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20 Great Books Set in Bookstores
By: Angela & Melissa
Updated:
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, we may earn a referral fee from qualifying purchases.If you love reading books about bookstores, we have some must-read recommendations. They’re perfect whether you’re participating in our Book Lover’s Challenge or just looking for your next five-star read.
As we narrowed down the best books for this topic, we tried to find the titles that relied on the bookshop not only as a setting but as a main aspect of the storyline. Many of the highly-rated books we selected are set around the world if you’re up for some armchair travel, and we also included a wide variety of genres to help you find the perfect option for your reading preferences.
Novels About Bookstores
The Last Bookshop in London
Book Summary
In 1939, Grace and her best friend, Liv, move to London and live with Grace’s late mother’s best friend, Mrs. Weatherford, and her son, Colin. While Grace isn’t a reader, she ends up with a job at Primrose Hill Books and works hard to clean and organize the messy store in hopes of earning the recommendation letter she needs to get the job she really wants at Harrods.
A customer named George helps Grace discover the magic of reading, and she’s soon hooked. Unfortunately, in 1940, the Blitz began, and daily life changed for every Londoner. While Grace continues her time at the bookshop, she also becomes an ARP (Air Raid Precautions) warden and is known for reading books aloud in tube stations during air raids. Will Primrose Hill Books survive this difficult period?
The Book Girls Say…
This novel is inspired by the true World War II history of the few bookshops to survive the Blitz. It’s said to be a great look into the life of brave Londoners during this tragic period at at the impact of war on average citizens.
While there are sad topics in the book, reviews say they appreciate that it manages to still be a heartwarming read with a good amount of focus on the bookstore.
The Paris Bookshop for the Broken-Hearted
Book Summary
Coco is having the worst month of her life. She lost her boyfriend and business, and she and her teen daughter had to move back in with her parents in Paris. Now, a handsome stranger is yelling at her under the Eiffel Tower!
Later that day, Coco discovers an old bookshop run by the mysterious Valerie. The store includes a café, cocktail bar, reading room, and even a secret tunnel of books. The store is intended to be a haven for the broken-hearted. It feels like a dream when Coco is offered a job as a bookseller in this magical shop. But then, she realizes that the grump who yelled at her earlier in the day is one of her new co-workers.
The Book Girls Say…
Reviewers compare the level of romance in this book to that of authors like Abby Jimenez, who put a lot of focus on the characters finding themselves outside of the relationship.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
Alice Island bookstore owner A.J. Fikry is having a terrible year. His wife has died, the store isn’t making enough sales, and his beloved book of Poe poems has been stolen. As a result, he’s cranky and pushing those around him away more than ever. Luckily he has a few people that look past his curmudgeonly attitude.
His depression reaches the point that he no longer enjoys books. But, sometimes, life gives you second chances in unexpected ways. For A.J., it’s a small, but heavy, mysterious package that arrives at his shop. As he begins to see the world around him in a new way, those around him can see him in a new way, too.
The Book Girls Say…
This gem of a book is only 260 pages, so perfect if you’re short on time and still looking for an impactful read.
The Storied Life of AJ Fikry was also released as a movie. It would be fun to read with a friend and then watch together.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
Books with Characters In Their 30s
Books Set in the 2010s
Massachusetts Books: Novels Set in the Bay State
The Body in the Bookstore
Book Summary
Annie is hosting a mystery-themed book festival in hopes of reviving The Secret Bookcase store in the small town of Redwood Grove, California. All signs point to the event being a huge success before a body is discovered hidden behind the bookshelves. The victim is Annie’s old college acquaintance.
With the help of her friends and her old criminology professor-turned-detective, Annie must piece together the clues and determine which of the many suspects is to blame before it’s too late.
The Book Girls Say…
There are currently four books in this new series, and all are available with Kindle Unlimited as of 1/3/2025.
The Bookstore Cafe Mysteries by Alex Erickson would be another fun choice. The first books in the series is not as highly-rated, but the most recent releases have great reviews.
Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
Looking for an eerie mystery that’s perfect for book lovers? This highly-rated debut novel follows a bookshop employee named Lydia, who ends up investigating the suicide of one of her bookshop regulars.
