Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.

What a fun one this was. I love a book that centers around a bookstore, so this book was perfect. I also loved the ages of the women in the book. I liked how the book focused on women in three different places in life. I think that this added to the richness of the book, and made it so it appeals to many different readers.

I also liked the romance side plot. I think that it was well done and believable. These were characters that I rooted for throughout the book, even if I got annoyed at times with their decisions – which shows how much Reay pulled me into this world. I also loved all of the book references throughout the novel.

I had read a couple Katherine Reay books prior to this one and enjoyed them, but The Printed Letter Bookshop is by far my favorite. It is a must for a booklover. It has already cost me money because I have ordered a couple of the books Maddie recommended as I read through the chapters. There were so many ways I connected with this novel.. Like many of the characters, I have always felt bookstores are sanctuaries. I can also relate to how good female friendships can help you work through internal battles that are just impossible with a spouse or family member, sometimes. I spent a good part of the first half of the book not liking Madelyn at all until I realized some of her mentality was not that different from mine. Funny how you can see the ugliness of some thoughts in others that you never even notice yourself having until you witness it in someone else. I related to the prickliness of Janet, where she didn't even understand her own anger sometimes. I related to the marital and mothering travails of Claire. All the characters in this novel were easy to relate to. The Printed Letter Bookshop was so endearing, I hated for it to end. This was the PERFECT summer novel. I am giving it 5 stars because it is a book lovers book that I will remember.

I love everything Katherine Reay writes, so I am always anxiously awaiting her next release. This is her best work, in my opinion. It is full of nuance and through-provoking female characters. Reay gives us three woman of different ages and life stages, and she weaves them together into a family with the bookshop as their home. I love how she draws the women, their internal struggles, and their expressive eyebrows. It's a book for lovers of books, with references to many classics and popular novels alike. If your idea of a good time is strolling a little bookshop with a latte, then this book is the thing that will soothe your soul.

So much life and literature packed into such a small space. Claire was referring to the Printed Letter Bookshop when she made this observation, but she could just as easily have been summing up this story as well. Family, friendship, and romance—their challenges and their beauty—fill the pages of this book as three very different women, each facing their own individual struggles, come together to try and revive the Printed Letter Bookshop.

It took me a little longer than I expected to get into this story, partly because there were three main characters to get to know but also because each of the women narrated in a different person and tense: Madeline in first person past tense, Janet in first person present tense, and Claire in third person past tense. I found this a little unsettling in the beginning, but it soon became clear that this was done very intentionally, and I actually ended up loving that the author had taken this approach.

The story unfolds in Reay’s gently elegant prose as mistakes, challenges, and unwelcome surprises threaten the Printed Letter Bookshop. I couldn’t help but be drawn in by the way the three women responded as their circumstances shifted—a wonderful combination of vulnerability, soul-searching, courage, and strength. I loved the relationships that were explored, particularly the subtle undercurrents between Madeline and Chris that had me wondering “will they/won’t they”, and I loved the combination of personalities.

It was somehow warm and unexpected all at once, and left me feeling richer for having shared the journey.

I'm a sucker for any book that is set in a bookshop so this novel immediately went on my To be Read list. The structure of this book is told in alternating perspectives between the three main characters. While I enjoyed all the women, I did, at times, feel like we were covering the same event multiple times so it got a little bit repetitive. However, the storylines were interesting and each character brought a different problem/solution to the table. It was so cool to see three women able to come together and work well with each other and support one another. At the end of the book, I did feel like I took away some life lessons that I won't soon forget. While the book did have flaws, overall the read was completely enjoyable and read very quickly! Finally, if you love a bookshop book, this book really was set and centered around a bookshop. Lately I've read several books that give that impression in the synopsis, but don't deliver and this one definitely does.

* I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to read this book! I appreciate the kindness. <3

I missed this book on my to-read list from Netgalley and when I finally saw it, it had already been released. I was able to listen to this on audio and I am so glad that I did. This was a beautiful story of coming to realize one’s true potential and challenging the things you once thought to be true.

This is a book about women, friends, mothers, family and books. The perfect combination and a must read for any book lover.

I picked up this book because of how much I loved Dear Mr. Knightley a few years back. That book instantly pulled me in. I'll admit I had a harder time getting into this book. It took effort to remember which character was attached to which background and story. It was not an "easy" ready, the pacing was a little slow. It was however, beautifully worded, and deeply moving. I loved all the book references, and the lovely description of the small town and its quaint bookshop.

My thoughts


Narrative and plot

This story is centred around the lives of three women. A single woman, a middle age teenage mom and an estranged elder woman in her fifties. The story is told in their perspectives. It is an interesting version because we get to see the these characters in each other's light.

