4.25 Stars

The premise: Two people destined to meet come together in a small town each with their own baggage they need to work through before finding their happily ever after.

Alyssa is broke and has no job or job prospects after her employer was fingered for doing inappropriate things with the medical information of their clients. Alyssa is good with numbers and making them talk and make sense. When she moves back home to Northern Illinois, she gets to work helping her friends and their businesses. But she has a little issue with her Mom and having a real conversation that doesn’t end up in an argument.

Jeremy, however, moves to Winsome to be with his young daughter after a breakup with his wife which came before the book began. He wants to set up roots here for them both but his ex isn’t making it easy for him. He just wants a great family life and a business that can keep him in enough money to make it month to month.

This book is tough at times. It speaks of the difficulty of friendships and family and how it isn’t always a piece of cake. Alyssa and her mother don’t see eye to eye. Jeremy and his friend Ryan are at odds with his new coffee shop business. Trust is hard to come by in this book and communication is even harder.

This book is about how the family you choose may not only be bound by blood but by heart. This isn’t really a romance or a mystery. It is more like life lived out with all its messy parts and unhappiness and successes. It speaks of family, community and how that is what can really heal your soul.

Not sure if this is a standalone since it was left on a bit of a cliffhanger at the end. Great read. Definitely want to know more.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Alyssa, Jeremy, Janet, Seth, Ryan, Claire, Madeline, Jill, Ryan, Krista, Becca, Brendon, Lexi, Liam, Jasper, Chris, Luke and Eve are among many of the people we see in this story. Plus a few others. Alyssa’s job has come to an abrupt end, and she finally gives in and decides to head home to Winsome, a beautiful sounding town, near Lake Michigan. She carries a lot of hurt and anger towards her mom as well as the job situation. Jeremy and his friend Ryan have purchased the old coffee shop in town, yet when he opens up again after a remodel his sales aren’t what they used to be. Alyssa and Jeremy both have things to work through in this story. A smaller, yet caring town, lots of helpful people and some strong caring friends help turn thought processes around so the healing can begin.
A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Winsome and its residents captivate hearts. Reay does a phenomenal job of developing the main character or storyline, while ensuring the other character developments have you wanting more stories to follow. You could liken this to Debbie Macomber's "Blossom Street" series. Here's hoping there's more to come!

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

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for a gifted copy of this ARC. All opinions are my own.

DNF'd at 19% because it isn't working for me. I normally enjoy small town books but this one has way too many characters to keep track of and it jumped all over the place. The characters and plot also could not hold my interest. Sad to say, but I enjoyed The Printed Letter Bookshop a lot more.

If you loved The Printed Letter Bookshop, you’ll love Of Literature and Lattes. The setting remains the same—Winsome, Illinois. But this time the main characters have changed. This book features Alyssa, Janet Harrison’s estranged (and very angry) daughter, and Jeremy Mitchell, a newcomer to Winsome.

Three years ago, Alyssa promised herself she’d never return to the home her mother wrecked. But now, with no job, no money, and no prospects, she figures she can wait for her interview with the FBI in Winsome more cheaply than in California. Alyssa tucks her tail between her legs and returns to Winsome and a hostile relationship with her mom. Only her mom doesn’t seem as hostile.

Alyssa can’t figure out what’s going on with her mom, and why her dad won’t let her stay with him. She’s tired of running and doesn’t know where to stop.

Jeremy Mitchell has transplanted from Seattle with his buddy Ryan to take over a coffee shop in quaint Winsome, Illinois. He’ll live near enough to his daughter to take part in her life, and fulfill his dream of owning a coffee shop and snugging into a community.

Even though his shop looks like his dream come true, he can’t figure out why it fails to thrive. Even though he gets to see his daughter more, he can’t understand his ex-wife’s anger toward him, nor why everyone seems so resistant to change.

Reay introduces new characters and picks up threads of stories from the first book in this second book set in Winsome. You’ll love the gentle pace of a small town as well as the delicate way Reay tackles relationships that matter the most in our lives.

I turn to Katherine Reay whenever I need a comfort read that is just well crafted enough not to be too sappy. I grabbed the opportunity to read a review copy on NetGalley because I couldn't wait for the release of this book after reading "The Printed Letter Bookshop." And just like "The Printed Letter Bookshop," I read this book over two days, staying up to finish it because I wanted to know what happened to the characters, especially Becca.

Although it's not meant to be a sequel, I would still recommend reading "The Printed Letter Bookshop" first, just because having the backstory on some of the characters is helpful for keeping all the stories straight. That being said, I think I enjoyed "Of Literature and Lattes" even more. It could be because I love both books and coffee (making this kind of book such a comfort read for me) but I also think it's because this one had some more suspense.

I also liked that not every character's problems were the result of deep seated trauma, that some characters problems were dysfunctional family relationships that occur in many families. Watching the mother daughter relationships play out was painful at times, but those struggles are just as important as the external struggles her characters were having.

If you have read "The Printed Letter Bookshop," you will enjoy this book. And if you haven't, you will enjoy both!

