13/08/2026
In yesterday's post we mentioned our top reads of 2026 so far so here is a review of one of the books from Prue's top five: Receipts from the Bookshop – Katie Clapham.
You don’t have to be a bookseller, to absolutely adore this account of a bookseller’s year. In saying that, all the booksellers in this shop loved it. I just smiled the whole way through!
The author is a well-known member of the book industry in the UK, both as an author and bookseller and this is a work that describes her whole year working with her mother (Business Mum, who is often on holiday) in their little seaside bookshop. The story chronicles both the highs and lows of the bookshop business with lots of gorgeous anecdotes of customer reactions and comments – so many of which we have heard before! Some favourites:
In the bookshop, to me, a bookseller:
“You don’t sell elastic, do you?”
“This is honestly the most perfect shop for me:”
(Leaves without purchase.)
“I love bookshops. I’d have a bookshop if I was rich”
Ah, but then you wouldn’t be.
Just a sheer joy to read and reminds me why I wanted to be a bookseller 😊
