Wonderful story for book lovers! A tale of friendship and forgiveness set in a struggling bookshop, it’s an endearing book, start to finish. And just in case you need a good booklist or two, you’ve come to the right book!

I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson through Netgalley, but these opinions are solely my own.

I love any story that takes place in a bookshop. A young woman inherits a bookshop from her aunt. The shop is not doing well and she tries to save the shop with the help of the employees. The characters were likeable and the story set in a small town was nice.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is about Madeline, an ambitious young lawyer living in Chicago. She finds out that her estranged aunt, owner of a bookshop in a small town, has passed away and left everything to Madeline. The store comes with its own set of problems and employees that Madeline would never have asked for, but might be what she needs.

A book about a bookshop? With an adorable cover? Of course I was hooked, and I was not disappointed. While I didn’t really connect with or love Madeline, the whole cast of characters was compelling. I like that it showcased strong women in different stages of life, facing varied problems. The friendships were heartwarming, and I even enjoyed the romance. It explored some deeper emotions and family relationships, as well. But my favorite aspect was definitely the setting. I loved the small town vibe and the cozy bookshop. I even enjoyed hearing about the workings of the store, like the events and the ordering. I wish they were hiring! All in all, this is an enjoyable and cozy read perfect for book lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley for free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a delightful read ! The premise is ordinary but he way the story is told is not. A young lawyer who realizes thatg she will never make partner, an Aunt that leaves her the gift of a lifetime, and people who will accept her and love her. Along the way and old family mystery will be solved. The author tells this story beautifully !
The book took me back to a time when people and what they did mattered. It's not always about the money, but it's always about the manner. The author reminded me about this in the way that she told the story. In this book right wins out over wrong and love does indeed blossom in places and ways that are totally unexpired. A friend once told me that books come into you life when you need them. They don't always need to be weighty tomes, very often they are stories like this one that are well told that are just what is needed

I hope t hat we allays have stories like this, authors that are not afraid to write them and the bookshops to sell then in ! This book is perfect for book clubs !

This an author that I will look for more books by !

I think that I have read every one of Katherine Reay's books and I have enjoyed each one. But something about this one just didn't capture me. I wasn't the writing style . . . she's a talented author. It wasn't even the characters, they were interesting. I think it was just the subject matter as a whole. I really think that the disinterest lies with me. Maybe at a different time I would enjoy the book, just not currently.

So if you have enjoyed Katherine's previous books I think that you should give this one a try. My hope is that you will enjoy it more than I did.

This was such a nice read. The characters were well defined, likable women. The book reads like a movie with the high climax and resolution at the end. I would recommend this to someone who isn't into mystery, thrillers, or descriptive love scenes. A very pleasant read of all ages.

I think I’ll start off by saying that this wasn’t really *my* kind of book, and the main reason for that was the continual point of view (POV) switching. I’d originally heard much about the author’s lovely writing style before picking up this book, and it lived up to my expectations! The writing style was very smooth and a joy to read, and I’ll definitely pick up another one of Reay’s books!

But back to the POV switching. xD The point of view jumped from Madeline to Janet to Claire and back again and over and over, and I found that it really disrupted my flow of thought while reading. I had to constantly adjust to each character, and that was a pain. The characters themselves were very… unique, I guess? I didn’t really love them all that much since it was difficult to connect to them with all the POV switching, but I appreciated how real and raw their lives were, and how none of them seemed to have their lives “together”.

Overall it was a good book! Again, not for me, but I can certainly think of people who’s reading styles would fit this book better. 3.5 stars.

FTC DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from Celebrate Lit Bloggers. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.

Thank you to Netgalley for the early copy.

I enjoyed this book. It was refreshing and interesting story. I liked the premise. The characters were likable and well developed.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is a charming novel about friendship, forgiveness, new beginnings, and of course, books!

Madeline, a lawyer living in a downtown high rise, is shocked to learn that her Aunt Maddie left Madeline her home and little bookshop when she passed away. With the intent to sell them both immediately, Madeline visits the small community and meets her aunt’s two friends and employees at the bookshop. Soon they find themselves working together to not only save the bookshop, but themselves!

I loved this sweet story and the way the author incorporated other books throughout it. A cozy, lighthearted read for the book lover .

Thank you to Thomas Nelson via Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book started out slow. And because I’m WAY behind in my ARC reading, I have decided I’ll give books until the 30% point to pique - and hold - my interest. It was right at 30% when things in The Printed Letter Bookshop picked up.

This is a cute story about finding your way when your original path can’t be followed. About finding friends in the most unlikely places, and that people who are in different phases of life can be your closest confidants and help you find your way - no matter your age.

