"The Printed Letter Bookshop" by Katherine Reay is a heartwarming tale of love, forgiveness, and the power of books to heal. Set in the charming town of Winsome, it follows Madeline Cullen as she inherits her aunt's struggling bookshop. Initially intent on selling it, Madeline's plans are challenged by the shop's dedicated employees, Janet and Claire, who find solace and purpose within its walls. As Madeline's life takes unexpected turns, she questions her decisions and learns valuable lessons about family and second chances. Reay beautifully crafts a story that will resonate with book lovers, offering a poignant reminder of the magic found in literature and human connections.

"The Printed Letter Bookshop" by Catherine Reay is a charming and heartwarming novel that celebrates the power of books, friendship, and second chances. Set in a quaint bookshop filled with stories waiting to be discovered, this novel takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and redemption.

The story follows three women – Madeline, Janet, and Claire – whose lives become intertwined through their connection to the bookshop. As they navigate their own personal struggles and relationships, they find solace, wisdom, and healing within the pages of books and through the bonds they form with each other.

Reay's writing is beautifully crafted, evoking a sense of nostalgia and warmth that envelops readers in the cozy atmosphere of the bookshop. The characters are relatable and well-developed, each with their own unique voice and journey towards self-acceptance and forgiveness.

"The Printed Letter Bookshop" is a poignant exploration of forgiveness, redemption, and the transformative power of literature. Through its engaging storytelling and heartfelt messages, the novel reminds readers of the importance of human connection and the healing nature of storytelling.

I highly recommend "The Printed Letter Bookshop" to anyone who appreciates a heartfelt and uplifting story about love, friendship, and the enduring magic of books. With its engaging narrative, well-drawn characters, and poignant themes, this novel is a true literary gem that will stay with readers long after they turn the final page.

I loved this book! It was so well-written, and the storyline was just what I needed it. I devoured it!

If the cover doesn't grab your attention, then the blurb certainly will. And if that doesn't do the trick, just start reading. You'll be hooked before you see the words Chapter two. Also, I want to visit this bookshop!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The intertwining story of four women and the mark the first leaves on the other three's lives was gentle, subtle, and lovely. The bookshop was a wonderful setting and brought the women together in a beautiful way. Their friendship developed through experiences, love, books, and dedication to the woman who brought them together.

I felt as if I were part of their circle. I felt I could identify with each of the three main characters. The text pulled me, moved me, and left me begging for more. I was truly sad when I came to the final page.... Simply beautiful.

If you are looking for a read that is light and deep, with subtle hints of faith, romance, change of heart, forgiveness, new beginnings, and books to be added to your TBR pile, then I encourage you to pick up this story. You won't be disappointed.

I loved this book so much! Of course, I love any book that revolves around a bookstore and this one was exactly what I hoped it would be. I loved the friendships, the hope, the love, but also the trials and tribulations endured by all of the characters. I wanted to live in Winsome forever!

Katherine Reay is an excellent writer and I have loved all of her books. A really great read. I was given a copy of The Printed Letter Bookshop in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel.

I read this in April 2019 but forgot to submit my review.

What a super fun read! I loved everything about this book. The interaction between characters was great. I enjoyed all of the story lines and how they crossed each other.

I love that all of the books mentioned was listed in the back of the book. My TBR is growing.

This one reminded me of a favorite book The Storied Life of AJ Fikrey--another great book about a bookshop and how they bring people together.

I loved this book. Excellent, excellent read overall. I enjoyed the story, the characters, the twists and turns, and the happy ending. Five stars! Thank you to the author, Katherine Reay, the publisher, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley, for the advanced reading copy.

the moment i started reading this book,it immediately brought me back my comfort read vibes 😊 the story is very reminscent of a cecelia ahern book – cozy, smalltown, touchy. with no real antagonist but the reality life.
the plot was very predictable for me,nothing i consider to be unforgettable.
but i admire the author's writing style and her characters are surely lovable 💜 i love that i get to dive deep down into their dilemas and their triumphs with beatifully written chapters.
on the whole, i admired the book for being such a light-hearted but entertaining read.