As Lydia delves into his past, she also uncovers a buried memory from her own violent childhood. This twisty crime thriller with a very creative puzzle element that will keep readers guessing.
The Book Girls Say…
Colorado-based readers will recognize the Bright Ideas bookstore as The Tattered Cover. The author was a bookseller at this Denver book institution during the 1990s and used the store as his inspiration.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks
Book Summary
Maggie is in her late 20s and still floundering, trying to figure out what she should do with her life. Her best friend seems to have it all, including a husband, a bookstore, and soon, a new baby. Maggie comes to Bell River to take over the bookshop during Rochelle’s maternity leave. Though she’s not a reader, Rochelle is sure she can handle it.
However, Cobblestone Books has a co-owner who is less convinced of Maggie’s competence. The bookstore is connected to literary legend Edward Bell, and the co-owner insists that everything in the store remains authentic to Edward’s time. Only classics are sold, and the townspeople must leave town to buy contemporary books. But Maggie is NOT a rule-follower. Her good heart always leads the way, leading to all kinds of secret ideas to help improve profits at the store. Along the way, she finds some surprising allies.
The Book Girls Say…
If you enjoy charming contemporary fiction with a smaller side of romance, this is a great choice. It’s fun to have a main character who begins the book as someone who doesn’t read for pleasure at all but has a chance to discover the joy of books.
Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop
Book Summary
Yeongju should feel successful, but instead, she is drained. She has a successful career, a demanding marriage, and a busy social life, but she can’t stop thinking about her abandoned dream.
In a leap of faith, she leaves her old life behind – including quitting her job and divorcing her husband. Her new life revolves around her new business – the Hyunam-dong Bookshop. Long hours in the shop give Yeongju time to cry over her drastic life change and consider what makes a bookseller successful.
As she fully embraces her new life, she is surrounded by friends, writers, and the books that connect and heal them all.
The Book Girls Say…
Hwang Bo-Reum studied Computer Science and worked as a software engineer before she wrote her first full-length novel, Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, which has now sold over 150,000 copies in Korea.
The book was translated into English by Shanna Han.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
With Love from London
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
When Valentia was a teenager, her mother, Eloise, abandoned her and her father to start a new life in London. Now in her 30s, Val is a librarian and recently divorced. As she reevaluates her life, she realizes that the lack of closure with her mother is still nagging at her. But in a bittersweet twist of fate, Val learns that her mother has passed away before they’ve had a chance to reconcile.
Val is surprised to discover that Eloise left her a Primrose Hill apartment and the deed to a bookshop that Val never knew her mom owned. Determined to piece together a better understanding of Eloise’s life, Val decides to leave Seattle for a fresh start in London. It doesn’t take long for her to fall in love with the pastel-colored flat in a cozy neighborhood, not to mention the quaint bookstore. Unfortunately, she soon learns that The Book Garden is in financial trouble.
Told from a dual-timeline perspective, this book explores Valentia’s new life in London, as well as her mother’s past and what happened when she left her daughter behind.
The Book Girls Say…
Although the cover of this 2022 release says “sweet rom-com,” this is actually more of a feel-good story about mothers and daughters.
Sarah Jio also authored Goodnight June, another dual-timeline novel set in a Seattle bookstore. You’ll find that book on the recommendation list for a different prompt in the Book Lover’s Reading Challenge, but it would also make a good choice as a book about a bookstore.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris
Book Summary
With WWII war closing in on their city, Jacques’ wife is forced into hiding. Desperate to hold onto something, Jacques focuses all of his effort on saving his beloved bookshop. But when a woman and her child show up at his door one night begging for refuge, he can’t say no.
In present-day Paris, Juliette and her husband are supposed to be on a romantic getaway, but instead, she quickly discovers how far they’ve grown apart. When she comes across an abandoned bookshop with a for-sale sign in the window, she thinks it might just be the new adventure she’s craving. But the bookstore hides a lot more than meets the eye.
The Book Girls Say…
If you’ve already read this novel and are looking for another WW2 Historical Fiction set in Paris that includes a bookshop, try The Paris Daughter by Kristin Harmel.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
The Sentence
Book Summary
Tookie, a middle-aged Ojibwe woman, has recently been released from prison, where she was serving a sentence for her role in a body-snatching caper that resulted in her unwittingly transporting drugs. During her decade of incarceration, she read as much as possible to get through the days, and many of the novels and authors on her “Totally Biased List of Tookie’s Favorite Books” get shout-outs throughout The Sentence.
