The Printed Letter Bookshop follows three characters whose stories intersect at the book’s eponymous store.
Bookish novels that pay homage to literary classics remain a popular go-to for readers of all genres. Katherine Reay is best known for penning contemporary tales that celebrate iconic characters and timeless themes from the works of Jane Austen, Emily Brontë, and James Joyce. In The Printed Letter Bookshop (Thomas Nelson), she brings readers a new story that explores the role of not just books, but book stores in shaping our lives.
Says Reay:
Bookish books not only celebrate our love affair with the written word, they have carved out a special niche in the world of literature today. They open their doors to us and present exciting and fresh stories in a language we understand at a heart level—as the best in literature always does.
The Printed Letter Bookshop follows three characters whose stories—told in alternating points of view—intersect at the book’s eponymous store. First there is Madeline Cullen, whose happiest childhood memories are 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.
Second we meet Janet, a shop employee who is reeling from a recent divorce and finds sanctuary within the books and the decadent window displays she creates. Third is Claire, also an employee who, 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.
While Madeline intends to sell the shop as quickly as possible, the Printed Letter’s two employees have other ideas. Then, 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?
Readers will find Madeline, Claire, and Janet at a crossroads, where they must learn to work out life, love, and friendship within their little shop and with each other—guided by the books they read. I hope readers will revisit literature loves that once touched their lives and also discover new intriguing stories that will help guide their future.
Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author of several novels, including Dear Mr. Knightley and 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.