In May 2019, Katherine Reay’s novel The Printed Letter Bookshop was published. Her new book, Of Literature and Lattes can be read on its own but will be enjoyed most by those who have read The Printed Letter. The setting in Of Literature and Latte is the same town as in the prior book and readers catch up with the lives of some of the characters from that book as well. However, the novel also has its own plot and some new characters.
In this book Alyssa has left a job with a company that seems to be based on Theranos and that similarly explodes for her. With nowhere to go and under investigation, she returns to the town where her parents (characters in The Printed Letter) live. Alyssa has to figure out what to do with her life and with her unhappiness.
Jeremy has come to Winsome to run the kind of coffee shop that many of us dream of, one that values community and great beans that make great drinks. However, the shop is struggling as is Jeremy. One ray of brightness is his daughter but his daughter’s mother is threatening to leave town.
Janet, from the prior novel. is trying to have a life in which she has stronger relationships with Alyssa and Seth, the man she first married, and is again seeing. It is complicated.
The stories of these characters come to life and I think that readers will care about them. I did not find Of Literature and Latte to be as strong a novel as The Printed Letter but I am pretty confident that this author’s many fans will be eager to engage with this title.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review. By the way, I love the cover.
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 