I love books and bookstores so was naturally drawn to this book. It reinforced my love with the setting and all of the book quotes. The characters all tell their own stories and change over time so my opinions of them kept changing which was right on point to show us how we judge people before knowing the whole story. A delightful story!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily chose to review it.

Rating: 4 bookish stars

“The Printed Letter Bookshop” was an endearing bit of Chick-Lit, (or Women’s Fiction) that for some reason I just couldn't put down. I read most of it in a single day. I got pulled into the story and couldn’t drag myself away. I loved the bookshop setting and all the book references. At the end of the book, the author provided a list of the books from which quotes were used throughout her story. I appreciate that the list was provided. I was delighted to see how many of the quotes I recognized. That kind of book trivia just makes me happy.

Katherine Reay has written a well-balanced book about family; be it birth family, or ‘family of choice’. The story’s main stage is the Printed Letter Bookshop. It’s a cozy small town bookshop that widowed Aunt Maddie cherished, and lovingly struggled kept open with help from two of her ‘family of choice’ family members, Janet and Claire. Janet is divorced, unhappy, snippy and brilliantly artistic with the window book displays. Claire is fairly new to town, quiet, and behind the scenes is valiantly trying to keep the bookshop afloat while caring for her teenaged kids and oft absent husband.

When Aunt Maddie passes away and leaves the bookshop to her niece, Madeline, everyone is surprised and a bit dismayed, no-one more so than Madeline herself. Madeline was estranged from Aunt Maddie for many years due to a family fallout. Madeline is working hard to make partner at a prestigious law firm in Chicago, and fully intends to sell the bookshop as quickly as possible.

Then life happens, and it starts throwing curveballs at everyone. What if Madeline decided to drop her law career and make a home in Aunt Maddie’s house and try to keep the bookstore afloat? Can Janet and Claire with together, and work with Madeline to overcome the obstacles? What if there is a touch of romance? The dramatic tension of all these elements keeps the book moving along. These are the reasons that I found myself unable to put the book down. Aunt Maddie left a list of reading lists for all three ladies, and the lists of course fit their needs expertly. There are references in the later stages of the book to these books. I loved how the author elegantly and appropriately weaved the books and their quotes into the circumstances of Madeline, Janet and Claire’s lives.

Reading this book was such a nice way to spend an afternoon and evening. By the end of the story I was cheering for all the characters, and pleased with the ultimate ending. I thought that reading the book was time well spent.

‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Thomas Nelson--FICTION; and the author, Katherine Reay; for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An endearing story about friendship and forgiveness that will leave you with a lengthy list of books to read. Narrated by three different women- Madeline, Janet, and Claire, Katherine Reay creates a story and a setting that when I was finished, I found myself saddened to say goodbye to these characters. Each woman is hurting from past mistakes, but armed with book lists written by a dearly departed friend and the strength of each other, along with a failing bookshop, Madeline, Janet, and Claire are about to learn about themselves and each other.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Goodreads Review published 14/05/19
Publication Date 14/05/19

Hi my dear bookish friends! I’m back with another ARC review! I requested this novel for early review because A) the cover is perfect B) I love a good contemporary fiction set in bookstores and C) it sounded like the perfect, post-grad chill read. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to my expectations.

Before we jump into the more technical part of this review I want to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for sharing this novel with me and letting me read and review this early! I love being able to scout out new and upcoming releases to recommend to you all and I’m forever grateful for ARCs and my friendship with publishers!

This novel started out so promising to me; the description sounds so good and I liked where it was going right off the bat, but it fizzled out in the middle and end. I got really great cozy, small-town, bookshop vibes from this in the beginning, which is exactly what I was looking for, but I just couldn’t get on board with the characters. Basically, it isn’t the plot that I disliked with this one, but was all about characters.

First, Madeline is the worst main character I’ve encountered in a while. She has such a flat and boring personality that I hated reading her parts. It felt like she had absolutely no personality; it’s so hard to describe how ‘meh’ she felt to me. Chris, her “love interest”, is the same way. In fact, their whole relationship was completely forced, weird, and bleh. Chris was always mad at her, the dislike he felt for her was basically tangible, and they never had a significant conversation or anything that would lead me to believe they liked each other. It was a horrible romance plot and the cringest thing I’ve read in a long time. No thanks.

I liked Janet and Claire, mainly because I enjoyed their life stories and how they had ended up at the Printed Letter, but the writing was so weird. Each character (Madeline, Claire, and Janet) get their own little sections and their own POV in each chapter, which I enjoyed immensely. However, what I didn’t like was how the author wrote them. Madeline and Janet each got first person POVs and Claire got third person. WHY? WHY WHY WHY. I racked my brain and couldn’t come up with a real reason why the author did this, but I hated it. It was strange to me.

The only thing that secured this as a three star review was the overall plot and actual body of the story. I enjoyed where it started and how it ended up and I can’t deny it was a feel-good and deeply inspiring story of three women who come together over their love of literature and and an important woman. Each characters ends up working out their own problems together and coming through some serious life turmoil, and I had to appreciate that journey they took together and alone. However, there was just so many other things that had me questioning the book, the characters, and ultimately, the author.

If you’re okay with a fizzled out, forced romance and a questionable, if not confusing, writing style, all wrapped up in a decently plotted novel then this is for you. It’s basically a Hallmark movie; it feels great, you enjoy it, but it’s technically not good. Definitely not my favorite of the month, but a decent novel nonetheless.

This book was different but so good. It took me a couple chapters to really get into it but once I was there I couldn't get enough. This is my first Katherine Reay book but I loved it so much I quickly read another it was so good.

Madeline unexpectedly inherits a bookshop from her aunt, whose name was also Madeline, with whom she has been estranged for quite a number of years. Janet and Claire are both employees who loved both Maddie (the original) and the shop as well as are cautious about Madeline. The journey of these three women kept me interested in the book.

The book as written as each woman's story, written in their tone and personality. As the woman grew and changed so did the tone of her story, I loved that. That little attention to detail made the novel even better.

Bonus this book is bibliophile's dream. The wide genre of books mentioned and referenced in this book had me making a list for myself in fact I have already read a couple of them. Each woman was given a list of books to read as part of Maddie's will that helped in their journey throughout the book.

The characters are well thought out and interesting. The romance is subtle but it keeps you intrigued. The storyline is fresh and keeps you engaged.

This is the story of three women and the memory of another. The memory is of Maddie Cullen, the owner of the Printed Letter Bookshop in the small town of Eagle Valley IL, not far from Chicago. Two of these three women work with Maddie – Janet and Claire. The other one is Maddie’s namesake and niece, Madeline Cullen. According to Goodreads: “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 Madeline’s heart toward her once-treasured aunt—and the now struggling bookshop left in her care.”

Novels focusing around bookshops are very popular, and I believe they have been for quite some time. As an avid reader myself, and someone who (of course) loves to visit indie book stores, the main reason I asked for this book was its setting. I was therefore very pleased to find that Reay’s description of the shop itself was so charming, and so intimate, that it practically became another character in the book. It also helped that this imaginary town seems to be located not far from where I grew up (Evanston IL), and that Reay mentions both my hometown and Chicago in this book, which always brings back fond memories of my youth. I was therefore surprised that I hadn’t read anything by Reay before. Then I realized that until this book came along, her novels wouldn’t have come across my radar since I believe they’re considered Christian Fiction, which is a genre I don’t generally read (not because I’m Jewish, but because I don’t care for any religious fiction). Thankfully, while there is some spirituality, prayer and God in this story, I didn’t feel these detracted from the story. It almost goes without saying if you dislike sex scenes in your books, be assured that none of the romantic relationships ever get beyond hand holding and some kissing.

What I liked the most about this book is that the plot here is really well imagined and devised. The idea here is that these three women end up thrown together in a difficult situation. Their only guidance they have is their own wits and the letters that Maddie left them before she died. Each letter has a personalized list of books to read, along with a bible verse about being a woman and motherhood (which makes it appropriate that this book was released so soon after Mother’s Day). The concept here of combining books with what we can take away from them as life lessons, is one very unique and special aspect of this novel, and Reay deserves kudos for this creative integration. This sets up this book to become a strong character driven novel, which is something I’ve always appreciated.

Of course, each of these women come with their own baggage. Regarding this, Goodreads adds, “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 takes an unexpected turn, and when a handsome gardener upends all her preconceived notions, she questions her plans and her heart.” I have to admit that I liked Madeline, and Claire was also mostly likable, but less than Madeline. Unfortunately, I never really warmed all that much to Janet; she started out as simply troubled, but then she became a bit annoying and started losing my sympathy. This only slightly improved when she overcomes a major obstacle in her life through her own persistence. As for the other characters, Reay places the men on the sidelines, bringing them forward only when they can further the story. As for Maddie, although her death and legacy are the great motivators in this book, we only get to witness her second-hand through other characters’ accounts, which I think was a bit of a shame, because I would have liked to have gotten to know her a bit better.

While all this sounds pretty good, I did have some niggles about this book which prevented me from giving this a higher rating, mostly in the mechanics and techniques used. For example, Reay tells this story through each of the three main characters, in chapters alternating chapters. Madeline’s and Janet’s stories are all told in first-person, but Claire’s story was (I believe, mostly) told in third-person. These POV changes confused me, and because each chapter was subsequent to the previous one (without overlap), I also felt like things were missing in the action. There were also some gaps in the timeline between chapters that sadly reinforced this feeling, even when a character described things that went on between the narratives. My thinking is that this might have been more cohesive and consistent if it had been told as one, continuous third-person narrative. There were also a few times that Reay mentioned or hinted at something that I hoped would pan out to lead to something that remedied the shop’s problems, but which were forgotten afterwards.

