The Printed Letter Bookshop

De: Katherine Reay

Narrado por: Hillary Huber

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 20 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 falls apart, and a handsome gardener upends all her preconceived notions, she questions her plans and her heart. Has she been too quick to dismiss her aunt’s beloved shop? And even if she has, the women’s best combined efforts may be too little, too late.

This sweet, contemporary listen is a stand-alone novel, though characters in this story will appear in Katherine Reay’s forthcoming book, Of Literature and Lattes. Book length: approximately 95,000 words. Includes discussion questions and a list of books from the author.

Praise for The Printed Letter Bookshop:

"Powerful, enchanting, and spirited, this novel will delight." (Patti Callahan, best-selling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis)

"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." (Rachel McMillan, author of Murder in the City of Liberty)

"Gifted narrator Hillary Huber introduces listeners to three women whose lives collide after the passing of a bookstore owner named Maddie. Madeline Cullen, Maddie's niece, is voiced in tones of regret and sadness, her fond memories of her aunt having been replaced by the bitterness of a family disagreement never settled. When Madeline inherits her aunt's bookstore, she meets sullen, quick-tempered Claire and sweet Janet. Notes of emotional pain can be heard in all three women's voices as their paths intertwine after Maddie's death. Each chapter is narrated by one of the three grieving women, and Huber seamlessly differentiates them with specific tones, tempos, and rhythms. With its expertly narrated story of healing, this audiobook is sure to warm hearts." (AudioFile)

• Sweet and thoughtful contemporary listen
• Stand-alone novel
• Book length: 96,000 words
• Includes discussion questions and a recommended reading list from the author

©2019 Katherine Reay (P)2019 Thomas Nelson

Forgiveness is a Blessing for Everyone

Nice story that kept your attention while getting you to think. It was a good ole’ tale that focused on the importance of family and friends.

A new favorite

Tender, funny, clever and unforgettable. I’ll return to The Printed Letter Bookshop just as her customers have. This one is a real treat.

exciting book shop

tender, loving, thoughtful . the book makes one think and wonder about ones life . thank you

We All Need to Find Our Aunt Maddie

This took a long time for me to become invested in (a lot like adulthood in general) but it is a story of women’s true coming of age- not the teenage one, but the one where we realize who we actually are and the self-discovery that comes with adulthood. It is about accidentally finding your people, forgiveness of others and forgiving one’s self. It’s about owning all that you are, can be and discovering that we are all better together.
When Madeline discovers her estranged Aunt Maddie has died and left her her book shop and her home, she imagines selling them and moving on. But these gifts change the course of her life and the lives of Janet and Claire, the two employees who work there. Together these women learn who they are and the art of caring for themselves and each other. In many ways Aunt Maddie is the Fairy Godmother who uses books and love to help those she loved in life find true life after she’s gone.

Great book!

Started slow, but quickly became intriguing. Really enjoyed this one! Wish there was a sequel.

Good story…but melancholy

For the most part, I liked this story. However, I feel potential readers need to know two things: 1) About 80% of this book seems to trend down. It just feels so melancholy. I have this habit of absorbing the mood of books I’m reading. During this read, I just felt very sad and kinda hopeless. It evens out, but before then, it gets tough to slog through. And 2) around about Chapter 16, the religion and preachiness gets laid on thick. That said, the story is well-told and keeps you engaged - if only to see if some hope emerges for the central women in the story.

Another good book from this author!

I really like this author and the presentation by the reader. I will look up more from the presenter.

An Enjoyable Story

This is an enjoyable story as it is rich in characters, but not too heavy of a plot. The narration is only a bit disappointing in that there is not too much voice distinction between the characters, especially the female characters ( all the nasal tone voices are somewhat of annoying). This would make a good audio book for a road trip.

Thought provoking story

Wonderful example of various perspectives, and beautiful redemption. Such an opportunity to learn from these women.

Highly recommend this book, but....

The story is wonderful. I highly recommend that people read this book. While I like Hillary Huber as a narrator there are to many characters for one narrator to do it justice. I found myself have to backtrack quit a bit to follow who was speaking. I am definitely going to enjoy this book again, but I am not sure if I will get a printed copy and read it or listen to it again. For me the story was very compelling. It contains important life lessons that bridge a generational gap. I also found all of the references from other literature very appealing. If you are looking for good read and can appreciate the homage paid to other great authors this is the book for you.