Books. Love. Friendship. Second chances. All can be found at the Printed Letter Bookshop in the small, charming town of Winsome. 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 … hardened Madeline’s 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 falls apart, and a handsome gardener upends all her preconceived notions, she questions her plans and her heart. Has she been too quick to dismiss her aunt’s beloved shop? And even if she has, the women’s best combined efforts may be too little, too late.
This sweet, contemporary read is a standalone novel, though characters in this story will appear in Katherine Reay’s forthcoming book, Of Literature and Lattes. Book length: approximately 95,000 words. Includes discussion questions and a list of books from the author.
Praise for The Printed Letter Bookshop:
“Powerful, enchanting, and spirited, this novel will delight.” –Patti Callahan, bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis
“The Printed Letter Bookshop is a captivating story of good books, a testament to the beauty of new beginnings, and a sweet reminder of the power of friendship.” –Rachel McMillan, author of Murder in the City of Liberty
- Sweet and thoughtful contemporary read
- Stand-alone novel
- Book length: 96,000 words
- Includes discussion questions and a recommended reading list from the author
more
Don’t let the slightly slow start deter you. I adored this book! It just got better and better. A delicious setting in a charming bookshop, and characters that are real and flawed, but ultimately completely lovable.
I listened to the audio version of The Printed Letter Bookshop and enjoyed the story very much. I wish the narrator had softened Madeline’s voice. She did a perfect job with Janet. It’s fun to read/listen to a novel with characters who love books as much as I do! The friendship between the three women and learning how their lives connect was the highlight of the story for me.
The Printed Letter Bookshop, by Katherine Reay, is an incredibly moving novel of friendship, forgiveness, and self-discovery. Told cogently through the unique perspectives of three very different women, Ms. Reay weaves a story that is an intricate tapestry of loss, learning, life, and love.
A highlight of this novel is the superbly written characterization. Throughout the story, the characters are authentic and believable. Their motivations, desires, insecurities, mistakes, and actions are well-developed and resonate with vulnerability, truth, and emotion. As the characters contemplate their choices and persevere through the consequences that follow, they grow in wisdom and confidence. Their faith is also strengthened as they learn to trust in grace, forgiveness, and abiding love.
The themes within this book are poignant and thought-provoking. As it explores rejection, ambition, and assumption, this novel gently and creatively offers opportunities for healing and restoration through compassion, hope, and humility. The bookshop setting of this story is also profoundly relevant and meaningful. This special shop is a haven that draws the characters together and unites them in a common purpose and a shared devotion.
Ms. Reay is a truly talented author with an obvious love of literature and a considerable talent for storytelling. The Printed Letter Bookshop is a notably entertaining, edifying, and memorable novel, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
*I was given a copy of this novel through Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. A review was not required. The review I have written contains opinions that are entirely my own.
What a charming novel! I loved the character development of just about everybody we met in the story. They all certainly had their own journeys and arcs, which is great because at first I didn’t really like two of the three main characters. I may have scolded them both from time to time–but apparently it worked because they came around. 🙂 Every bookstore should be selling this book and displaying it proudly. It’s the kind of book that makes me want to patronize my local bookstores even more.
The Printed Letter Bookshop is my very first read of a Katherine Reay novel and I am blown away, so much so I bawled in my kitchen like a baby when I read the final word on the last page. This novel was the cathartic read I didn’t even know I needed. The characters in The Printed Letter Bookshop are wonderfully crafted. This is a story about dynamic women living life as honestly and honorably as they can. I also appreciate the real-life issues tackled in this story. Reay does so in an honorable and truthful manner that forces the reader to look into her own heart. There’s no sugar-coating or sweeping things under the rug in this story, which I found to be so refreshing. Truly, The Printed Letter Bookshop is a phenomenal novel.
