Hi lovely, I’m Aimée, a soulful copywriter who helps lovely brands grow a joyful and thriving business. Here, on my Substack, I share seasonal tales from my little corner of the Cotswolds. Come on in, take off your boots, and cosy up by the fire. I’ll pop the kettle on.
“Bookshops are dreams built of wood and paper. They are time travel and escape and knowledge and power. They are, simply put, the best of places.” – Jen Campbell
In another life, I would open a bookshop by the sea.
I see myself stacking the wooden shelves as Nancy, the grey bookshop cat, slinks around my legs. I’d flick through each title, inhaling its warm, familiar, papery scent. There would be fairy lights and cake. Ever so much cake. Readers would cosy up on squishy brown armchairs with a cup of tea and get lost in another world. Classical music would play throughout the day, Jazz in the evenings. Poets would come and give readings. There would be book signings and a cellar full of wine for the occasion. I would talk about Shakespeare to thespians and recommend books to the brokenhearted. I would organise a children’s book club on Saturday mornings, and dozens of little folk would pile in, all starry-eyed. I would stay on after closing time to read, the light from the bookshop spilling onto the cobbled street outside.
But this is this life. I do not own a bookshop. Instead, I am a connoisseur and champion of independent bookshops everywhere.
One of my New Year's Resolutions in 2023 was only to buy books from independent stores. It was a joyful resolution and one I’ve fervently stuck to ever since.
As it’s World Book Day today, it’s a fitting time to remember what magical and life-changing places bookshops really are. And despite what the cynics said, bookshops are alive and thriving.
In 2023, the number of independent bookshops hit a 10-year high with over 1,072 stores across the UK.
Even in the era of Amazon, e-readers and digital publications, convenience doesn’t replace experience. The knowledgeable and passionate spirit of booksellers is something that can’t be replicated or replaced despite the promise of discounted prices or next-day delivery.
Bookshops continue to be my happy place. They’re where I go to feel alright with the world. You probably feel the same too, dear reader. Bookshops are warm and familiar, no matter if you’re in Belfast or Belarus, Haiti or Helsinki. It’s like you’re stepping into a friend’s house, the titles whispering “welcome back.”
On that note, I am off to watch ‘You’ve Got Mail’ (the perfect bookish film), but I want to leave you with a few of my favourite local bookshops.
Aimée’s lovely list
Toppings & Company Booksellers - a proper bookshop with wooden bookshelves, climbing ladders, free hot drinks and an excellent rostra of events. Bath, Edinburgh, Ely.
Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights - you can just imagine Miss Honey from Matilda rummaging through the children’s bookshelves. A labyrinth of loveliness and home to the reading spa. Bath.
Persephone Books - publisher and bookseller of twentieth-century, out-of-print female writers. All books have elegant grey covers with beautiful period end papers. Bath.
Folde - perfectly placed with bucolic views of Gold Hill, this bookstore specialises in nature and place writing. They also host Shaftesbury Book Festival: Reading the Land. Dorset.
St Ives Bookseller - the perfect place to stock-pile your holiday reads. This family-run book nook offers the best in Cornish and local interest. Sister stores in Falmouth and Padstow.
Daunt Books - it’s a bibliophile’s mecca. With its original long oak galleries and airy skylights, this Edwardian bookshop champions travel writing. And you can’t leave without buying one of their iconic book bags. London.
Sherlock & Pages - a conservation bookshop that offers an inspiring mix of heritage and nature titles. They have a Wild Words book subscription that sends a new nature-inspired book to your door every month. Frome.
The Corsham Bookshop - a real local’s bookshop selling a beautiful range of books, cards, CDs. For being a small shop, they run an impressive programme of events with big-name authors.
Books, Paper, Scissors - an airy bookshop located in Belfast’s leafy university quarter. It’s a little haven that celebrates contemporary fiction and non-fiction, as well as the very best in Irish writing.
Bookshop.org offers all the ease and convenience of Amazon while supporting independent bookshops. You can order books directly from indie bookshops through Bookshop.org, which helps to support local without leaving the house. You don’t have to choose a specific store. Instead, you can opt for profits to be shared across bookshops.
Happy World Book Day 2024! I hope your day is full of wonderful characters and delicious plot twists. I’d love to hear down in the comments your own handpicked selection of independent bookshops.
Oh that’s lovely to hear, thank you!
Love this, Amy! I work part-time in an independent bookshop called The Cotswold Book Room, and I love it—two years on I’m still pinching myself.