I was so excited to come across this novel because I loved The Printed Letter Bookshop! I didn’t even realize it would be set in the same town with familiar characters, so that was a bonus. Alyssa was quite the whirlwind and reminded me so much of her mother, Janet, from the previous book. Let me note that you can read this as a stand alone! I enjoyed Jeremy and the whole cast of characters and I look forward to reading more!

While I wasn't as attached to main characters Alyssa and Jeremy as much as I've been to those in Reay's other books, I found Of Literature and Lattes a heartfelt, satisfying read. The mother/daughter dynamic "stole the show" making the content both relatable (to me, personally) and relevant to readers of all ages who've experienced a similar push-pull with the woman that gave them birth.

I also loved the brief glimpses of the relationship between Jeremy and his daughter, and would have loved to have seen that a little more. As-is, I felt the book ended a little too abruptly--not just because I wanted more (I did), but because I needed a bit more closure in a few areas, one of which being Jeremy and his daughter, and her struggle with dyslexia. I also would have liked to see a little more of Seth and Janet's story, since it wove so deeply into Alyssa's story, and I finished with many questions about the medical scandal and what came of the Winsome resident who'd been given "false news."

Overall, I'd recommend the book. The tension--> resolution between mother and daughter was the heart of the story, the romance a sweet secondary plot that gave the book levity, and the geek in me appreciated the varying literature references, which, in a way, tied everything together.

Katherine Reay is an automatic read for me every time, so I didn't really pay attention to what the story was about until I got into it. lol. So, I was in for a delightful surprise when Alyssa gets back to her home town and her messy relationship with her mom and found that I recognized the town at that of the Printed Letter Bookshop. You could read this as a stand alone story, but I recommend that you read the books in order, since a lot would get lost if you don't read about Alyssa's mom, Janet, in the first book. Katherine does not disappoint in this story of forgiveness, expectations, illness, and seeing through new eyes. I love that it deals with the relationships between mothers and daughters. This is sure to be one of the best reads of 2020!
I received this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

Although this began as what I thought would be a boring mother/daughter don't get along novel I was very wrong. There are so many aspects to the plot and development of characters that make this a good read. Satisfies in all areas
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

Another masterpiece by Katherine Reay...I absolutely loved this novel from page one...and did not want this story to end. Five Stars!!!

Katherine Reay continues the story of small town Winsome, IL in this latest book. We learned about the Printed Letter Bookshop and its 3 lovely employees in her last novel. Now, we are getting Janet's daughter's story, along with several other of the town's citizens.

While I am a huge Katherine Reay fan who salivates for the releases of her books, I found this one to be my least favorite so far. It is perfectly nice-- in plot and characters-- but I can't give it much more than that. The love story was element was secondary, which is fine, but it was so very anemic. I missed the longing and the beauty of finding love that all her other books have.

If this is your first Reay novel, then give her others a chance. I still remain a fan, but I was just not taken in by this one. There is absolute magic in her other books that is a touch diluted as she visits the same town in this story.

It was nice to be back in Winsome again with familiar characters. This story focused on new characters and it was fun to see how their stories fit into the town. The author does a great job of character development. It was the perfect light story to end the year with.

Alyssa and Jeremy meet after she flees back to her home town. He is new in town, having moved there to be closer to his ex and their daughter.

They both have a lot going on, and Alyssa has a difficult relationship with her mother that she needs to work through,

An enjoyable read though.

At first, I wanted to read this book because the title intrigued me. Katherine Reay is a new author for me and I have to admit I enjoyed her style. Of Literature and Lattes is a wonderful story of how one truly can come home again, but it won't be easy. Alyssa is a complex character who had her world turned upside down when her job seemed to dissolve like a cube of sugar in her latte. Silicon Valley was supposed to help her make her mark in the world. It was only coming home and resisting that ever abundant humble pie when she found all of the things she longed for when she left this life behind. Stripped of all her layers, she had to begin again.

Jeremy's dream of opening a premier coffee shop in Winsome seemed an opposite journey than the one Alyssa experienced. Everything was going to right itself. When his grand re-opening didn't wow the town, he regrouped and made some improvements to get to that next level. Sometimes, we have exactly what we need in front of us although we often just can't see that.

I enjoyed this book for several reasons, first and foremost, the characters are complex, just like real life. They had some things to work out and I felt their pain. I also soared along with them on the good days. Both Jeremy and Alyssa exemplified how difficult relationships can be. They also prove that it is what you do about those complications that matter.

I can easily recommend this book for anyone who likes well written fiction with believable characters. The ending will be so worth the read. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a good book. This is the first I have read by this author and I enjoyed the way she developed this story and her characters. I could see a second book in a series and I do hope there is one.
I will definitely be looking into other books by this author.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. I really like it.
Who doesn’t love reading and lattes? 📚 ☕️

This is the first book I have read by Katherine Reay. I will be reading the first book in this series " The Printed Letter Bookshop". The town of Winsome is enchanting. You cannot help but be drawn to these characters. I loved how mother and daughter relationship of Alyssa and Janet played out. The characters have flaws in this book. I love the theme of forgiveness. This book reads like warm cup of flavored coffee. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves woman's fiction. I am very excited to see the next book in this series.