The narrative fluctuates among three women who are lost and overwhelmed in the world, whether they realize it or not -- there's Madeleine, the high achieving young woman striving to become the next partner in her law firm; Janet, the divorced mom whose grown son sided with the father and keeps his distance from her; and Claire, the mom whose husband is often out of state for work and who is disconnected from her children, who opt for friends' homes over their distant mother.
The Printed Letter Bookshop is what brings these women together; it is a beloved location, but when Maddie, the newly deceased owner, fought sickness, the bookstore struggled, to the point where its continued presence in the community is in doubt.
At the center, our three protagonists have been given a book list from Maddie, each a curated list of titles that, when read, have a common theme demonstrating a way each woman can enhance and improve her life; "Maddie's books provided a trail, like breadcrumbs, leading me to who I want to be or maybe back to who I once set out to be..." Slowly, each character takes steps to change their lives for the better.
I have found Reay's work to be uneven - for example, I adored Dear Mr Knightley but found A Portrait of Emily Price lackluster. However, I was pleased with this title; it was a read that was a pleasant, light-hearted accompaniment for the close of this school year.
(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I've used Amazon Affiliate links here; should you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)
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