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
I loved The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay so much! A book to be treasured and slowly savored. A story that lingers in my thoughts long after the last page is turned. An all-time favorite for sure. It’s a thoroughly entertaining and atmospheric read centered around a bookstore and … well, books! But there’s a hidden depth and complexity as layer after layer is slowly pulled back.
The Printed Letter Bookshop is a character-driven story, an intriguing blend of literary, contemporary, and women’s fiction – with a touch of romance. It focuses on Madeline, Janet and Claire – three women at different stages in their lives, each with unique talents that they bring to the bookshop, and dealing with various life issues. And although the story opens with Aunt Maddie’s funeral, her role is pivotal throughout the book.
All who share a love for books will instantly identify with Maddie’s bookshop and will probably recognize the many books alluded to in the story. I loved how “printed letters” refers to actual letters of appreciation received by Maddie, used to form a decorative wall border in her bookstore. And then there’s the words of Aunt Maddie, remembered by Madeline, that “you could lose yourself in a book and, paradoxically, find yourself as well.”
But setting books aside for a moment, this is an uplifting and heartwarming story about an unlikely friendship and strong bond that slowly grows between Madeline, Janet and Claire. It’s a story of forgiveness, grace and healing, with a gentle spiritual thread carefully and beautifully woven throughout. It brought me to tears at times. The Printed Letter Bookshop is a literary gem and I long for many more books by the talented Katherine Reay.
Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I was privileged to read an ARC and really enjoyed this book! Katherine Reay remains one of my favorite authors.
The author knows how to develop characters! See my full review here: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/kelleymathews/2019/04/read-this-book-printed-letter-bookshop/
Two thumbs up!
There was a lot going on in this one. It centers around 3 women (and one in absentia…and may I just say, everyone needs an Aunt Maddie!) and is told in alternating chapters between them. The bookshop itself becomes its own character as they live and learn through the wisdom from beloved books, their past mistakes and their friendship. And for a fun bonus for bibliophiles, there are 70 books alluded to throughout the book. Enjoyable read.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #ThomasNelson for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.
Out 5/14
The POV is unique in that each chapter has not one, not two, but three distinct first-person POVs. We get the story from Madeline’s, Janet’s, and Claire’s perspectives. The author does a wonderful job of keeping these voices distinctive.
I think I want to re-read this book later and see if I can just read each person’s story from beginning to end (just from Madeline’s perspective, then just from Janet’s perspective, and then just from Claire’s perspective). It was almost like having three stories in one, though they did intertwine quite a bit.
After finishing, it still made me think. I’m trying to come up with the major themes. Forgiveness is one, as well as getting all the facts before making a judgment, deciding what success means to you, the importance of firmness with love in parenting teens, and how good people can still impact lives even after death.
One other disappointment was that I was wishing for a stronger faith thread. There was mention of a priest and a couple of mentions of God, but no mention of Jesus, though He would have been the only way Janet could have changed at the end.
I also loved all the references to classic books, as well as a few musicians. It was really interesting and inspiring to see how reading a list of carefully chosen books made such a difference in the lives of the characters. This is what all authors dream will happen to at least a few of our readers. After all, “you are what you read” (You’ve Got Mail reference). 😉
It took me a little while to get into The Printed Letter Bookshop and warm to the characters, but when I did, I really did. Great story of friendships and books!
The story starts with the funeral of the bookshop owner and beloved citizen of Winsome, IL, Aunt Maddie, and is told from several different points of view, Maddie leaves three people each a letter with a list of books specifically chosen for them. Love this story of friendships and personal growth, and set in a book shop, what could be more delightful!
Good Writing, Except for a Few Points
While this author seems to have some decent writing chops, I was disappointed right away when she began the book with a rather prodigious information dump after a bit of dialogue. So disappointing. When will authors learn readers dislike info dumps? This is a proper novel, so the author could have woven in the information more artfully. Once beyond that, I mostly liked this chick-lit book about three women and the bookshop at the center of their lives. As a book lover and voracious reader myself, I loved the literary references and thought it was cool that the author included a list of books mentioned at the back of the book. As happens often with chick-lit books, the pacing felt a little off, dragging at times before picking up but then dragging again. If you don’t mind these little foibles, the story of these women is mostly well written and enjoyable.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
I love a good intergenerational story, and this one scratched that itch. Three women, different generations, one mission to save their beloved bookshop. They come together with their talents to tackle what seems impossible. The book did feature a good dose of romance along the way, but it didn’t distract from the core of the story: the friendship of the three women. Fellow book lovers will get a kick out of the many references to books interspersed throughout the story. Reay even gives a list of all the books she references at the end, just in case you need to check your notes.
A very good read.
Winsome is a charming, small town where the sense of community radiates from the residents. The main character, The Printed Letter Bookshop, invites us into a warm embrace where we’re able to rest and recover from the difficulties of life. I enjoyed watching as each character found their true self. This was the perfect novel to end 2020 and begin 2021.
Recommend to readers who enjoy inspirational, contemporary novels.
I won a copy. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
This charming bookshop was the coziest setting and a wonderful place to get to know these three narrators and the way recently deceased Maddie affected each of their lives. I loved the personal letters that Maddie left for each of them with a list of personalized books for them to read.
Claire, Janet, and Madeline are each so different, yet they connect and bond in beautiful ways as they navigate life, joys, struggles, and more. There were pieces of each of them that were easy to identify with and it was a wonderful tale of friendship, finding oneself, and second chances. Don’t we all make mistakes and deserve a second chance?
This story warmed my heart. I enjoyed watching the bookshop change the lives of these characters and their families and loved ones, and the way it played such an integral role for this small town.
Content: mild romance; very mild religion
Liked the small town setting and people from the community helping each other. The characters made changes for the better including finding their talents and coming to understand themselves and others.
I really love Katherine Reay’s writing! This is a delightful story that kept me reading far past bed-time!
Fun read with serious undertones. Watching each woman come to terms with herself was well done and kept me turning the pages.
This is one of my favorites. Please, read it. You’ll be so glad you did. I fell in love with the characters, every one of them. It left me wanting more, more, more, and I really wish there was a sequel…or two or three!!!
I loved the story and characters! My first book to read by this author… I’ve ordered more!
Wonderful
Sweet!
Enjoyable.
I enjoyed the development of the story line but also the characters. The author did a wonderful job of intertwining the lives of the characters.