The plot revolves around the Printed Letter Bookshop as the title suggests. It is your tried and tested outline where you unexpectedly inherit a favourite deceased aunt's property.
However, given enough spin you can bring all the freshness you need to that formula and this book is a proof.

Characters and Conflict


Madeline, Janet, Claire and Aunt Maddie are the pivotal characters of the story. Aunt Maddie even though not direct is such a mesmerising presence. Each of these ladies, start at a particular point of the book and have their own inner journey through which they find themselves. How it reflects their outer world and the people around them is what you see in the book.

Since, the central theme is built around a bookshop, it is a reader's paradise. By the
end of it, you would want to step into such a gorgeous bookshop and do whatever you can to save it. The entire plot is beautifully correlated with a book lovers perspective. How, what we read affects us, and what we take from each book is close to heart.

The little bit of romance that the book has is enjoyable. It has spiritual elements but is not too preachy. Every little thing is placed rightly and comes back when required. It didn't seem forced.
If you need to point out something, certain characters were only in the background to be used as plot devices and didn't develop fully. But it is a minor thing and does not take away anything from the overall story.


Conclusion

If you're a book lover, then this is a must read. This book really shows how good books open our minds to new things and develops our personalities. And an added bonus, there is a list of books mentioned within the book which you can pick for a book club. I am keeping that list with me and try my best to cover most books. What about you? Is the Printed Letter Bookshop on your list?

It’s my first book by this author, a title more than highly recommended by Jazzmen, one of our reviewers. I couldn’t wait for its release because I thought it’s the kind of book I could like.
First indication of importance: this title isn’t a romance novel but a woman’s fiction, of which I was sure by reading the synopsis. If you’re not fan of this kind of books move on.

I finished the book some weeks ago but didn’t post a review at once. Indeed, in spite of Jazzmen’s raving review, unfortunately I fast became disillusioned by the story. The book is well written, the style is flowing and we want to know what will happen to these three women. My big problem is that I found them all unpleasant and that impression lasted in time. What I appreciate in a woman’s fiction is the personal evolution in the heroine(s), and here it’s much delayed. A good point for the author however, we believe in their redemption and their final choice but that’s not enough for me to recommend this book.

Madeline is the youngest of the three women. She’s the one who inherited her aunt’s possessions including The Printed Letter bookshop. I didn’t appreciate her egoism, her unshakable opinions and her haughtiness. Janet is the oldest of the three. Divorced, she doesn’t have any contact with her ex-husband and her children. Even if we’re sad for her at times, her past behavior doesn’t make her a really likeable character. As for Claire, she has family problems, especially with her daughter. She’s the most likeable of the three unfortunately the way she acts with her daughter just made me want to shake her.

To conclude a medium novel because of its heroines and it’s too bad as it had all to please me originally.

This took me three weeks to finish (a ridiculously long time if you're me), but I'm blaming that on this busy season of life, not the book.

Because I loved this book.

I fell in love with Reay's writing style when I read A Portrait of Emily Price awhile ago, so I was excited when I first saw The Printed Letter Bookshop. Also, that cover is so whimsical, I was instantly intrigued! And I was not disappointed.

The Printed Letter has a somewhat slow and even meandering at times plot, but I would not say that is a bad thing in this case. (Although it certainly didn't help my reading slump) It was, in fact, a delightfully fresh breath of air after several dud reads and fast-paced suspense books. I fell in love with this fictional bookshop, its people, and its city. Reay creates a beautiful location to set her story.

Our main characters are three women--all in different walks of life. Madeline, a young attorney; Claire, a forty-something mom and wife; and Janet, a divorced, middle-aged woman who is trying to find her place in this life. They all are, trying to find their place. And that alone makes each of these characters incredibly relatable, I believe. While the POV jumps were confusing at times for me, I think Reay does a fabulous job keeping each of these characters unique and individual, all the way down to switching up the points of view, having both third-person and first-person points of view--something you don't see a lot, and some may find unenjoyable, but I personally liked that decision. They each had their own beautiful and complete storyline, yet the three interwove so perfectly to form the novel as a whole.

Reay tackles some difficult and serious issues in The Printed Letter, not the least of which being adultery, divorce, and teen issues. Yet she does so with incredible tact and realisticness, weaving lines of grace, forgiveness, and mercy throughout the pages of this lovely story.

Overall, I highly recommend The Printed Letter Bookshop! Katherine Reay is an incredible author and I look forward to reading more.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Sometimes what I enjoy most is a light and lovely book to cosy up with.     This was one of those times and I very much enjoyed The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay.     What's more, as the title suggests, it was set in a bookshop and contained an abundance of book references.   What's not to love about a book like that?