I loved it! If you read The Printed Letter Bookshop, I think you will love this one as well. Some of the same characters are in this book. There are definitely some complicated relationships going on! This story deals with several different issues that people deal with in our world today, and I think it does a good job of it.
Thanks, Katherine Reay, for another great story!

I received an advance e-copy of this book from NetGalley, so thank you for that! All opinions in this review are my own.

Known for her novels filled with an adoration of all things bookish, Katherine Reay returns with a tale that teaches us the power of story; how books can teach us about God, about life, and about ourselves.

I absolutely loved this book. Returning to the town of Winsome with its quaint Main Street lined in twinkle lit trees was a treat for me. I felt right at home in this Stars Hollow-esque town and am ready to pack up and move there! The town is so vividly and lovingly described that it feels like Winsome is a character itself. Having read and adored Reay’s prior release, The Printed Letter Bookshop, I loved reconnecting with familiar characters while meeting new ones. In the vein of Jan Karon’s Mitford series, we’re offered several threads of story where everyone has their moment, even if only briefly. I absolutely love this style of storytelling.

The message of grace is a steady theme throughout the book and is wrapped in beautiful prose. Most in want of grace is our heroine, Alyssa. At times, she could be a hard character to love. There were moments when I wanted to shake her when it came to her attitude toward her mom, as well as her less than desirable prospects in Winsome. But upon reflection, if I were her, I suppose I wouldn’t be a very happy camper, either. I was delighted by the growth for this character and found her development very well done. I also loved the message of grace extended to Janet, Alyssa’s mother and a familiar character from The Printed Letter Bookshop. The story of a second chance is a heartwarming thread that readers across the board will appreciate.

And while I’m not a coffee drinker, I loved the new coffee shop in town, as well as its owner, Jeremy. He was a nice, stand-up guy. I was so charmed by his idea of a book club for the coffee shop. I would totally want to be a part of this club!

Obviously I adored this book. Honestly, I would recommend it to anyone. Get out your cozy blanket, pour yourself a cup of something warm, and get ready to be entranced by Of Literature and Lattes.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book.

Of Literature and Lattes tells the story of a small town in Illinois and Jeremy and Alyssa, two people who have found their way "home" to Winsome. Alyssa is forced to return home when she is caught in a huge company scandal that renders her unemployed and under FBi investigation, while Jeremy moves to Winsome to be closer to his daughter and to start his new coffee shop. The story follows them as they struggle with issues of family and forgiveness and try to figure out where they belong in the world.

The good:
I love the setting and the small town feel to the story, and I like the nuanced perspective of the characters. No one is perfect and this makes them very well-rounded, believable, and relatable characters. I love the focus on family, both for better and for worse, and the understated romance is sweet.

The bad:
Head hopping. So much head hopping. The story bounces between the perspectives of several characters in just one scene, and all of the different characters and their struggles made it hard to keep track of them and hard to care about some of the more minor characters. There was just too much going on and I think it would have been better if the author had focused on just the main plot lines.

Final rating: 3.5 stars!

This book really wasn’t for me. First, I wouldn’t consider this a romance. It had romantic elements, but if you’re looking for a story centered around a couple falling in love this is not the book. Second, I didn’t really like Alyssa. She was very childish and self-centered. Third, there are way too many stories to follow at once. Too many POVs muddle a story for me and are distracting. The writing isn’t bad, but this story didn’t grab me like I was hoping. I’m glad things worked out for Jeremy though.

Alyssa Harrison is returning to her hometown with her tail between her legs after the company she worked for is closed by the FBI and multiple arrests have been made. She hasn't been arrested and she didn't knowingly defraud anyone, but she has been warned she needs to stay close by so the FBI can interview her. Jeremy Mitchell moved from Seattle to Winsome, where he bought a coffee shop.... all in order to be close to his young daughter. Unfortunately, that business is failing miserably and he has no idea what he is doing wrong. Then Alyssa steps in and offers to go over his books for him and run the numbers and see what is going on. Not only do they work well together, but they also develop feelings for each other. Together they discover the magic of second chances.
I loved this book. I read the previous book, The Printed Letter Bookshop, that also took place in Winsome and really enjoyed it. Each book focuses on different characters so they don't need to be read in order. Winsome is a small town and the characters all seem like someone you might know if you live in a small town yourself. This is a quick read that will leave you with a good feeling. I highly recommend it!

Was not impressed with the writing or characters. I could not get it. Boring.. I think I was looking for a story on reading and books with funny or unusual characters..

Alyssa returns to her hometown after losing her job. Broke, jobless, and not feeling well, Alyssa moves back home and faces lifelong struggles with her estranged parents. As Alyssa reconnects with old friends, she also learns that her PERCEPTION of her parents isn't exactly reality. Alyssa also connects with new-to-the-community Jeremy who bought a much-loved coffee shop and is trying to begin a business while connecting with his seven-year-old daughter. This story twists and turns and keeps your attention on every angle. There is depth to the story. Real-life situations that require forgiveness, acceptance, and some growing up. You will fall in love with Alyssa and Jeremy & especially fall in love with Jeremy's daughter! VERY good story! Although this is a second book in the series, it can easily be read as a standalone book. Beware though, after reading Of Literature and Lattes, you will be searching for book one in the series and other books by author Katherine Reay!