In this story, Claire (one of three main characters) is a married woman and mother to two teenagers. She has reached what I like to call the “beige period” in her life. Her marriage isn’t bad, but it’s not really a marriage. It’s more like two people living together. Her teenaged kids don’t really need her, but they sure love to take advantage of her cooking and laundry skills. Add a sudden change in her daughter’s behavior, and Claire isn’t sure she knows who her kids are anymore. And, with all the moving her husband’s job has forced on them throughout the years, Claire doesn’t feel like she can fit into a community. Why make friends and set roots when you’re likely to leave? Oh, and she’s soundly hit middle age where gravity has taken her body and emotions down. “Beige period” describes Claire perfectly. The problem is how does Claire get out of this “blah” time in her life?
The answer to Claire’s problems is she needs to act out LOVE. Instead of waiting for life to make decisions for her, Claire needs to ACT in LOVE. At one point in the novel, Claire ruminates on a quote from The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky: Love in action is a hard and dreadful thing compared to love in dreams. What a fantastic truth! Love is hard work. Love is NOT the stuff of dreams. Claire had a dream of love and life and then waited for the world to give that dream to her. She got the husband, but why is their relationship so cool? She got the kids, but why are they so self-centered, rude, and hard to reach? She’s surrounded by community, but why doesn’t anyone want to be her best friend? Because Claire loved the idea of love but didn’t realize the amount of work love takes. I dreamed of fairy-tale love but had absolutely no idea I would have to die-to-self daily once I got it. Let me give you one example. When I discovered I was pregnant with my daughter, I made a plan — a birth plan, a sound discipline plan, and a solid sleep schedule for my daughter. I swear I believed I would have my kid potty trained at 18 months. I WAS SO DUMB!!! You see, my “plans” were not born out of love. They were born out of selfishness. I made these plans not to better my daughter’s life, but to better my own. My plans were the stuff of dreams. I would set my plan into action and love would naturally follow. What I learned with the birth of my daughter is that love, real love, takes real action every single second of every single day. Claire realizes this too in the novel. If she wants her marriage to be solid, she needs to work. If she wants a close relationship with her children, she needs to work. Claire wants a better body, she needs to work. And if she wants a best friend, she needs to work. Love for others and for herself requires action every single day! This is my favorite lesson in The Printed Letter Bookshop — a lesson I needed to hear again.
The Printed Letter Bookshop is a beautiful story that touched my heart deeply. I loved and appreciated the sense of female solidarity that permeates the narrative, I enjoyed heartily the ability to participate in the unique journeys of three amazing women, and am grateful for the reminder that love is an action verb. The Printed Letter Bookshop is a story I will not soon forget, and one I highly recommend.
I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author via NetGalley and Celebrate Lit. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
“If I’ve learned anything in the past six weeks, it’s that simply not looking to the past is not the same as living in the present. I need not dwell there, but I do need to learn from it.”
What a beautifully written book by a master storyteller! And Katherine Reay really knows how to use different points of view and verb tenses to bring the story and characters to full life. Reading this book is like sitting down to a rich, warm soup that is enticing at first bite and bursts into delectable fulfillment on a cold, bitter wintery day. If you enjoy contemporary women’s fiction/romance, you will love this well-crafted work of art that is sure to satisfy.
The story is a life journey of three women – Madeline who is in her early thirties, Claire who is in her forties, and Janet who is in her fifties. All three women are so different in their personalities, gifts, and current walks in life but are held together by having known and loved Madeline’s aunt Maddie. They are drawn together to Aunt Maddie’s bookshop where they realize they’re actually quite similar in their struggle to find who they really are. Each of the women’s faith journey is amazing and heart-warming. The men in their lives – Chris, Brian, and Seth – are great characters who are definitely each swoon-worthy in different ways.
Another home-run for Katherine Reay!
I received a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
The Printed Letter Bookshop is a captivating story of good books, a testament to the beauty of new beginnings, and a sweet reminder of the power of friendship.
LOVE, FRIENDSHIP & FAMILY!
