First published 2026
Katie Clapham runs a small independent bookstore with her mother in the English seaside town of Lytham St Annes. She chronicles twelve months of daily life behind the counter, capturing both the joys and challenges of independent bookselling. Her observations span the full calendar year, from quiet January days to the busy December rush. The narrative includes encounters with devoted regulars and difficult customers, the excitement of unpacking new shipments, and the endless battle against cardboard boxes. Clapham records visits from curious dogs, young children, and people seeking restaurant recommendations. Julia Quinn calls the original Substack "delightful" while India Knight describes it as "absolute heaven." The book celebrates small town life, family businesses, literary conversations, and the simple pleasures of tea and midmorning treats. This insider account reveals what really happens in an independent bookshop across the changing seasons.
Genres: essays, contemporary, memoir, non-fiction, books-about-books
Vibes: charming, cozy, heartwarming, intimate, observational, reflective
Tropes: community-focus, found-family, slice-of-life-narrative
Setting: Lytham St Annes, English Seaside Town
Period: Contemporary, One Calendar Year
304 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow