This book made me miss living close to an independent bookstore! I thoroughly enjoyed watching the relationships between Madeline, Claire, and Janet grow and flourish as I made my way through The Printed Letter Bookshop. Katherine Reay did an excellent job portraying these three women and the struggles they deal with that end up drawing them closer together. Overall, a wonderful read!

I love books about bookstores or libraries. This one had a story about a bookstore. It was a very cute story, and a memorable, pleasant read. I am getting this one for our library! It is worth recommending it to all book lovers!

- 30 something career woman inherits house/bookshop/friends of deceased aunt in a small town and finds everything she never even knew she was looking for.

The plot to the Printed Letter Bookshop is not a unique one but one that always appeals to me. Secretly, I think I want to be said heroine who gets handed the perfect escape plan and has to only overcome minor obstacles on her path to professional, romantic and personal fulfillment. The Printed Letter Bookshop delivers on all these tropes and throws in a good helping of refreshing friendships between women at different stages in their lives, who support and lift each other up. Unfortunately some of the morals conveyed in this book were simply not for me- I don't find it especially noteworthy and heartwarming if an army guy blushes, the ideas surrounding following your faith and love in God in order to become a better friend and partner were also not quite up my alley, and in a way I would have liked a few more diverse examples of different romantic relationships. I enjoyed reading from the three different perspectives of Madeline, Janet and Claire but, although appreciating the symbolism behind the choice, found the switch between narrative view points a bit overused.

But if anyone shares my itch for these extremely specific contemporary, romance books this one fits the brief.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! Great characterization and set in an small town bookshop? I’m all in!

Yes! This is Katherine Reay as I like her best. A book of friendship and love (in its various forms) and books!
Madeline inherits a bookshop from her estranged aunt, along with the loyal employees and customers. She intends to see the store turn a profit and then sell at the first opportunity. But life, of course, has other plans.
This book is told from three points of view: Madeline as well as the workers at her aunt’s shop, Claire and Judith. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and especially liked Claire’s chapters told in third person unlike the others in first person. The way the relationship between the three women developed was realistic.
I don’t think any of the side plot distracted from the main story. It developed at an even pace and kept me turning the pages.
And that book list at the back…Brilliant:

See other reviews at https://mommyreadsbooks.blogspot.com/

I've read every single book Katherine Reay has written thus far and have loved them all . . . until now. I could not get into this book and consequently I did not finish it. For this reason, I will not be posting a full review on my blog. Something felt very lacking in this book - the spark and character development did not happen as with Ms. Reay's other books. Furthermore, I had a hard time following the switching narrators because they all sounded the same. I wanted to love this one but sadly I did not. Thank you for your consideration.

This book follows Madeline, Janet, and Claire as they navigate life after Maddie passes away. Maneline was shocked to see how loved her Aunt Maddie was because of the falling out her family had with Maddie decades before after the financial crash. Madeline's strongest trait is her loyalty and she has remained loyal to her father (Maddie's financial adviser) all these years, but now she's wondering if she stayed loyal to the right person. As she tries to find a way to turn The Printed Letter Bookshop profitable to sell, she's realizing life as a corporate lawyer downtown may not be her destiny anymore. The Bookshop employees , Janet and Claire, aren't sure of Maddie's niece that walks in as their new boss and they harbor a little resentment that she wasn't there during Maddie's final days. Will these ladies find a way to convince Madeline to keep the shop or will they be looking for new jobs in a few months?

This book has a little bit of everything and that helps it appeal to a wide range of readers. You have Madeline who is still trying to figure out what she wants in life. Janet is trying to find a way to make amends and get her family back. Claire is just trying to be seen within her family and be more than the person who cleans up after them and feeds them. Those are the three Bookshop employees, and you'll find yourself invested in their lives as they navigate through hardships and relationships. Katherine Reay has written such a fantastic book that you'll easily be able to relate to. I loved the Bookshop setting and the 100+ books mentioned throughout (there is a list of mentioned books at the end 🥰). The plot was a bit predictable, but I still loved seeing all of their stories unfold. Overall I loved this book and will recommend it others looking for a great read.

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

The Printed Letter Bookshop was a lovely book. Everything book related will instantly draw my attention and this book did. In this story, we find three different POV’s, three different characters with different stories. At first, it was a bit confusing because you don’t really know what exactly is going on but as you read you get used to the three complex and carefully built characters and you get to know their stories, their challenges and you find out about the real bigger story.
I liked that everything is focused on the bookshop; I loved how they mentioned different books and authors. I will not deny that it made me dream about working in a bookshop myself and even the idea about the letters and the titles seemed awesome.
I liked the characters, especially Madeline and I felt connected to her due to several things, I enjoyed reading how she was changing and becoming herself. I liked Claire and Janet as well and Chris, of course. I liked Maddie as well, because in the end, the story is about her and you get to know her through everybody else’s story.
After passing the first chapters, the story drew me in completely and I just had to finish it. It was fascinating and beautiful, and I appreciate that it focuses not only on books but also on family, love, forgiveness, and faith. It is the kind of story that lifts your spirit; a story one should read occasionally.

