Of Literature and Lattes

Written by Katherine Reay

Narrated by Laura Kirman

Return 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 and 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.

• Sweet and thoughtful contemporary read
• Stand-alone novel featuring characters from The Printed Letter Bookshop
• Book length: 86,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

“In her ode to small towns and second chances, Katherine Reay writes with affection and insight about the finer things in life.” —Karen Dukess, author of The Last Book Party

“The town of Winsome reminds me of Jan Karon's Mitford, with its endearing characters, complex lives, and surprises where you don't expect them. Reay has penned another poignant tale set in Winsome, Illinois, weaving truth, forgiveness, and beauty into a touching, multilayered, yet totally cozy story. You'll root for these characters and will be sad to leave this charming town.”—Lauren K. Denton, bestselling author of The Hideaway and Glory Road

“Like all of Reay’s novels, Of Literature and Lattes delivers a story with details so vivid you can feel the fabric slipping between your fingers, characters so rich they could slide into the booth across from you, and a message so hopeful and redemptive it will linger in your mind long after you turn the final page. Of Literature and Lattes brings the town of Winsome alive again, and I couldn’t wait to return and savor a story of forgiveness, of fresh starts, of literary delights, and of love.” —Melissa Ferguson, author of The Dating Charade

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: May 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9780785222064

Katherine Reay

Katherine Reay is a national bestselling and award-winning author who has enjoyed a lifelong affair with books. She publishes both fiction and nonfiction, holds a BA and MS from Northwestern University, and currently lives outside Chicago, Illinois, with her husband and three children. You can meet her at katherinereay.com; Facebook: @KatherineReayBooks; Twitter: @katherine_reay; Instagram: @katherinereay.

Reviews for Of Literature and Lattes

[Mesuur Iorkighir · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved the book. The synopsis was wrong for some reason. Which made me really confused when I was reading, but it was a good book.

[sue · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I loved The London House and The Printed Letter Book Shop. Am still listening to this one but so far I don’t love it. In part, the reader seems all wrong. I don’t know why the narration is in a strong British accent when the dialogue is not and the setting isn the midwest. For me, it gets in the way and is irritating.

[erinayin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Here is a summary of what the book is about. 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 and 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.I thought this a cute and sweet story. There are some twists and turns in it. I thought it was written well. I’m looking forward to reading more books from this author. Happy Reading Everyone!

[robbyefaye · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Daughters and mothers. . .enemies, or allies? Of course, it depends on the people, and Katherine Reay has touched the very heart of the acerbic relationship between a mother and daughter with her characterization exemplified by the connections between Janet and her daughter, Alyssa, and Janet and her mother.Alyssa Harrison never wanted to return to Winsome, Illinois. However, circumstances and life conspired heavily against her. Now, she not only feels like a loser but must face her mother, too.Reay pulls you into the story of a prodigal daughter, her parents and the community of Winsome from page one and never lets you go. Of Literature and Lattes is written from multiple points of view. I enjoy this, on one hand, because you get to know the people and their thoughts better. However, on the other hand, it can sometimes be confusing. I think more so because, even though Of Literature and Lattes works as a standalone, it is a sequel, and I may have understood the people better had I read the first book, too.Lest you think the book is only about parental relationships, it is not. It is about relationships of all kinds; the good and the not so good. The novel is serious, thoughtful and at times bleak and desolate. The Biblical themes, though minimal, are weighty and on point. Through it all runs a thread of optimism and the promise of hope.I received this book from NetGalley. However, I was under no obligation to write a review.# Of Literature and Lattes #NetGalley

[fredreeca · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Alyssa Harrison has come home with her tail between her legs. She has no job, no money and believe it or not, with only the clothes on her back. This is NOT what she had planned at this point in her life.Jeremy has come to Winsome to open a coffee shop and be nearer to his daughter. However, the coffee shop has not turned out as well as he expected. Plus, there is a twist where his daughter is concerned.There is a good deal of friction in this novel and BOY, this really keeps you reading and rooting for these special characters. Alyssa’s situation is unique and involves the FBI. Jeremy gets arrested and it goes viral on Instagram. And the twists just keep coming!What a sweet, enjoyable read. As most of you know…I am not a huge fan of Christian Fiction. I find it overly dramatic and pushy. I had no idea this was Christian Fiction till I finished this book. It has flawed characters, romance and life circumstances. I did not feel any judgement or preaching…it was just and all around good, wholesome read! Plus, throw in some literature references and I am HOOKED. I have never read this author before, but I have already added her books to my tumbling TBR list!If you need a quick, compelling read for vacation, THIS IS IT!I received this novel from SparkPoint Studios for a honest review.

[arthistorychick · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Of Literature and Lattes by Katherine ReaySource: NetGalley and Thomas NelsonRating: 4½/5 starsI have to say clearly from the beginning, I don’t understand the Goodreads rating for this book at all ☹ This book is far better than its rating, in my humble opinion. Here we go . . . .Going home is hard to do; going home with your tail firmly tucked between your legs is damn-near impossible. When you add total humiliation, the possibility of jailtime thanks to the shady company you worked for, a complete lack of funds, and an estrangement from your mother whose house you need to return to, well, going home is most certainly a level of Hell. After a very, very long drive, being robbed, and generally dreading her reception, Alyssa Harrison is now firmly ensconced in her own personal level of Hell. Alyssa has no intention of staying in her hometown for more than the summer, she has no intention of making nice with her mother, and she has no intention of going to jail. As the old saying goes, we plan, and God laughs! The first bit of laughter comes when Alyssa is forced, by her dad, to return to her childhood home where her mother still lives; the second bit of laughter comes when Alyssa’s car breaks down and she is forced to work off the repairs at the local service station, and yet another bit of laughter comes when Alyssa realizes the FBI has interviewed everyone but her and they have yet to reach out regarding her old company. To add insult to injury, as the days move forward, there’s a load more laughter coming Alyssa’s way before she finally gets her sh*t together. One of the ways in which Alyssa finally begins to pull her life together is helping her friends with their accounting. One of Alyssa’s greatest strengths is her ability to see and understand numbers in a way many others cannot. To that end, her best friend not only hits her with a harsh dose of reality but employs her to review her restaurant’s numbers and see how and where they can improve their overall spending and saving. What’s more, Alyssa’s best friend also encourages her to do the same thing for the new local coffee shop owner, Jeremy Mitchell, whose grand new coffee shop is failing miserably, and he has no idea why. Alyssa’s time at home is an awakening on so many levels. Though she spends a great deal of her initial weeks at home fighting everything and everyone, Alyssa has a scary moment of reality when she lands herself in the hospital. From that moment on, Alyssa truly begins to reassess her life, her position in other’s lives, and how she has behaved and contributed to her own situation. Once Alyssa makes the decision to right the wrongs of the past, her future suddenly becomes far more realistic and potentially very happy. The Bottom Line: I reiterate, I feel like this book is far better than its star rating on Goodreads. I read this book cover to cover in a single sitting and regret nothing. While I have focused my review exclusively on Alyssa, this book is also the story of coffee shop owner Jeremy Mitchell and I found his story to be just as appealing and interesting as Alyssa’s. When their stories begin to cross over, the story becomes even more interesting and well-rounded. Make no mistake, this isn’t a silly or frivolous story, but the story of two very broken people trying to make sense of their lives and put all the wrongs to right. When you add in the minor characters, there’s a depth to this story that I really appreciated. In all, a fine read that is worth more than its rating suggests.