Name: Of Literature and Lattes
ISBN: 9780785222040

Katherine Reay

In the small town of Winsome, Illinois, two people discover the confusing, complex, and beautiful nature of friendship.

Of Literature and Lattes

Heather Wood

I've voraciously read everything that Katherine Reay has written, because I'm drawn to the very realistic struggles of her very realistic characters, the philosophy thrown in that gives depth to every book, the fact that many of them are set in and around Chicago, and because she uses references to great literature to make her points. So it was a dream to get a NetGalley advance copy of Of Literature and Lattes to read in exchange for my honest review.

Although Of Literature and Lattes can be a standalone, it works best as the sequel to The Printed Letter Bookshop, as it continues the story of some of the characters and is set in the same fictional suburb of Chicago. While I enjoyed all the above favorite themes in this book, I do not recommend it for someone's first Katherine Reay book. It includes everything above that I have come to expect from her, but the sheer number of characters in this book made it difficult to dig in and really relate to any one character deeply. Here, we follow the journeys of about ten locals who work around the town square of idyllic Winsome.

Although this book was split so many ways, I didn't feel confused by it. We were able to get a good feel for each character's struggles and victories and didn't have to flip back and forth to remember where we were. It helps to read PLB first, for some of the characters to be further entrenched in your mind, although about half of them are new. The POV does switch mid-scene, sometimes from person to person to person, but if you're paying attention, you should be alright. And because of the volume of POVs, there is something for everyone here, and everyone can find a struggle they relate to.

Still, there are the cons, primarily the loose ends that make you wonder if another book is coming down the pipe. We wish the female MC came to her senses sooner, or at least was a little more lovable so we'd be more inclined to root for her as much as we root for Jeremy. We wish that we were given a little more of an insiders perspective of their love story, since while they do fall in love in front of us, most of the attention is given to their separate story lines. And I personally wish the faith message was stronger, primarily when Janet is talking to her daughter and walking her through her regrets and disappointment in herself. It would have been an awesome opportunity to talk about God's redeeming grace.

Cecilia Spencer 

Katherine Reay returns to the cozy and delightful town of Winsome where two people discover the grace of letting go and the joy found in unexpected change. After fleeing her hometown three years earlier, Alyssa Harrison never planned to return. Then the Silicon Valley start-up she worked for collapsed and turned her world upside down. She is broke, under FBI investigation, and without a place to go. Having exhausted every option, she comes home to Winsome, Illinois, to regroup then move on as quickly as possible. Yet, as friends and family welcome her back, Alyssa begins to see a place for herself in this small Midwestern community. Jeremy Mitchell moved from Seattle to Winsome to be near his daughter and to open the coffee shop he’s been dreaming of for years. Problem is, the business is bleeding money—and he’s not quite sure why. When he meets Alyssa, he senses an immediate connection, but what he needs most is someone to help him save his floundering business. After asking for her help, he wonders if something might grow between them—but forces beyond their control soon complicate their already complex lives, and the future they both hoped for is not at all what they anticipated. With the help of Winsome’s small-town charm and quirky residents, Alyssa and Jeremy discover the beauty and romance of second chances.

Of Literature and Lattes

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