After the death of her Aunt Maddie, Madeline learns she’s the sole beneficiary of all Maddie’s earthly belongings. She gets a car, a house, and a bookshop - which comes with two employees. When Madeline’s career as a lawyer gets derailed, she decides to give “bookshop owner” a shot to see if she can turn the struggling store back to profitable before selling it.

Janet and Claire are the two full-time employees at the bookshop. In addition to losing their boss and good friend Maddie, they are dealing with their own personal struggles: Janet lost her marriage and children after a poor decision, and Claire is contemplating who she is now that her children are almost grown and won’t need her at all much longer.

In short, all women are facing an identity crisis. But together, they rebuild their lives, forming an unbreakable bond in the process. This story was sweet and uplifting, despite the struggles and heartache these women faced.

But like I said, things started SO slow and I almost quit. I’m glad I didn’t! However, there were still a couple things that put me off. I didn’t care for the way the author kept the reason for the demise of Janet’s marriage, and the estrangement of her children, a secret. Instead, referring to it frequently and dragging out the “mystery.” I also thought it was odd Madeline and Janet’s chapters were written in first person, but Claire’s was written in third. Turns out there was a reason for it, but that didn’t make it seem any less odd to me. This was also listed as a romance/woman’s fiction - but there was very little romance. Which isn’t bad...but if I am told a book is a romance, I want more time spent developing - and more focus on - a heroine and her hero. The main focus of this book was the three women and their journeys, and not on their relationships with the men in their lives.

Ultimately, I did enjoy this book. Once I got invested in the three women and each of their stories, the book easily held my interest. I’ve actually read several of these kinds of books this year - where women helping women and building each other up has been the focus - and I’ve been rather entertained by them! If you look online it seems all women are capable of doing is tearing each other down and pointing out perceived flaws. It’s been kinda nice to stick my head in a feel-good world where women walk alongside other women and encourage them, even if only for a little while.

* thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay is the story of three women and a bookshop. I was excited to pick this book up as I've enjoyed other books by this author. Unfortunately, this book started out promising and seemed like a wonderful story of three very different women and how their lives intersect. I enjoyed the story but felt that some elements just wrapped up too easily and simply for believability. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

I loved this book, much like I love everything by Katherine Reay. The characters were all enjoyable, and it was a touching story about friendship. Now, if only my town had a bookstore like this one ...

My thoughts:
I love bookstores or libraries. Something about being surrounded by books just makes me so happy and content. Add a point or two if the old book smell is prevalent. I love a good new book too but older books are just a treasure.

Something I’ve never found in a bookstore though is someone who doesn’t love books. I’ve been in several and the people are always helpful even if they’re not employees. If you’re in a bookstore wandering around chances are you love books. Therefore, anyone who you meet up with is an instant friend.

This is not the case for the employees of The Printed Letter Bookshop and their new owner/boss. They are not instant friends. There is tension and so much uncertainty. Each woman has to let her guard down and open herself up before they can become a team.

As Madeline, Courtney, and Jessica find common ground and bond disaster strikes. Someone or someones vandalize the bookstore over Valentine’s Day. What a great way to show love? As they go about setting the bookstore to rights many decisions must be made and new relationships are formed.

Not only do the women become friends but they also find help with their problems and new and interesting men enter their lives.

Will they find the vandalizing culprit? What about finding love? Will their broken hearts mend? Can all wounds be healed? And finally, will the bookstore be sold?

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Why did I wait so long to read this book. It was wonderful. A heartwarming book about friendship, second chances, and books. As a bookseller, the book connection drew me in at first, but after the first chapter I was thoroughly engaged in the lives of Madeline, Janet, and Claire. The bookshop became not just a job for them, but a place for healing and growing and connecting. I will highly recommend this book and will eagerly seek out more books by this author.

What drew me to this is, of course, the fact that it's a book centered around a book shop! This was a really endearing story centered around three women. The character development and each of there distinct personalities and struggles were well portrayed throughout the novel, and it did keep you guessing until the end. The story had a strong theme of friendship and I did enjoy how the author was able to show each POV.

This was a lovely read - a book about friendship, family and community. The Printed Letter Bookshop is what connects three very different women, and Reay uses alternating narrative voices to tell their very different stories.

As the women are at different stages of life this novel would appeal to a wide audience, perhaps particularly those who love reading as there are lots of references to books.

I liked the subtle faith references, which built throughout the story without being too forced.

