Another wonderfully written involving novel by this author.Love the characters the town was so happy to visit there again,Second in this delightful series grab this book sit back and enjoy.#netgalley#thomasnelsonbooks,

I have some experience of cafes—as a customer, not as an owner. In my view, a successful cafe needs repeat customers, which means having:

- decent coffee (and a range of other drinks). If the drinks aren’t as better than McDonalds or the petrol station, people won’t come back.
- Good food—home made is better than something out of a packet. People will forgive average coffee if their muffin is amazing (and vice versa).
- An inviting ambience—one that invites people to come and to stay (and therefore spend).

Location also helps, but it’s probably the least important factor—I’d rather drive ten minutes to a great cafe than drive five minutes to a bad one.

Why is this important as part of a book review? Because Jeremy took a successful business and spent a small fortune renovating it to take away the ambience (and the interesting name), add in bulk-buy packet mixes for muffins, and not replace the coffee machines. As such, it’s hard to get behind him, because he's done everything wrong (and not in a bad-boy-turned-good and seeking redemption kind of way. More in a TSTL way).

I didn’t find the other characters any better. None of them engaged me, and the result is I couldn’t be bothered to finish the book, because I couldn’t bring myself to care about what happened to any of them.

I’m disappointed, because I’ve enjoyed Katharine Reay’s previous novels (and I’ve read them all). I hope her next novel will have characters I can better engage with.

Did not finish.

With Reay's customary flavour of intelligent romance, cast of unique and memorable characters and to-die-for Mitford-esque setting, "Of Literature and Lattes" is an ode to the spaces in which we forge family and friendship, the corners of our world where great discussion transcends the problems of our every day.

Told with vignette-like resonance, "Of Literature and Lattes" once again firmly plants Reay in the spirit of high concept classical tropes: for while the coffee flows freely, so do the literary references that have long delighted her readers ( and were culminated ten fold in last year's bestseller "The Printed Letter Bookshop." Like many heroines before, Alyssa is lost in a high power job until she finds the root of her heart in a small literary-infused circumstance. Therein, her financial problems and her rift the family ties fraying at her seams are made whole through brilliant discussion, in between worn pages and caffeine and most manifest in the figure of Jeremy who matches Alyssa in wit, intellect and pursuit of love.

Another escape that makes you want to steal into the nearest bookshop, Of Literature and Lattes continues Reay's brand of infusing the old-fashioned into our every day: where moral conundrums are found in classics and love stories are merged much as they were a hundred years ago--- timeless and soul searching, realized in the quirks and foibles of the brilliant everyday.


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Although this book is a stand alone I found out after reading that it's a companion novel to "The Printed Letter Bookshop." I think I may have enjoyed it more had I read that book first.

What a delight to return to Winsome, Illinois, the home of quirky folks and a cozy bookshop. In the previous novel, The Printed Letter Bookshop, we met Madeline who inherited her aunt's bookstore along with eccentric employees, Claire and Janet. The bookshop is running well when Janet's daughter, Alyssa, returns to Winsome. As much as she doesn't want to, she moves in with her mom. As Alyssa tries to come to grips with the mess called life, she meets Jeremy. He needs a friend and some good business advice. Reay's Of Literature and Lattes is another charming story of hurt, hope, and healing. I've enjoyed every one of her books. I look forward to the nod to literary references she sprinkles through her stories, as well as her lovable characters. A little bonus, her books have gorgeous covers. I hope she'll visit Winsome a third time. I'd love to catch up on more of the folks from this lovely town. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A book set in the same community as The Printed Letter Bookshop, which I only realized a few chapters in. When I did, it was like pulling up a chair for a coffee with a friend - delightful. I enjoyed this dip into the lives of a daughter and mother (and her mother), a man negotiating a new life with a new coffee shop while reconnecting with one close to him, and a myriad of other characters. Sometimes the viewpoint changed suddenly, which threw me a little, and much of the denouement I could guess. But on the whole, a gentle, enjoyable escape that raised some good questions to ponder about ethics, life, relationships, and faith.
Lovely.
3.75 stars

Of Literature and Lattes by @katherinereay takes place in the sweet town of Winsome, IL. Alyssa never thought she’d return home after leaving for CA three years before. In this book she’s finds her self back home trying to move ahead while still trying to deal with her past and her strained relationship with her mom. Jeremy also recently found himself in Winsome and is trying to figure out his life and how to be a dad to his young daughter. I was cheering for everyone in this cozy town (except maybe Jeremy’s ex who I wanted to shake). They felt like friends by the end of the book.

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

Of Literature and Lattes by Katherine Reay is a small town story. Alyssa left 3 years ago after a fight with her mother. She never looked back until she lost her job and is now being questioned by the FBI. to make things worse her dad is forcing her to stay with her mom. Jeremy moved to Winsome to be closer to his daughter and open a coffee shop.

This is a book about the town of Winsome and the people who live there. There are multiple storylines about the residents. Most of the story takes place in the coffee shop and the bookstore. The people care about each other and look out for each other.