I would love to have this bookshop in my neighborhood and would spend as much time as possible there. Maddie Cullen, the owner of Printed Letter Bookshop, was an exceptional woman who loved books and people. When she died she left everything she owned to her niece, Madeline who is an attorney in Chicago and trying to make partner. Maddie loved Madeline dearly, but something had happened with Madeline's father and his sister Maddie that made Madeline distance herself from Maddie. When she inherits Maddie's home and bookshop Madeline hardly knows what to do and her first instinct is to get it in shape and sell it all. The two employees of the bookshop, Janet and Claire, are both very talented women in their own ways and when Madeline takes over the shop they don't know where their futures lie.

I was charmed by the story of this bookshop and all the women who worked there. It was a lovely book that makes you remember that relationships and friends and family are the most important things in life and that you should cherish them.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson--FICTION through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Each new book I read by Ms. Reay just makes me fall in love with her work a little bit more.
This book is incredible. Her best work yet. It made me laugh, it made me look deep within myself, and then, before it was over, it also made me cry.
There is so much depth in these characters. Struggles I find deep within myself.
I especially found myself relating to Claire.
As a woman, a Mom, caught in the mundane tasks of life. Giving up her earlier hopes and dreams to fulfill her most important dream, that one of raising a family. And yet, along the way, she also has almost lost sight of herself and who she is. And then she finds herself failing at her one all important task -- being there for her kids.
Madeline. Another lady that is so easy to understand. Trying to find herself. Trying to find her way. Trying to find answers and understand....and then realizing that things that seemed so black and white as a young girl were actually not even truth. And where does she go to process all of this.
And then there's Janet. So alone. All because of choices she made. She's got this armor around her heart...she can't let anyone in.
Yes, you begin to see that this is a story that must be read. And as you read about these all-to-real people, you might begin to discover that there is still hope for you.
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

Madeline Cullen is the central character in Katherine Reay's latest novel, The Printed Letter Bookshop." Just twenty-four miles outside of Chicago there is a small community where Madeline's aunt lives, a former English teacher who opened a bookstore when she retired. Madeline, named after her aunt, but everyone called the aunt Maddie, a loved woman who still tutored students and made everyone feel special when they entered into her world of books.

Madeline, the niece, is a driven junior associate at an expensive law firm in Chicago. Madeline expects to make partner soon, after toiling for seven years for the success she craves more than anything else. Her parents live in New York where her father is in the financial sector, a sensitive issue that divided the family when the 2000 crash occurred, and many people lost their life's savings, including his sister, Maddie. The blow landed a deep and lasting chasm in the family. When Maddie dies, Madeline hears from an attorney that she is the executor of the will.

Madeline becomes the center of a heartfelt story of three women who try to piece together what they truly want in their lives even though they are all in a different place at various ages. The Bookshop of Written Letters becomes the fulcrum for challenge and change in their lives. It is a story of love and friendship. The novel displays hope that experiences can be patched together, no matter what your age is if you are willing to reach for that thing that is most important to you.

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

Katherine Reay’s latest novel, The Printed Letter Bookshop, is the perfect book for avid readers everywhere. She takes readers into the cozy, family owned Printed Letter Bookshop where book lovers come to visit, find their favorite books and the employees actually know the customers by name and can recommend books that the customers will love. What avid reader doesn’t love going to a cozy bookshop in real-life and getting to experience that joy? It’s a true booklover’s dream. Unfortunately, with the popularity of online shopping and e-books, many small, family owned bookshops are losing money and struggling to stay open.

This scenario plays out in The Printed Letter Bookshop when Madeline inherits the struggling bookshop from her late aunt Maddie and needs to modernize the bookshop to meet the needs of the customers in this digital world or else she will lose her beloved aunt’s legacy. With help from the bookshop’s employees, Janet and Claire, all three women work together to save the treasured bookshop and to find purpose and healing in their own lives.

This novel is a story of self-discovery, friendship, and forgiveness, and one that will appeal to a wide range of readers. The story is told through the different women’s perspectives, which provides more insight into each character’s background. Katherine Reay weaves many topics into the storyline that readers can relate to, such as infidelity, strained relationships with family members, and teenage rebellion. The Printed Letter Bookshop is highly recommended for readers of contemporary fiction, and especially those who loved Lindsay Harrel’s The Secrets of Paper and Ink, which also takes place in a bookshop.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

NOTE: I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second Katherine Reay book and I'd say her novels are great for book-lovers and readers like me as they either are light adaptations/take-offs on classics or references well-known books throughout the story. That said, I don't think you need to be familiar with the referenced books to still enjoy these novels. In this case, the storyline follows Madeline, a young Chicago lawyer, who has inherited a small-town bookshop from an estranged aunt. While the book is light enough that you can see exactly where things are heading right from the start - both professionally and romantically for Madeline - there are enough issues that the author touches upon to keep the story interesting and you turning the pages, including: mother/daughter relationships, female friendships, career ambition, personal growth, literature, and moral integrity. The book also touches upon faith, God and religion a little more than I personally like in my novels, but it is not surprising once I learned that the author has at one time pursued graduate studies in theology. For the right reader, that may make the book more meaningful. For me, it distracted and detracted from an otherwise really enjoyable read.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is the type of independent bookshop we all wish we had in our neighborhood. Located in a little town outside Chicago on Lake Michigan, it’s not just full of wonderful books of all genres, but holds lots of author events and has friendly staff who can help you find that perfect book for yourself or someone else. A bookshop that really celebrates the art of reading.