Katherine Reay has provided readers another outstanding novel with THE PRINTED LETTER BOOKSHOP! It is exploding with the themes of love, friendship and family. Many people will be drawn to this novel because it’s main setting is a small, independent Bookshop. Lots of love and living went into the establishment by its original owners and continues through the ladies who subsequently joined in to help. A surprised heir is given the Bookshop and suddenly the lives of three generations of women are tested – What do they expect from each other? What do they really want out of life? And the biggest question of all – Who am I at this stage of my life? They are able to find the answers to these questions and so many more by working together and following the instructions left them in individualized letters and by following their attached Reading Lists. I was provided an ARC of this book by Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
The Printed Letter Bookshop is told from Claire, Janet and Madeline’s point-of-views. Each woman is struggling and a letter from Maddie along with a book list acts as a guide. As the story progresses, we find out what has happened to each woman, how Maddie entered their lives and how the bookshop made a difference. The story is nicely written with mild pacing. I was not immediately drawn into the story. It became more interesting the further I progressed into The Printed Letter Bookshop. The at first unlikeable characters began to grow on me, and I like seeming them come together. The ending is smile worthy. The descriptions of Janet’s window displays and artwork were enchanting (I wish this was my local bookstore). I enjoyed the numerous book references (bibliophiles will be thrilled) and quotes. Aunt Maddie’s description of The Secret Garden was delightful. There are two quotes I want to share with you. The first is “. . . you could lose yourself in a book and, paradoxically, find yourself as well” (very true). The second one made me laugh out loud “my hot flashes last longer than that service”. The Printed Letter Bookshop is for those readers who love all types of books, Hallmark movies and happy endings.
The Printed Letter Bookshop is the sixth book by author Katherine Reay. On the day that attorney Madeline Cullen’s dreams are dashed a new door and future are opened to her when she fully learns of her inheritance from her Aunt Maddie. Madeline is her sole heir, inheriting her home, her car, her bookstore, and her debt. When she first appears at the bookstore, her intent is to sell all and return to her life and condo in Chicago, just 40 miles south of Eagle Valley.
But things change. At first, a tenuous relationship is formed with store employees Janet and Claire. But thirty something Madeline, forty something Claire, and fifty something Janet are drawn together by the bookstore, but even more so because of their individual journeys to find meaning in their lives. Janet, the artist, wants to create, maybe even sell, her art but uses her creativity in the beautiful displays she puts together for the shop. Claire, the business major, uses her business acumen to help the store out of the red. And Madeline finds a way to use her knowledge of the law as she learns her new trade.
This book spoke to me after only a few pages. I loved my brief stay with these ladies of Eagle Valley, through their trials and losses, and the way each overcame difficulties to create better lives. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!
I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 stars
I want to kick myself for waiting so long to read this! It’s like comfort food, fuzzy socks, a roaring fire, and an amazing hug all rolled into one amazing package. The characters are incredible, the setting is lovely (made me a bit homesick for that small-town life), and it moves at exactly the right pace. Everything is really well done.
It’s told from three different women’s points of view and at first, it annoyed the crap out of me. Not because it was being told by three different characters but because two were in first person and one was in third. It was weird. But I kept going because I couldn’t resist and my annoyance faded away. The description was so rich I could see the scenes playing out before me. It’s like I was there and I haven’t felt that magic in a while.
I don’t love the cover. It almost cheapens the story, I think. It’s part of why I put it off for so long. I thought it was going to be a lot more chintzy and a quick surface read. But with the way I was drawn into the story, the depth of it all, it deserved something more in kind. Though I suppose the cover is very Maggie, so I can’t entirely hate it.
Thank you, Katherine Reay for your lovely work!
I’d happily recommend this book to anyone who:
– needs a good hug
– loves books
– needs a reminder to slow down
– is breathing, really
I just found The Printed Letter Bookshop to be such a charming place, filled with charming characters. In some respects it made me so sad that it took the death of Maddie for each of the respective women to find their own true voice. Janet, Claire, and Madeline each take turns at point of view, which I could see becoming confusing, but I listened to the book on audiobook so each character was distinctly different from the others. I loved the little bits of romance thrown in, but truly appreciated that the focus of the story was the relationships between the women, as well as their individual relationships with Maddie. The ending has a 2 tissue rating so be sure to savor each moment at The Printed Letter and between these amazing characters.
The Printed Letter Bookshop is a charming read that effortlessly enveloped me into an inviting bookish community, unique friendships, and transformative journeys of growth.