While I loved the residents of Winsome and their relationships, I struggled with following the storylines and characters. I wish I had known about and read Katherine Reay's first book about Winsome, The Printed Letter Bookshop, before reading this one. I think it would have helped me to keep the stories and characters straight.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Romance
Release Date: May 12, 2020

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest review. This was a great, lighthearted novel. It was easy to read and the plot was enjoyable and easy to follow. Characters were very endearing and believable. It's a great feel-good novel!

I found this book quite endearing. The beginning was a little difficult because it was confusing but once I got past that I was warble to enjoy the plot as well as the characters. I would definitely recommend this for a book club read. It has something for everyone and leaves you in a good place.

I enjoyed this second book in the series by Katherine Reay. I loved going back to the idyllic town of Winsome, Illinois. I would love to live in this small town. Katherine Reay's characters draw you in and make you care about their struggles. The healing of the relationship between Janet and her daughter Alyssa was heartbreaking at times. I loved how throughout the chapters focusing on the point of view of Alyssa, Janet, and Jeremy, Reay includes brief vignettes of other people in the town that flow from one perspective to another. I look forward to more books by Katherine Reay.

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. I always love a good story involving a small town and for some reason they left it only to return to find love and reconnect with the small town vibes. Definitely recommend this cozy book.

I couldn't follow this book. I even tried to start over reading it but that didn't work. i didn't seem to be into it. Don't let it discourage you from reading it. Each person has their own opinions. I am grateful that netgalley, the publishers, and author gave me a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Unfortunately, this book is just not for me. The beginning was so darn confusing with the switching of POV's in the first few pages that I was so confused and it left a poor taste in my mouth. I felt like the characters were very one dimensional, bland, and just not interesting enough for me to care much. I really wish I could have liked this because the premise sounded super cute and I love small town romances.

This book. I gave up. Read till halfway then read the end. That’s it. I closed this book forever the other day so this post is just a little late.

2 stars. I rarely do not finish a book. I give it lots of chances to keep me interested.

It’s one thing to read Jeremy’s and Alyssa’s (they’re the main characters after all), but we started with Eve, David, Janet and Luke too. Why? Lots of books, good books focuses on the protagonist’s POV. This one has to have the lead and secondary characters’ POV. Which apparently includes the cat. Whaaa...? And Alyssa, didn’t really like her. She’s vile to her mom, then regrets it and then she and her mom talk and the cycle repeats itself again. She’s the problem now not Janet. Jeremy is ok but doesn’t seem to have it quite together yet. He’s tall and is ok. How bland is that description? His daughter is cute though. And his ex-wife doesn’t have it altogether either.

Should I go on with the secondary characters too?? Nope. No way.
I kept checking the blurb to find out who the story is really about. It’s about Alyssa and Jeremy. I had to keep reminding myself that. Each time someone else’s POV comes up. 😣 Gaah.

And I had such high hopes for this one.

Thanks anyway for the book Thomas Nelson.

I haven't read Katherine Reay's previous book that takes place in Winsome, which I didn't think would hinder my enjoyment, but it did. There were so many characters mentioned by first name only, and it became a bit confusing. With that being said, Winsome sounds like such a delightful place to live, and I believe Reay does a great job at capturing its spirit. With the combination of small town charm, small town bookstore, and small town coffee shop, I thought Of Literature and Lattes would be perfect for me, but I found it pretty difficult to connect with the characters

Oh Winsome. Your little town of imperfect people is so endearing. I feel as though the book (and the series) straddles the line between literary fiction family struggle, sweet romance and cozy mystery (without the mystery). In some ways it reminds me of an updated Mitford series. The book was hard to put down even when I had a hard time with the stubbornness of the main character.

This second story set in Winsome center's around new and old characters. Alyssa moves home after her silicon valley company is shuttered by the FBI and Jrremy moves in to benear his young daughter. Just like the Printed Letter Bookshop, Winsome and it's people are wonderful and engaging. I enjoyed every page except the last when I literally thought perhaps I'd clicked too many pages. That one page dropped this from 4 to 3 stars.

Another incredible, heart-touching, thought-provoking story from Katherine Reay.
Her stories all have a way of touching my heart.
This is another one that has done just that.
It starts out a bit slow. There are lots of characters, almost too much going on, swirling through the pages. Initially, I had a hard time keeping up with each one.
Then, as I became more engrossed in the story, it grabbed hold of me.
I especially liked the progression of the relationship between Janet and Alyssa. Relationships between mothers and daughters can be quite challenging. Difficult, and yet, we all long to be truly loved and understood by those closest to us.
Ms. Reay deals with various difficult issues in a lovely manner, and brings resolution that is satisfying.

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

I really did enjoy this book. I enjoyed that is was not predictable as many are and that it had a lot going on. I did not have any trouble following along even though I have not read The Printed Letter Bookshop (which I will remedy soon).
I loved the book had a small town setting, emphasized the importance of community and rebuilding relationships. There was a lot of talk about coffee (but not too much) which I liked. But I saw very little Christian talk or influence of which I would have preferred more. I even found myself inserting words of faith at certain points that I felt the character could have said. I have not always enjoyed Ms. Reay's books but I would certainly recommend this one!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley (thank you). . Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.