This is the perfect cozy read for book lovers! I really enjoyed getting to know Janet, Claire, and Madeline and hearing their different stories and perspectives. I loved all of the different book references throughout and I thought it was the perfect added touch that there was a list at the end of all of the books that were referenced! Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

Reading this book is like getting a big hug from a friend who loves you. The Printed Letter Bookshop has all the elements of a cozy read--beautiful friendship, a strong sense of place, loveable characters, and drama that gets at the heart of the pain of life without dwelling there forever. I have gifted this book to many a friend, and will keep doing so in the future.

The Printed Letter Bookshop brings together three women who are connected by a bookshop and the woman who owned it. Each character has their own unique story and history with the bookshop owner. Journey through the pages with each of them as they discover love, faith and forgiveness. It's a wonderful book about books that you don't want to end!

The Printed Letter Bookshop came out way back in 2019, so I am late to the party. This book by Katherine Reay was just the book I needed to launch myself out of my recent book slump, and it earns five enchanting stars.

Janet, Claire, and Madeline become unlikely friends as they mourn the death of Madeline's Aunt Maddie and try to save the bookstore that was her love and her legacy. The Printed Letter Bookshop is a book for book people, but it is so much more. The book demonstrates that the path to friendship is hard, and relationships can be tricky but are so worth the effort. This is a book about self-reflection, righting wrongs, asking for forgiveness, and being brave enough to forgive. It is insightful and touching and powerful. The characters reflect on loss and brokenness, ultimately realizing courage and strength. Ultimately, this is a story about new beginnings, grace, and the opportunity to start over.

As I said, this is a book for book people. The language is perfect and intentional, and the story takes place in a bookstore! Books are quoted, alluded to, and mentioned by name. At the end of The Printed Letter Bookshop, there is even a list of books referenced in the story.

The characters Janet, Claire, and Madeline are wonderfully and thoroughly developed, and I could identify with pieces of each of them. I loved seeing each woman grow, and their friendships evolve, during the book. Each character is so unique and imperfect yet loveable. I think the audiobook of The Printed Letter Bookshop would be a delight to listen to. Katherine Reay is going on my list of authors to be on the lookout for.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ms. Reay for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was slow going but well worth the read. Three women from different walks of life for an unlikely friendship when Madeline Cullen's Aunt Maddie passes away and leaves her The Printed Letter Bookshop. Madeline intends to sell the bookstore and get on with her life but Maddie's two employees have other ideas, with the help and advice of Claire and Janet through lots of hard work and tears the three form an unlikely bond and continue on the traditions of the bookstore but also make it better. It's a heartwarming story of good books (Maddie leaves a letter with a list for each person to read), old and new friendships, and new beginnings.

This was an easy, enjoyable read. It wasn't a book I raced through, but I really enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially Janet. I found it beautifully descriptive - I would love to see the window displays!

i picked this up expecting a cute fluffy women's fiction book about a bookstore, and while i kind of got that, i was surprised by the religious aspect of this. i of course don't mind reading about characters who are religious, and in fact typically find it fascinating, but i don't think it would be out of line to call this Christian fiction, which is not a genre i would pick up purposefully. this had its moments, but the romance(s) felt forced and the religious through-line was too much for me.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and author.
Enjoyable read, what could be better than books about books.
Recommend

What an emotional journey! This book felt much different than Mrs. Reay’s usual fare, yet it definitely carried her trademark author voice. I loved that there were three leads to get to know and that they each brought their own style of drama to the story.

The bookshop setting was phenomenal. I love it! It sounds like just the sort of place I’d love to work, and I’m glad I got to spend time there in this book.

The problems these women faced were realistic and raw and exactly what this story needed. My heart ached for each of them in turn. I was drawn in to each issue by the beautiful writing, and I was glad to see the characters fight hard to overcome and find their new normals.

One thing that was a drawback for me was the excessive drinking. Alcohol (wine, vodka, etc.) was mentioned a lot, and each of the leads partook more than once. This was a frustrating theme for me, because there is a massive alcoholism problem in today’s society.

Content: alcohol (wine and hard liquors; excessive), sexual terms, marital affairs (mentioned)

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.