Tookie now has a job at a Minneapolis bookstore run by an eccentric author. The bookstore is haunted by the ghost of one of its former customers, and Tookie is determined to find out why. Set over the course of one year, Tookie and her bookstore co-workers must navigate the turbulent times in their city, including the murder of George Floyd, the subsequent protests, and the COVID pandemic.
The Book Girls Say…
Louise Erdrich is widely recognized as one of the most significant modern Native American novelists. Her mother is half Ojibwe and half French American, and Louise is an enrolled member of the Anishinaabe nation (also known as Chippewa).
Born in Minnesota and raised in North Dakota (where her parents taught at Bureau of Indian Affairs schools), Erdrich sets many of her novels in this region.
Like the author who owns the bookstore in this novel, Erdrich also runs a specialty bookshop in Minneapolis called Birchbark Books.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
Book Summary
Joy’s French husband has passed away, and she has no idea why he has left a valuable painting to a woman named Robyn on the western coast of Ireland. So, she decides to deliver the painting in person.
When she arrives in Ballycove, she finds that Robyn runs a chaotic and unprofitable bookshop and desperately needs assistance. Joy soon becomes entangled not only in the bookshop but also in the town. All the while, she’s still trying to discover the secrets behind her late husband’s painting.
The Book Girls Say…
While this book is not part of a series, if you’ve read other Faith Hogan books set in Ballycove, like The Ladies Midnight Swimming Club, you might recognize a few familiar faces.
Readers say this is a cozy, found family story despite having some heavier themes of grief.
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill
Book Summary
Nina Hill adores her life as an introvert. She was an only child, raised by a nanny, and finds comfort in life with a good book and her cat. She works at a bookshop, leads several book clubs in the store, and is devoted to her trivia league. Life is good.
Then, she finds out about her complicated family on her father’s side, the bookshop she works at has financial struggles, and she develops a crush on a trivia competitor.
Should she take the safe route and continue relying on her books, or is exploring her new family and potential relationship worth the risk?
The Book Girls Say…
We have both read this one and enjoyed it!
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
Books Like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Book Titles with The Life or Lives of…
An Irish Bookshop Murder
Book Summary
Mercy and her twin-sister Lizzie are the new proprietors of an antique bookshop in the tiny Irish village of Shamrock Cove. However, their new venture takes a dark turn when Mercy finds their neighbor dying on his doorstep. Worse, he accuses her of murder before he dies, and several people hear him!
She has to quickly investigate to try and clear her name. As she looks through the victim’s old books, she finds that the local pub landlord, the kindly cook, and a neighborly knitter all had a reason to want the man dead. But, when Mercy’s top suspect also dies and leaves behind a threatening note typed on paper from Mercy’s new bookstore, things get even more complicated.
The Book Girls Say…
The additional books in this cozy mystery series also follow bookish storylines.
Bloomsbury Girls
Book Girls’ Readers Rate This Book
Book Summary
Set in post-war London, Bloomsbury Girls focuses on an old-fashioned bookstore that has been run by men for a hundred years. However, by 1950, the world is changing in many ways.
Three of the shop girls, Vivien, Grace, and Evie, have their own big dreams that are intersected by fascinating interactions with famous literary figures. As they work in the shop, they plot out a future bigger than 1950 society generally allows.
The Book Girls Say…
This is a slow-paced, character-driven read. It’s a great one to cozy up and learn about three strong women in post-war London, but keep in mind it does not have a page-turning plot.
While this is listed as the second book in the Jane Austen Society, it does work as a stand-alone read.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
The Printed Letter Bookshop
Book Summary
Sometimes twists and turns of life make childhood dreams disappear. Madeline loved working in her aunt’s bookshop as a kid, but by the time she inherits it 20 years later, she’s up for partnership at her Chicago law firm, and her heart is hardened. She’s ready to sell.
Will the long-time bookshop employees and her experiences in the small town change her mind?
