and lovely book to cosy up with.     This was one of those times and I very much enjoyed The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay.     What's more, as the title suggests, it was set in a bookshop and contained an abundance of book references.   What's not to love about a book like that?

The story revolved around four main female characters, Madeline,  Claire, Janet and Maddie and it opens at Maddie's funeral.    Soon after the funeral Madeleine learns she has inherited everything from her namesake and Aunt Maddie.   This is unexpected and certainly not the windfall one might expect her to consider it.     Afterall, she's a career driven lawyer striving to make Partner in a top Chicago law firm.     Running a bookshop is definitely not in her plans.     She does however feel compelled to give it a shot, at least until she can sell the store.     Claire and Janet are middle aged women, close  friends and employees of the late Maddie.   They love the bookshop and for seperate reasons both desperately hope to retain their jobs despite dwindling sales.

I made a game out of spotting all the book names, ticking off  those I'd already read, and making a mental checklist of those to be added to my TBR.     The story was delightfully written, a little predictable with a bit of romance and a happily ever after feel to it.   It was filled with characters I enjoyed and I wanted the best for them.    It contained lessons to live by and imparted important messages to be learnt.   From my words I hope you'll know whether this is your kind of book or not.    It was mine and I thank Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.

Katherine Reay’s inimitable style invites us into the story in such a way that we see ourselves reflected in each character. We’re too quick to speak like Madeline, we’re too laid back like Claire, and our first reaction is too often anger just like Janet.

But then, as the layers of our heart are peeled back, we see the growth in each character and long for that transformation in our own lives. Madeline seeks contentment rather than success, Claire finds strength, and Janet learns humility.

And all because of the legacy of Aunt Maddie and The Printed Letter Bookshop.

Only Katherine Reay can write a book in which three strong, independent women find themselves in Proverbs 31.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is one of those books. You know the kind. The ones that make you feel wholly inadequate when trying to leave a review. Yes, one of those books.

There is so much wisdom captured in this wonderful story about Madeline inheriting a bookshop (among other things) from her aunt Maddie. There is also regret, passion for one's dreams, interesting female friendships that grew from animosity and mistrust, community spirit in a small town and so much more that it's hard to stop trying to fit it all into this review.

The characters were engaging whether I liked or disliked them in the beginning. They called to me, asking me to spend more time with them, to get to know them. The bookshop sounded lovely and I wanted to curl up in a comfy chair and read and people watch to my heart's content.

The true gems that outshone everything else in this stand out novel were the book references. They fit what was happening in this story perfectly and really showed this author's love of reading. The books recommended to various characters throughout this story or just mentioned in passing all had some type of life lesson to impart and the inclusion of these books happened organically and seamlessly.

Katherine Reay is a very talented, new-to-me author that I will be following closely, hoping future novels are as immersive and simply wonderful as The Printed Letter Bookshop. If you have not yet added this book to your TBR list, do so now. You will thank me later.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and author for approving my request for an ARC. All thoughts in this not-nearly-as-good-as-the-book review are my own and willingly provided.