I wish that these things didn’t bother me as much as they did, because there is a whole lot to like about this book (including the very attractive cover artwork). In fact, I’m certain that other readers will be more than willing to overlook these drawbacks (and I’ve seen several five-star reviews of this book already). I can still recommend this to people who enjoy fiction that is very clean, has some light, religious undertones, and a nice variety of female characters, both weak and strong. For me, while it was very nice, it didn’t really wow me, so I have to give it a (better than average) rating of three out of five stars.

A wonderful, heartwarming story that shows the chaos of emotions and acceptance when grieving the loss of a loved one. What better comfort than the bookshop she left behind? I truly enjoyed this story about family and friends coming together, the intricacies of their lives told in each character's point of view, and a wonderful ending to satisfy a great storytelling.

“The Printed Letter Bookshop” is the story of a woman and a lovely small town bookshop that her aunt bequeathed to her and about three ladies, whose lives are tied together by the death of the aunt. This story is all about books, people, relationships, forgiveness and so much more. I loved the descriptions of the lives and struggles of Madeline, Janet and Claire who are so different from each other and the bookshop is a character itself. It is so comfortable, warm and inviting I’d like to spend some time there myself. I’ve been thinking about this book and it’s wonderful characters long after I finished it. A great book for people who love books! I was fortunate to receive this novel from Netgalley as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.
#ThePrintedLetterBookshop #NetGalley

If you are a reader that loves books about books and books about bookstores then run don't walk to grab this one!

Madeline Cullen loved visiting her aunt and uncle who owned a bookstore in small town near Chicago. When drama impacts her visits and they stop, she is taken back to that small town and this little bookshop will change the direction of her life. This book had all the things I love, books, bookstores, family drama and a character that has to revisit their past in order to move forward. Madeline Cullen was such a great character to watch grow and change during this story.

I could keep gushing, but I just adored this book. The two older ladies who work in the bookstore each have their own drama that isn't distracting, but instead adds so much more to the story. I couldn't get enough of both of them - just so good!

Of course there was some love in this book, but I loved how in this book it was a side story and Madeline's concentration on her grandmother's legacy and her professional situation were the focus of the book. I like when a main female character has drama that isn't centered on love relationships.

After finishing this book and loving it, I went and perused Katherine Reay's backlist, the books all seem like Austen reimaginations - where should I go next?

When the story started, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. Not because the first line or first scene didn’t interest me. It was because the story follows three different woman and they all had a different pov tense. It threw me off and my brain hyper-focused on it.

Once I got past the jolt of it all, I was hooked. I immediately picked a favorite character, one I disliked, and one I wasn’t sure of. Yet as the story continued, my initial judgment of the women changed.

And isn’t that one of the themes of the book? How quick are we to judge someone and never give them another chance? Or worse, continue to judge them in their flaws, never encouraging them to be more?

There’s a lot of themes addressed in this book, not in a clunky way, but one that peels back the layers one by one, slowly at a time.

And the setting: a bookshop–couldn’t be more perfect. I binged this in one night, squinting through bleary eyes as I determined to reach the end and discover the ladies’ lessons in life.

Well done, Ms. Reay.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This review was not required nor influenced.

I went into this book knowing I would probably like it. It featured a bookshop/books. that is what drew me to this book in the first place. However, I did not know just how much I would really enjoy this book.

All three ladies were lovely. I can not choose a favorite as each one had a different unique story that connected with me. First off, if it had not been for Janet and Claire, I don't know if Madeline would have stayed. These ladies were not only good co-workers but friends as well.

I got "lost" in this book (in a good way). Once, I started reading, there was not a lot that could distract me from the book. Author, Katherine Reay writes a lovely story of friendship, love, second chances, and books. The Printed Letter Bookshop is like receiving a hug from your grandma.

One of Madeline's warmest childhood memories are of the time she spent in Aunt Maddie's bookshop as a teen. She loved her aunt- everyone did. That summer broke her heart too. After the tech bubble burst a lot of people lost money- and a lot of them blamed her father. She would never have believed it of Aunt Maddie, though, if she hadn't seen it.

Twenty years later and with a heart thoroughly hardened, Madeline learns that Aunt Maddie left her everything. The house, the shop, and an enormous mountain of debt. She may be at loose ends as far as her career, but she's a lawyer, not a shopkeeper. The only sane thing to do is to get down there and sell it. But then she gets to know the town- the customers that loved Maddie and the two women that worked with her. Can she really let this all go? Add to that, the more stories she hears about her aunt the more she has to question what she knows. Can she figure out who her aunt was, and more importantly who she wants to be, before she loses her aunt's legacy?