This one goes to my “Gem” bookshelf, no questions asked.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is guaranteed to delight bibliophiles around the globe. It is rich with details of life in a bookshop. Readers experience the heart and soul put in by employees who think about every single detail – from how the shop looks, how it might feel to visitors and customers to how to decorate during Christmas. I get the urge to visit my favourite bookstore just reading this. A lot of familiar titles – masterpieces and recent bestsellers – get thrown into this book. It’s a great (dirty!) tactic of establishing a relationship with readers. Well played, Katherine Reay.

This book’s revolves around Madeline (senior – the aunt), more known as Maddie. The book opens with her death. Sometimes, you don’t see how a life touches others until it’s gone. Maddie’s known within her neighbourhood and community as a book lover and great friend, who volunteers, fantastic at recommending books (because she’s great at reading people) and just gives right up to her last breath. However, at the funeral, readers discover that Maddie had a falling out with her brother, who is Madeline’s (junior – the niece) father. Madeline later came to know that her aunt left her all of her worldly possessions, including the Printed Letter Bookshop. This came as a surprise to everyone, especially Maddie’s closest friends, Janet and Claire, who are also her employees.

You might wonder why Maddie’s bookstore is called The Printed Letter Bookshop. I’ll let you find that out for yourselves, and let me just say one thing about it: It will warm your heart, bookworms.

This book is about new beginnings, about moving on, and how it can be scary because you don’t know what’s on the other side of that leap. Sometimes a new beginning means you have to leave your comfort zone, embrace your fears, swallow your pride, or be accountable for past actions. Everyone can relate because this is all part of growing up, whether you’re 17 or 70 (Yes, you’ve still got some growing up to do even if you’re 70). So much of this book resonates with me, because I’ve done countless mistakes and had to restart each time. That is pretty much what the characters are trying to do. In fact, aren’t we all?

I can rarely sum up a book in one word but The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay is an exception. The word is Meaningful.

Content warning(s) : Infidelity

Katherine Reay always writes insightful and interesting books, and this one is no exception. This is a beautiful and moving story about three women who find friendship, community and meaning through their involvement in a bookshop. But a huge crisis tests their friendship, and their capacity to forgive...



When Madeline inherits her aunt Maddie's bookstore The Printed Letter Bookshop, she regards it as a temporary affair. Disappointed that she failed to make partner at her prestigious law firm in Chicago, and troubled by the break-up with her workaholic boyfriend, she is also heavily in debt because of the bookshop. It doesn't help that Claire and Janet, the employees, regard her as an outsider, and that Janet and her young male friend Chris think that she treated her aunt badly.



Claire and Janet also have their problems. Claire feels that she is losing touch with her family, especially her difficult teenage daughter Brittany. Janet feels bitter about her divorce from Seth and doesn't want to face life alone. Maddie tried to help them all before she died by sending them each a personal letter and a list of books to read. In the end, though, they need the kind of strength which only comes through prayer.



I didn't want to finish this. I especially liked Madeline and reading about her relationship with Chris. How would this play out?



I received this free book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.



EDITION



Other

Format

ISBN 9780785222002

PRICE $16.99 (USD)

In the Printed Letter Bookshop, we are introduced to four resilient women, three living and one recently passed. After Maddie dies, she leaves her beloved bookstore to her niece Madeline. Claire and Janet have been running the store and aren’t sure what to make of their new boss, who is an attorney and has no experience in the book world. Throughout the book, the three women find their rhythm and purpose; this is partially due to some soul searching facilitated by Maddie after her death. She leaves each one a book list (full list shared at the end of the book) to use as a guide for solving some of their respective problems.

Reay weaves a tale that shows people at multiple stages of life, dating, married and single, from teenager to retirement age. She addresses PTSD, terminal illness, employment problems and adultery -heavy topics for sure, in a way that make the story come together and provides context for the character’s choices and development. I am a little bit of a book nerd and like independent bookshops, so I enjoyed the many literary references, even if I didn’t know them all. I think readers will find the story alluring and the end satisfying.

Writing books about book lovers, for book lovers is a particular kind of challenge. It's so personal, and therefore, these books tend to be judged against a highly subjective standard. Reay, however, has been down this road before, and does a fine job weaving together a tale of three women in small Chicago suburb all on different paths in life, but united by a common bookshop. Alternating between three points of view, two of the perspectives are first person limited while the third is third person limited. It was jarring to me at first, but there is a reason for this that is actually explained in the text (for those who are picky about those kinds of things, you have been warned!) I enjoyed getting to know these women, though at times I wish the pace would have picked up or that a few secrets characters were keeping were revealed to the reader sooner because I had predicted them long before.