I received an eARC of The Printed Letter Bookshop from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis

(Courtesy : Goodreads)

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. 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

Narrative and plot

This story is centered 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 favorite 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 mesmerizing 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?

About the Author

Katherine Reay is the national bestselling and award-winning author of Dear Mr. Knightley, Lizzy & Jane, The Bronte Plot, A Portrait of Emily Price, The Austen Escape and The Printed Letter Bookshop. Her first nonfiction book, co-authored with Rebecca Powell, will release February 2020. Katherine’s novels are love letters to books. They are character driven stories that examine the past as a way to find one’s best way forward. In the words of The Bronte Plot’s Lucy Alling, she writes of “that time when you don’t know where you’ll be, but you can’t stay as you are.”

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