I absolutely loved this book! I was blown away by the depth of this story and how the writing style of each narrative heightened my enjoyment.
I also loved how I could easily relate to the main characters, though messy and flawed, and not limit them to their struggles and mistakes; instead, I found myself empathizing with their feelings of hurt, irrelevance and regret and marveling as they genuinely blossomed on their emotional journeys. In the end, each character arc was very satisfying and exceptionally done.
Overall, this story was an absolute bookish delight! It’s a story to snuggle with and savor, then place on your keeper shelf to read again and again. I highly recommend it!
Book lovers who love books about bookstores will be charmed by this poignant story that goes into deeper territory than one may expect from its very-cute cover. A struggling bookshop is left to a young lawyer who has just been passed over for partner, and it prompts her to reconsider what is important in her life. A mother despairs over where she has gone wrong with her nearly-grown daughter. A divorced woman laments the failure of her marriage and bristles at being set up by friends. But the bookshop and the small town work their magic to transform all three lives – and those of everyone around them. With literary references that the reader will delight in, this is one to cozy up to or bring to the beach.
I haven’t found characters I so quickly gravitated to in quite a while. The first few pages had me questioning if I would like anyone within the book and quickly flipped my feelings towards empathy for each one. I want to know Madeline, Claire and Janet, or at least find friends as loyal and wise as they. It was with a sense of wonder that I watched them develop friendships and learn to see beyond the surface into each of their hearts. I found the book moving in the tenderest of ways. I was gripped with concern for the main characters and their situations, which were real and relatable in so many ways. I want The Printed Letter Bookshop in my town!
What better setting can there be for a book lover than a book that takes place in a bookstore? Printed Letter Bookshop is about a niece that inherits her aunts bookstore after she passes away, but she has not had any contact with her aunt in years. Madeline gives up her corporate career as an attorney to take on this struggling bookshop that her aunt and the community loved so much. Not only does Madeline inherit the adorable bookstore, but she also inherits the complex lives of the employees who work in it. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their quirks and struggles. Dialogue was fabulous and I appreciated the author delving into the issues of family dynamics, family secrets, forgiveness, reconciliation, finding your purpose, etc. This was the first book I read by Katherine Reay, but it will definitely not be the last.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Net Galley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
This book is a bit slow to start but once it gets going it pulls you right in. The characters are wonderful and wonderfully flawed. Aunt Maddie, while rarely being “seen” as alive in this book is a huge part of the book and the life of each of the main characters. Claire, Janet and Madeline are, in the beginning, somewhat adversarial. However, as they get to know one another, learn to work together and see what Aunt Maddie wanted each of them to realize, they grow. They grow in their relationships with each other, their families and within themselves. This is a wonderful book of self-realization, letting go of the past and find a future where you didn’t think there was one. The characters are rich and warm. The love of the bookshop and Maddie is felt by the reader as each woman, along with other characters, talk about her and the shop’s influence. It’s wonderful to read a feel good book that showcases how books/bookshops and those who dwell within can bring joy to all.
“It felt sad, as if the shop itself had just realized that what lay ahead could never be better than what lay behind.”
Or could it? It certainly seems out of the realm of possibility. When Madeline Cullen’s world is upended by a crushing disappointment in one career, she is subsequently thrust down a vocational path that she never wanted; how could the death of an aunt whom she would have loved to deem beloved, seem so painfully ironic?
The Printed Letter Bookshop is an iconic landmark and gathering space in the small
Winsome community; its two remaining employees suddenly heartbroken and downtrodden about the certain possibility that the shop will be sold after the death of its owner. Their own lives have become like pages in the books that surround them, constantly turning, hoping for a happy ending. They could never have imagined that their real life stories would end up being the best chapters of all.
Synergy comes to mind as an appropriate descriptive of this quite lovely and thought provoking story; three women whom most would incorrectly assume had nothing in common, managing to forge friendships around the things they did have in common; life’s messy details.
“You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.”
Wonderful story with three women whose lives collide over the death of a friend and aunt and the future of her bookstore. The characters really pulled me into the story world. And all the references to books? It’s like a love letter to books.
Loved It!