The Book Girls Say…
Melissa read this book and loved all the references to real books that are included throughout. The characters learn some life lessons through book quotes, so there’s no mistaking it as a book perfect for book lovers.
If you love Hallmark movies, this is an ideal book for you. It’s published as Christian fiction, but some readers wish this was a stronger element in the character’s lives.
Words in Deep Blue
Book Summary
Childhood friends Rachel & Henry grew apart when Rachel moved, and Henry didn’t respond to a confession of her love that she left behind for him in a book.
Now, Rachel has moved back and is struggling with the death of her sister. She gets a job at the bookshop owned by Henry’s family, and is closed off to him as she still feels rejected. What she didn’t know is that Henry’s life is also going through a rough patch – his girlfriend broke up with him, and the bookshop is slipping away as his family breaks apart.
But as Rachel & Henry work together, they begin exchanging letters through the pages of books in the store. Can they find new hope in each other?
The Book Girls Say…
While the main character is experiencing grief in the book, reviewers say they still ultimately put the book down feeling uplifted.
Words in Deep Blue won many awards, including the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Young Adult Fiction in 2017.
Read Between the Lines
Book Summary
This hate-to-love romance is perfect for fans of the classic 90s rom-com, You’ve Got Mail. Rosie loves books and has taken over her mom’s Manhattan bookstore. She loves her work but is lacking in the romance department. However, she’s hopeful that her growing online flirtations with lesbian romance author Brie could turn into something more.
Jane works for her family’s property development company by day, but at night writes steamy romance under the pen name Brie as her creative outlet. She’s also single and wonders if a certain reader could be her perfect match.
As you may have predicted, Jane’s company terminates the lease for Rosie’s bookstore, and drama ensues. This storyline is classic for a reason, and it works just as well with two strong female leads!
The Book Girls Say…
There is a second book in this series, No Rings Attached, starring Rosie’s best friend, Lia, who manages the bookstore. The two books are best read in order because of the overlapping character development.
Also Featured on These Book Lists:
Books Like Red, White and Royal Blue
Rom Com Books Set in New York
The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday
Book Summary
Jude is twenty-nine and just graduated, so she can finally be public about her relationship with philosophy professor, Mack. She’s looking forward to their upcoming dream holiday to run a tiny bookshop in the harbor village of Clove Lore.
Two weeks before the non-refundable trip, Jude sees Mack kissing someone else. Luckily, there’s no better place to heal a broken heart than a bookshop. Jude takes the trip and expects to have some peace alone at the store, but finds another vacationing shopkeeper, Elliot, who seems to be hiding something.
The Book Girls Say…
While this book is classified as a romance, some readers struggle with that aspect because they don’t find Jude to be overly likable. However, everyone seems to enjoy both the bookshop elements and the light mystery as you try to figure out Elliot’s past.
If the idea of trading in your life for two weeks to run a bookshop in coastal England is appealing, you’ll love this series! The fifth book, A New Chapter at the Borrow a Bookshop, has a publication date of 1/23/25, so if you’ve already read the first four books, you can pick up the new release for the challenge!
Non-Fiction Books About Bookshops
Book Summary
In this 273-page non-fiction read, you’ll armchair travel to visit independent bookstores and their proprietors on six different continents.
From a tiny shop on a bike to a bookshop on a boat, you’ll fall in love with the quirky stores and their owners. Throughout the pages, you’ll also find lovely bookish quotes, interviews, and trivia.
The Book Girls Say…
This book is sure to inspire some new travel destinations for your bucket list! About half the book is set in the UK, with the remainder highlighting shops around the world.
If you enjoy humor writing, the author also has another non-fiction title, Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops, that will make you laugh and roll your eyes at the funny things customers ask.
The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore
Book Summary
Starting with Benjamin Franklin’s first bookstore in Philadelphia, The Bookshop covers the history of American bookstores. From tiny independents to Barnes & Noble and Amazon, Evan Friss takes us on a journey through time and into the lives of booksellers.
While many of the stories are feel-good love letters to books and those who sell them, you’ll also find some segments on extremist shops like the Aryan Bookstore (yikes!).
The Book Girls Say…
We’ve noted the setting as “across the US,” matching the publisher’s description, but some reviews feel the book is too East Coast/NYC-centric, with important West Coast shops getting fewer mentions.
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