The story revolved around four main female characters, Madeline,  Claire, Janet and Maddie and it opens at Maddie's funeral.    Soon after the funeral Madeleine learns she has inherited everything from her namesake and Aunt Maddie.   This is unexpected and certainly not the windfall one might expect her to consider it.     Afterall, she's a career driven lawyer striving to make Partner in a top Chicago law firm.     Running a bookshop is definitely not in her plans.     She does however feel compelled to give it a shot, at least until she can sell the store.     Claire and Janet are middle aged women, close  friends and employees of the late Maddie.   They love the bookshop and for seperate reasons both desperately hope to retain their jobs despite dwindling sales.

I made a game out of spotting all the book names, ticking off  those I'd already read, and making a mental checklist of those to be added to my TBR.     The story was delightfully written, a little predictable with a bit of romance and a happily ever after feel to it.   It was filled with characters I enjoyed and I wanted the best for them.    It contained lessons to live by and imparted important messages to be learnt.   From my words I hope you'll know whether this is your kind of book or not.    It was mine and I thank Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for the opportunity of reading this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review which it was my pleasure to provide.

Katherine Reay’s inimitable style invites us into the story in such a way that we see ourselves reflected in each character. We’re too quick to speak like Madeline, we’re too laid back like Claire, and our first reaction is too often anger just like Janet.

But then, as the layers of our heart are peeled back, we see the growth in each character and long for that transformation in our own lives. Madeline seeks contentment rather than success, Claire finds strength, and Janet learns humility.

And all because of the legacy of Aunt Maddie and The Printed Letter Bookshop.

Only Katherine Reay can write a book in which three strong, independent women find themselves in Proverbs 31.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is one of those books. You know the kind. The ones that make you feel wholly inadequate when trying to leave a review. Yes, one of those books.

There is so much wisdom captured in this wonderful story about Madeline inheriting a bookshop (among other things) from her aunt Maddie. There is also regret, passion for one's dreams, interesting female friendships that grew from animosity and mistrust, community spirit in a small town and so much more that it's hard to stop trying to fit it all into this review.

The characters were engaging whether I liked or disliked them in the beginning. They called to me, asking me to spend more time with them, to get to know them. The bookshop sounded lovely and I wanted to curl up in a comfy chair and read and people watch to my heart's content.

The true gems that outshone everything else in this stand out novel were the book references. They fit what was happening in this story perfectly and really showed this author's love of reading. The books recommended to various characters throughout this story or just mentioned in passing all had some type of life lesson to impart and the inclusion of these books happened organically and seamlessly.

Katherine Reay is a very talented, new-to-me author that I will be following closely, hoping future novels are as immersive and simply wonderful as The Printed Letter Bookshop. If you have not yet added this book to your TBR list, do so now. You will thank me later.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and author for approving my request for an ARC. All thoughts in this not-nearly-as-good-as-the-book review are my own and willingly provided.

I was a bit apprehensive coming into reading this book, as it's so different to anything I've ever read before. I've never read anything about a small community bookshop, but I'm so glad that this story has been written in novel form. I loved it! It was so heart warming, yet complex in ways I did not expect it to be. I'm so glad I finally found Katherine Reay, and I cannot wait to get my hands onto her other books!

The Printed Letter Bookshop follows the story of Aunt Maddie and her beloved bookshop that Madeline inherits twenty years later. Madeline, a practicing lawyer has her life thrown upside down by her inheritance from Maddie and she does not know what to do with her house, the bookshop, and her work life in general. Madeline initially has no thought of staying to work in the bookshop and wants to quickly return to her normal life as a lawyer. However, things change, relationships and friendships are formed. 

The characters were so relatable and were so endearing. There wasn't a single character that I disliked at all. I loved reading the relationship dynamics between Madeline, Janet and Claire shift and change throughout the book. It felt so real and endearing to watch Janet and Claire let Madeline enter their bookshop that they see as another home and such a safe haven. Even if they know from the beginning that Madeline is thinking of selling the bookshop. They are happy to work with Madeline, get to know her, show her how the bookshop works and why they love the shop so much. Yes, there's some conflict between Janet and Madeline, due to Janet's dry and snippy nature. However, the growth in their friendship is one of the highlights of this beautiful book. 

The plot of this book follows these three women and their hardships that are all somewhat related and brought back to the bookshop and also their relationship with Maddie. I loved the fact that Maddie left all three of them a letter with books that are only relevant to the individual and takes them on a journey of growth. Although at the time, I did not think there were many points of conflict throughout the book except the major incident with the bookshop. Looking back at this book, I was able to realise that this book had constant points of conflict, but were much smaller and seemed less important at the time of reading. However, I came to realise how important these smaller conflicts were important in the lives of Madeline, Janet, Claire and the bookshop. I loved that we were able to diverge into the personal lives of each of the three women outside of the bookshop and see how important the bookshop was to them as a form of healing and stability throughout their rollercoaster of daily lives away from the bookshop.

