Review: "The Printed Letter Bookshop" by Katherine Reay

A novel set in a bookstore? What could be better? (Owning said bookstore myself—that's what could be better 😉)

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Love, friendship, and family find a home at the Printed Letter Bookshop

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.

While Madeline intends to sell the shop as quickly as possible, the Printed Letter’s two employees have other ideas. 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. She begins to envision a new path for herself and for her aunt’s beloved shop—provided the women’s best combined efforts are not too little, too late.

The Printed Letter Bookshop is a captivating story of good books, a testament to the beauty of new beginnings, and a sweet reminder of the power of friendship.

Release Date: May 14, 2019

Genre: Women's Fiction

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Book lovers, rejoice! The Printed Letter Bookshop is perfect for fans of the written word. Set in a small, failing bookshop in a town just outside Chicago, The Printed Letter Bookshop unites three women, each struggling with her own hurts and insecurities. As they fight to save the shop, they find in each other the friendship, family, and courage they've been lacking.

The book is told from each woman's perspective: Madeline, the young lawyer-turned-new bookshop owner; Janet, recently divorced and estranged from her adult children; and Claire, a mother who feels useless except when she's running the bookshop. While it would've been easy to dislike each of these women (especially brash, angry Janet), Reay writes them in such a way that they are sympathetic even when they're doing very unlikable things.

While the novel does contain a smidge of romance for each of these women, their friendship is the true heart of the story.

I've seen The Printed Letter Bookshop on a few summer "must read" lists, and it definitely belongs there! With engaging prose, characters the reader pulls for, the bookshop setting, and all those books mentioned, it truly is a reader's dream novel. 5 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Reay's Dear Mr. Knightley (5 stars), The Brontë Plot (4 stars), and A Portrait of Emily Price (4-1/2 stars).

Follow the blog tour:
The Avid Reader, May 14
Godly Book Reviews, May 14
The Power of Words, May 14
Reflections From My Bookshelves, May 15
Carla Loves To Read, May 15
Pause for Tales, May 15
Maureen’s Musings, May 16
Bigreadersite, May 16
By The Book, May 16
Inspirationally Ever After, May 17
Reading Themes, May 17
For The Love of Books, May 17
Lis Loves Reading, May 18
Emily Yager, May 18
Living Life Free in Christ, May 18
For HIm and My Family, May 19
Retrospective Spines, May 19
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, May 19
Girls Living For God’s Glory, May 20
As He Leads is Joy, May 20
To Everything A Season, May 20
All-Of-a-kind Mom, May 21
Through the Fire Blogs, May 21
Creating Romance, May 21
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 22
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, May 22
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 22
Reader’s Cozy Corner, May 23
Wishful Endings, May 23
Texas Book-aholic, May 23
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 24
Just the Write Escape, May 24
The Christian Fiction Girl, May 25
Lighthouse Academy, May 25
janicesbookreviews, May 25
Inspired by Fiction, May 26
Simple Harvest Reads, May 26 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)
Inklings and notion, May 26
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 27
amandainpa, May 27
A Reader’s Brain, May 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Katherine is giving away a paperback copy of The Printed Letter Bookshop to one lucky winner!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/e4f1/the-printed-letter-bookshop-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Katherine Reay is the national bestselling and award-winning author of Dear Mr. Knightley, Lizzy and Jane, The Brontë Plot, A Portrait of Emily Price, The Austen Escape, and The Printed Letter Bookshop. All Katherine’s novels are contemporary stories with a bit of classical flair. Katherine holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and isa wife, mother, former marketer, and avid chocolate consumer. After living all across the country and a few stops in Europe, Katherine now happily resides outside Chicago, IL. You can meet her at www.katherinereay.com; Facebook: KatherineReayBooks; Twitter: @katherine_reay; or Instagram: @katherinereay.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."