Happy Monday, Reader Friends!
I’m happy to share a book review on Katherine Reay’s latest novel, The Printed Letter Bookshop. It releases tomorrow and I can’t wait to see the reviews rolling in.
First up…
About the Book
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.
My Thoughts
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 brain hyper-focused on it, until I paused for a minute.
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. If you’ve read the book, I’d be interested to hear if you felt the same way. 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’ll stop with my thoughts before I continue to go on and on and your eyes glaze over with all the black lettering. Suffice it to say, 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.
About the Author
Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author of several novels, including Dear Mr. Knightley and the upcoming The Printed Letter Bookshop. She has enjoyed a lifelong affair with books and brings that love to her contemporary stories. Her first full-length nonfiction work will release in December 2019. Katherine holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University. She currently writes full time and lives outside Chicago, IL with her husband and three children. You can meet Katherine at www.katherinereay.com or on Facebook: KatherineReayBooks, Twitter: @katherine_reay, and Instagram: @katherinereay
Toni Shiloh 