The Printed Letter Bookshop

By Katherine Reay

Book Overview

Books. Love. Friendship. Second chances. All can be found at the Printed Letter Bookshop in the small, charming town of Winsome.

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 the decadent window displays she creates. Claire, though quieter than her outspoken colleague, feels equally drawn to the daily rhythms of the shop and has found a renewed sense of purpose within its walls.

When Madeline's professional life falls apart, and a handsome gardener upends her life, she questions her plans and her future. Has she been too quick to dismiss her aunt's beloved shop? And even if she has, the women's best efforts to save it may be too little, too late.

If you're looking for a heartwarming and cozy read that beautifully explores themes of love, friendship, and second chances, then The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay is the perfect book for you. With its richly drawn characters, touching storylines, and a deep appreciation for the power of books, this novel promises to be an enchanting escape that you won't want to end.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0785222006
• ISBN13: 9780785222002
• Release Date: May 2019
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.67 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

A charming read

This book follows the interweaving of the lives of three different women at three different ages and stages of life. It was very well written; these characters came to life for me. The growth arc of each character was refreshing. I was sad to put it down.

Had a few frustrations, but may just not be for me

I had a good time listening to this book, and the last 20% was rewarding, but it took so long to get to where the character development and growth actually paid off that it made me wonder if it was worth it. For the first 80%, I liked the characters fine, but at the same time I kind of didn’t like them at all. I didn’t have any issues with Madeline, although there wasn’t much to truly like about her either; I found it very difficult to respect Claire, and her relationship with her daughter felt more painful than compelling; Janet I kind of liked, but that might be more because she reminds me of a dear friend I have. I read No Angel recently by Penny Vincenzi, and the characters in that book have character flaws and make a lot of decisions I don’t approve of, but Vincenzi is able to balance it with heartwarming moments and choices I’m really proud of the characters for making. With The Printed Letter it felt like everything kinda sucked for 8 1/2 hours, and then things paid off for the last 2 1/2. I would have liked the author to give me more reasons to embrace the characters as they are, flaws and all. Show me a glimpse of the characters at their best. Idk, it was just missing something. That being said, it’s not that it was painful, and I did enjoy the last 20%, and the friendship between the main three girls and the bookshop vibes were nice throughout. I don’t regret reading it, it was a pleasant enough way to pass the time. And maybe it’s just that contemporaries aren’t for me, because my problems with this book seem to be in most contemporaries. :/