As I said previously about the letters that Maddie left the three women with the book list that they should read, these books are listed at the back of the book for reference. I absolutely loved this addition because there were so many books that I was interested in to potentially adding them to my TBR. I also loved the constant interweaving of books and quotes of different books throughout the novel. 

I highly recommend this heartfelt, beautiful, endearing book! It was such a cosy read to be able to read about an indie bookshop whilst reading a book. I can't wait to find more novels that are set around a bookshop or library.

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

A gentle look at the lives of three women in Chicago, each facing questions of identity and purpose. Madeline seems to be the main character, in her twenties and a lawyer who inherits her aunt's bookshop.

The plot was easily discernible, but the characters had depth and were interesting enough to keep me reading.

The Printed Letter Bookshop, by Katherine Reay, is an incredibly moving novel of friendship, forgiveness, and self-discovery. Told cogently through the unique perspectives of three very different women, Ms. Reay weaves a story that is an intricate tapestry of loss, learning, life, and love.
A highlight of this novel is the superbly written characterization. Throughout the story, the characters are authentic and believable. Their motivations, desires, insecurities, mistakes, and actions are well-developed and resonate with vulnerability, truth, and emotion. As the characters contemplate their choices and persevere through the consequences that follow, they grow in wisdom and confidence. Their faith is also strengthened as they learn to trust in grace, forgiveness, and abiding love.
The themes within this book are poignant and thought-provoking. As it explores rejection, ambition, and assumption, this novel gently and creatively offers opportunities for healing and restoration through compassion, hope, and humility. The bookshop setting of this story is also profoundly relevant and meaningful. This special shop is a haven that draws the characters together and unites them in a common purpose and a shared devotion.
Ms. Reay is a truly talented author with an obvious love of literature and a considerable talent for storytelling. The Printed Letter Bookshop is a notably entertaining, edifying, and memorable novel, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
*I was given a copy of this novel through Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. A review was not required. The review I have written contains opinions that are entirely my own.

While I've enjoyed this author's books previously, this one just didn't grab me. Very slow start, and just didn't really have a good enough pay-off for the time spent.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is written from three distinct points of view. The first is Madeline, a young attorney, who suddenly finds herself the recipient of her estranged aunt's estate, which includes a floundering bookshop.  The second and third point of view belong to two women who were Aunt Maddie's friends and employees at The Printed Letter Bookshop.  Janet, a middle-aged divorcee, is hiding her insecurities and sorrows behind prickles and spines.  Claire, the penultimate suburban stay-at-home mom, finds herself unrooted after her husband's job relocation, and is struggling to regain her footing in not only her new location but also her changing relationships with her husband and teenage children.  

Some books written from changing points of view can feel like readers are trying to make sense of a cubist work by an unskilled and visually impaired painter.  The changing perspectives can become muddled, the story can get lost, and the characters themselves may become indistinct.  Katherine Reay, however, weaves these three unique perspectives together into a unified story.  While each character gradually reveals her own struggles in her own authentic voice, Aunt Maddie's bookshop is the central meeting point where their lives and stories intersect.  Their voices remain unique, yet their interactions with one another become a sum which is greater than its parts.  The bookshop becomes a refuge, a place where each woman, through her interactions with the others, finds hope, healing, and wholeness.   

I'm pretty stingy with five star reviews on book review sites, but this one easily earned five stars.  This is not "escapist fluff," as I have termed some Christian fiction.  Readers won't find picture-perfect heroines who live mundane yet glamorous lives untouched by trouble or sin.  Ms. Reay deals with some difficult issues.  What do we do when life not only hands us lemons but we discover we've been cultivating lemon trees in our lives and there's not a grain of sugar to be found?  What do we do when relationships sour because we have neglected them or circumstances stink because our choices have led us there?  When things like pride, passivity, or peevishness have permeated our homes or our workplaces, how do we face them and eradicate them?  While the long answer is complicated and the subject of many works of excellent nonfiction, the short answer is community and healthy relationships, rooted in grace, truth, and love.  These truths are portrayed clearly and poignantly in The Printed Letter Bookshop, which I highly recommend.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and Net Galley.  All opinions in this review are my own.

Such a wonderful story.
First time reading this author and I really enjoyed this book.

It is filled with entertaining characters, moments and loved the family & friendships in this book. Also this book was a good feel kinda of book to read.