When the owner of the bookshop, Maddie Cullen dies, the whole town grieves her passing. None more so than her two friends and employees Janet and Claire who are worried about what will become of them and the bookshop if the new owner, Maddie's estranged niece, Madeline, decides to sell it. Madeline is a corporate lawyer working for a big Chicago law company who certainly doesn’t have time to run a bookshop, but the shop has been running at a loss while Maddie was sick and will need to get back in the black before it goes on the market so Maddie is forced to become involved in the running of the bookshop. Through working with Janet and Claire she comes to know more about Maddie and wonders if she really understands the family rift that had made her keep her distance.

This is a delightfully written novel about the three women (Janet, Claire and Madeline) and how their relationship with each other and Maddie forces them to re-evaluate their lives and find what is missing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I really enjoyed this book. I was expecting more "book" talk; however, was fine that there wasn't as I was captivated by each of the three main characters (all women) and their burgeoning friendship. Each character also had a journey of self exploration and self fulfillment that was interesting to follow. At the end, the author includes a book list that includes the many books alluded to or discussed in the story. I love lists like that. Overall this was a feel good read about women friendships and finding a "new" way. Perfect for a book group or for a relaxing read at any time!

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

Madeline loved spending summers with her aunt Maddie and working at Maddie's Printed Letter Bookshop, but a family rift drove aunt and niece apart. Despite the issues and at her parents' request, Madeline attends Maddie's funeral, where she first begins to notice that Maddie was well-loved and respected in her community. When Madeline learns that she has inherited most of Maddie's estate – including the bookshop – she plans to sell the shop as quickly as possible so she can get on with her life. But things don't quite go as Madeline expected, and she starts to see her life, and her future, in a whole new light.

I'll admit, I was drawn to this book because of the word "bookshop" in the title, with the cover art making it even more tempting. I've never read anything by this author before, and I wasn't sure what to expect, so this book was a pleasant surprise. The characters all seem like people I would like to get to know, and what reader wouldn't want to spend time browsing in this shop, maybe even asking for recommendations from the staff? Although a lot of the different story lines were rather predictable, I enjoyed going along for the ride to see how we would get from Point A to Point B. I will be watching for Ms. Reay's next book, but in the meantime, I plan to check out some of her previous works.

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!

Madeline's aunt ran The Printed Letter Bookshop and was one of her favorite people until there was a rift between Aunt Maddie and Dad. They haven't spoken in 20 years and out of loyalty to her father, Madeline has turned down many invitations to visit her once-favored relative since living less than an hour away. She feels badly (sort of) but what can she do, she's been swamped at work, trying to make partner at her law firm--and her father would be so disappointed if she visited her aunt now.

The next call they receive about Aunt Maddie is notice that she's died. Madeline is surprised by the packed church at her funeral--and to learn that she is the sole beneficiary of the estate. She returns from the ceremony to find that her firm has chosen another attorney as partner and decides she must leave the firm as her chance to make partner is gone. Now she has to figure out how to save or sell the double-mortgaged bookshop and her aunt's home and to make something of her own mismanaged life.

My Thoughts: There's really a lot to love and adore in this book. Unfortunately, it took me a while to find it. I hate even saying that. But Katherine Reay is a solid storyteller, and I was well rewarded in the end. Reay's gift is in telling stories that feature broken people and broken families. The Printed Letter Bookshop has 3 main characters, each with their own struggle ... and with their own style of storytelling. 
Madeline shares her story in the first person, past tense. While Claire shares hers in the third person, past tense. And Janet in the first person, present tense. I'll be honest, this was a gutsy move for Reay and one that took some getting used to. But the creator in me can applaud her for thinking outside of the box. 
I think what I enjoyed the most was the relationships. While there was a lot of true to life heartache for each of these characters, there was also true to life friendship and joy. This is definitely one that leaves you feeling warm with a satisfying ending. 

Rating and Recommendation: I give it 4 stars and recommend it to those who enjoy Contemporary Fiction. 

~ I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Katherine Reay constantly amazes me with her vast range of characters and story line for each of her books and The Printed Letter Bookshop is no exception. Here we meet three women of varying ages who form a friendship because of one woman or basically a book shop. Madeline, Claire and Janet. They each have their own storyline and right in the middle of it a small book shop in a small town. Its a fantastic book about friendship, family, a bit of romance and life’s journey. It is an inspirational toned book but it doesn’t bang readers over the head with it. Rather it intertwines it in their dialogue and of course the book list that is left behind for them. I love that books are really part of each of this women’s journey of self discovery and forgiveness to fail. I cannot find words how this book makes my own life journey more bearable and accepting of both trials and successes I encounter and how great female friendship really is.