I love a good family drama almost as much as I love a book that revolves around.... well.... books. Add a bit of romance and I am happy as a pig in mud. I will admit that this one started a bit choppy for me, it took some time for me to get into the story's flow. Once I did, though, I could not put it down. Told in three narratives, this book is so much more than just one woman embarking on a new stage of life- though she is.... they all are really. With Janet you see the lonely woman still madly in love with her ex-husband that messed up not only their relationship but her relationship with her kids. Claire, the homemaker and mother of teens that just don't need her as much anymore finds new purpose here. Everyone learns and grows, and it is beautiful to see. I also loved seeing how one woman, Aunt Maddie, touched everyone's lives... how they changed from knowing her. Honestly, this was just a beautiful book and I cannot recommend it enough. Five stars with an added one for creativity!

On the adult content scale, there's a bit of it. Lots of language and drinking, along with some tame sexual content. Nothing too over the top. I would give it a four.

I was delighted by The Printed Letter Bookshop. Katherine Reay captured the essence of a group of women who love each other and learn to value their friendship.

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay Books, books and more books, entertaining read. Nothing like a bookshop setting.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

This is a thoroughly engaging novel about love, loss and family. I was drawn in from the first page, wanting to find out where these characters were going on their journey. And a journey it was. As with all of us, each one had choices to make and relationships to navigate, and I enjoyed following them through it all.

I love books about bookshops. I love books about quaint villages and cute shops. I love books with interesting women.

The problem I had with this book was the influx of characters I couldn’t keep up with and the passage of time that just seemed to flow so quickly I was totally unable to keep up.

I’d recommend this to people who enjoyed How To Find Love In A Bookshop and similar.

I went into this one knowing absolutely nothing about it and was pleasantly surprised with a sweet book that grabbed my attention and my heart!

The Printed Letter Bookshop tells the story of three women, each with their own difficult situation to overcome. Madeline is surprised when her late Aunt leaves her her beloved bookshop. There she meets Janet and Claire, and we watch as they bond and discover what is important to each of them. The kicker, it’s set in a bookshop! I absolutely loved all the bookish references peppered through the book, and equally loved the guide to each reference at the end.

I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a nice, heart warming, feel-good read. I now need to go search out the back catalogue of @katherinereay! Thank you to @netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the copy. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Katherine Reay's books all have a love of literature present, whether she is writing a new take on a classic or whether, as in The Printed Letter Bookshop, a bookstore is front and center and quotations are offered or titles are mentioned or alluded to.

The narrative fluctuates among three women who are lost and overwhelmed in the world, whether they realize it or not -- there's Madeleine, the high achieving young woman striving to become the next partner in her law firm; Janet, the divorced mom whose grown son sided with the father and keeps his distance from her; and Claire, the mom whose husband is often out of state for work and who is disconnected from her children, who opt for friends' homes over their distant mother.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is what brings these women together; it is a beloved location, but when Maddie, the newly deceased owner, fought sickness, the bookstore struggled, to the point where its continued presence in the community is in doubt.

At the center, our three protagonists have been given a book list from Maddie, each a curated list of titles that, when read, have a common theme demonstrating a way each woman can enhance and improve her life; "Maddie's books provided a trail, like breadcrumbs, leading me to who I want to be or maybe back to who I once set out to be..." Slowly, each character takes steps to change their lives for the better.

I have found Reay's work to be uneven - for example, I adored Dear Mr Knightley but found A Portrait of Emily Price lackluster. However, I was pleased with this title; it was a read that was a pleasant, light-hearted accompaniment for the close of this school year.

(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This is my first book by this author, and it was a very pleasant read!
It was nice to read about different plots in the same book for a change.
It was a fun, light and inspirational read, and I definitely recomment this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Maddie is the owner of a small town book store and loved by her community. When she dies she leaves everything she owns, including her house, book store, and all of her debt to her estranged niece and namesake, Madeline. As Madeline experiences a career upheaval she decides to move to town and try to make the book store profitable so she can later sell it and is introduced to Maddie's two middle aged book store employees, Claire and Janet. All three women are struggling with personal challenges and become unlikely friends.

Who doesn't love a book about books? I enjoyed reading this heart-warming story about life in a small town and the challenges we often face as women at different stages in our lives. The book has a happy ending and lessons to learn about forgiveness, admitting when we are wrong, what is important in life, and living life to the fullest. If you like uplifting books about friendships this is a great book to pick up. "The Printed Letter Bookshop" by Katherine Reay is available May 14, 2019

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the free advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.