I just couldn't relate to anything about this book.

I requested it based upon the opportunity to try something less dark than I've previously been reading. A mistake though as I just found this a confusing read.

Alyssa was a frustrating character to like who seemed to blame everyone for her own mistakes. It is a meandering storyline that didn't hook me.

It's obviously got an audience, but, not me I'm afraid. I struggled to finish it and was left disappointed when I did.

I really enjoyed The Printed Letter Bookshop, for which this book is a sequel, but I couldn’t get into this book in the same way. I like the little town and some of the characters, but this book jumped around too much between too many characters. I’d feel like I was getting into what I thought were the main storylines and then new characters and new stories would be introduced. I think paring it down some would make it stronger.

I did not finish this book and thus will not be posting a full review on my blog. I absolutely loved this author's debut novel and have been hoping she could capture that same magic. Her second, third and fourth books were also great. But last year's book and this one just fell flat to me. They are tenacious in their Christian virtues and just not for me. Thank for your consideration and the opportunity to review this book.

I've voraciously read everything that Katherine Reay has written, because I'm drawn to the very realistic struggles of her very realistic characters, the philosophy thrown in that gives depth to every book, the fact that many of them are set in and around Chicago, and because she uses references to great literature to make her points. So it was a dream to get a NetGalley advance copy of Of Literature and Lattes to read in exchange for my honest review.

Although Of Literature and Lattes can be a standalone, it works best as the sequel to The Printed Letter Bookshop, as it continues the story of some of the characters and is set in the same fictional suburb of Chicago. While I enjoyed all the above favorite themes in this book, I do not recommend it for someone's first Katherine Reay book. It includes everything above that I have come to expect from her, but the sheer number of characters in this book made it difficult to dig in and really relate to any one character deeply. Here, we follow the journeys of about ten locals who work around the town square of idyllic Winsome.

Although this book was split so many ways, I didn't feel confused by it. We were able to get a good feel for each character's struggles and victories and didn't have to flip back and forth to remember where we were. It helps to read PLB first, for some of the characters to be further entrenched in your mind, although about half of them are new. The POV does switch mid-scene, sometimes from person to person to person, but if you're paying attention, you should be alright. And because of the volume of POVs, there is something for everyone here, and everyone can find a struggle they relate to.

Still, there are the cons, primarily the loose ends that make you wonder if another book is coming down the pipe. We wish the female MC came to her senses sooner, or at least was a little more lovable so we'd be more inclined to root for her as much as we root for Jeremy. We wish that we were given a little more of an insiders perspective of their love story, since while they do fall in love in front of us, most of the attention is given to their separate story lines. And I personally wish the faith message was stronger, primarily when Janet is talking to her daughter and walking her through her regrets and disappointment in herself. It would have been an awesome opportunity to talk about God's redeeming grace.

What an incredible read! Strong stand out characters that pull you into the little town of Winsome. So many components to this story that keeps the reader interested in the stories outcome. Alyssa and Jeremy are both facing the unknown for their futures and learning a lot as they move through each day. The author does a wonderful job of evoking emotions from the reader and showing we are not alone in life’s trials. This book is very hard to put down, your mind keeps thinking on the story and how it’s going to end. There is so much to love about this book along with the coffee shop, the delightful book store to the character’s life problems and if they find happiness and contentment. Beautifully written!
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Enjoyed the book. I would give it 3.5 stars. I loved "The Printed Letter Bookshop" so I was excited to read this book. Although, I had to remember what happened in the previous book and who everyone was again. It was a little bit confusing until I figured everything out. So I didn't love this book as much as I thought I would. I think this was because of Alyssa. She came across as a petulant child who blamed her mom for everything. Alyssa really had no business in the problems of her parents. It was between a husband and wife. They needed to sort it out. They are her parents. She has no idea what was going on between them. She was simply awful to her mom and acted more like a teenager than an adult. So disrespectful. I'm not sure how Janet survived so long with her mom and daughter always treating her so terribly. I really can't blame Ryan. He moved his whole life to help Jeremy set up a coffee shop in Winsome and then gets pushed aside. Alyssa's problems in California definitely reminded me of Theranos.

I enjoyed the characters (except Alyssa), the writing style and story. I found Madeline, Janet and Claire's stories more interesting than Alyssa and Jeremy. I can definitely see a third book. Maybe with a wedding? I can see Krista causing problems for Jeremy. I love the Chesterton, the kitty, who visits all the stores in town and is a resident of the bookshop. Brendon was quite the jerk. He threw his garbage bags at the cat and even almost knocked him in the dumpster. Brendon even took joy in doing this. Everyone else welcomes the cat into their store and some pamper him with cream.

I recommend the book, especially if you read the previous one. Hopefully there will be more books about Winsome. Claire and Madeline barely made an appearance in this book. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

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

I loved The Printed Letter Bookshop, and was looking forward to reading this title. Unfortunately, I tried twice to read this one, and I just couldn't get into it. It may certainly be my issue, as we are in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis, but I am not able to recommend this title. I do appreciate the opportunity to read the book, and I might go back and give this one another try at some point.