That isn’t a typo with “Books”. I’m addicted to stories that involve books. Although I worked in libraries for over fifty years, I prefer books about bookstores, probably because I never worked in one, and don’t know what really goes on behind the scenes. Today’s list shows all the books I have on my TBR (To Be Read) piles or backed up on my Kindle. There are book jackets, short annotations, and, if the book is forthcoming, a release date. Feel free to ask questions, but I haven’t read these books yet, so I might not have answers. I just know my fingers itch to pick one up if it says “Books” in the title.
How to Find a Romance in a Bookshop by Poppy Alexander. A Slow Burn Romance about Books, Friendship, and Finding Love by the Sea. (Releases Aug. 18.)
The Bookbinder’s Secret by A.D. Bell. Every book tells a story. This one tells a secret. A young bookbinder begins a hunt for the truth when a confession hidden beneath the binding of a burned book reveals a story of forbidden love, lost fortune, and murder. (It was released in January.)
Bookshop Summer by Stephanie Butland. An intriguing, twisting and heart-warming novel set in a bookshop that has an unexpected impact on people’s lives. From the author of The Second Chance Book Club and Found in a Bookshop
When the Lost for Words bookshop in York hosts an event for a new reading project, four strangers’ lives will change in ways they could never have expected . . . (It was released in July)
Slightly out of order here –
The Book Swap by Tessa Bickers. “A lovely and lively tale of second chances, following one’s dreams, and books. Bickers deals with sensitive topics with a deft and delicate hand…” A story of second chances and new beginnings, this is a love letter to books—and a love letter to life. (Library book)
Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady. Rivalry and romance spark when two bookstore managers who are opposites in every way find themselves competing for the same promotion. (Library book)
On the Book Train to Paris by Norie Clarke. When a customer drops in and asks for help at his book festival on a train to Paris, it’s the chance of a petit escape. And when a book mysteriously appears in the shop that Fran inscribed to a lover in Paris years ago, it seems too serendipitous to ignore. Boarding the train with Carly and Elsa, Fran wonders if revisiting her past will help her move forward. (Kindle edition is .99 on Amazon. Paperback releases on Nov. 3.)
If Books Could Kill by Kate Eberle. A NOVEL LOVE STORY meets LOVE IN THE TIME OF SERIAL KILLERS in this rom-com following Roxie Mitchell, an adventure-loving romance reader who finds herself trapped in a meet-cute turned murderous. (It was released in July.)
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store by Laurie Gilmore. The viral TikTok cozy fall romance for fans of opposites attract and small-town romcoms. (Library book)
Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood. A heartbroken romance novelist is forced to address her writer’s block when the villainous cowboy character from her books shows up in the real world, desperately in need of his own Happily Ever After.. (It was released in June)
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Somewhere out beyond the edge of the universe there is a library that contains an infinite number of books, each one the story of another reality. One tells the story of your life as it is, along with another book for the other life you could have lived if you had made a different choice at any point in your life. While we all wonder how our lives might have been, what if you had the chance to go to the library and see for yourself? Would any of these other lives truly be better? (Library book. My selection for the August Book Tasting.)
The Library of Fates by Margot Harrison. When its librarian keeper mysteriously dies, two former classmates must race to locate a rare book from their college years that can foretell your future if you confess a secret from your past—but someone is intent on protecting what’s hidden inside. It can write the story of your future… and hide the secrets of your past. (Library book)
Book Club Boyfriend by Jenny Hollday. Their messiest chapter might actually be their best one yet. Blair Kellermoon—blond, bubbly, former rom-com star—has always worried no one would take her seriously as a producer. And with her latest film project stalled indefinitely, she’s starting to think desperate times call for desperate measures. Enter bestselling author Jack Branksome: beautiful writer, awful person. Yet somehow he and Blair have become unlikely text-friends, despite his very public refusal to participate in her celebrity book club. And he’s confessed he’s dealing with his own nightmare: the hotly anticipated novel he can’t seem to write. (Library book)
The Bookshop by the Bay by Pamela Kelley. “A wonderful multi-generational story about mothers, daughters, and friendship set in a quaint seaside town on Cape Cod. If you love talk of bookstores, delicious food and coffee shops, this one is for you!” —Rachel Hanna (Released in 2023)
The Boardwalk Bookshop by Susan Mallery. When fate brings three strangers to a charming space for lease on the California coast, the Boardwalk Bookshop is born. Part bookstore, part gift shop, part bakery, it’s a dream come true for Bree, Mikki and Ashley. But while their business is thriving, their personal lives are…not. (Released in 2022.)
The Friday Bookshop by Sawoko Natori. Yui Kajita (Translator) Welcome to the Friday Bookshop, a cozy little bookstore tucked inside a rustic train station north of Tokyo. Rumor has it, you’ll find the perfect book there—one that you need at that particular moment, even if you don’t know it yourself…. (I have a galley. Book releases on Nov. 3.)
Murder Unabridged: An Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery by P.J. Nelson. The Old Juniper Bookstore is the scene for an unexpected mystery when a late night visitor confesses to a long-ago unsolved murder, then turns up dead by morning. (I have a galley. Book released on Dec. 1.)
The Library Game by Gigi Pandian. Tempest Raj couldn’t be happier that the family business, Secret Staircase Construction, is finally getting the recognition it deserves. Known for enchanting architectural features like sliding bookshelves and secret passageways, the company is now taking on a dream project: transforming a home into a public library that celebrates history’s greatest fictional detectives. Though the work is far from done, Gray House Library’s new owner is eager to host a murder mystery dinner and literary themed escape room. But when a rehearsal ends with an actor murdered and the body vanishes, Tempest is witness to a seemingly impossible crime. (It was released in 2025.)
If Books Could Kill by Karen Rose Smith. (Yes, I know this is the second book on the list with the same title.) Town librarian Mathilda has a troublesome new employee, and after Jazzi spots the two of them arguing at the ice-sculpture festival, Mathilda asks Jazzi if she’d mind discussing her workplace woes over a cup of tea. During the visit, Jazzi also finds out about Mathilda’s top-secret stash of valuable first editions.Soon afterward, those rare books have vanished—and Mathilda is dead. (It was released in March.)
The Bookshop Below by Georgia Summers. Below the streets of London, a secret network of magical bookshops has existed for millennia. But they’re slowly disappearing, and no one knows why. Only one dishonored bookseller can uncover the truth and rewrite her story. (Library book)
The Haunted Librarian by Auralee Wallace. A lonely librarian finds love, friends, and a few ghosts between the shelves in this cozy, paranormal tale. (I have a galley. Release date is Oct. 6.)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. When Death has a story to tell, you listen. It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. (Library book. My Book Tasting choice for September.)
Over the last couple years, I’ve reviewed a number of titles about books, bookstores, and libraries. A number have been romances because authors seem to love bookstores as a setting. If you go back through the blog, you’ll see I love them as a setting, too. Those are my escape reading. I’m almost afraid to ask if you have suggestions to add. I hope you find a title or two to help you escape.
Wow, that is a lot of books. Clearly, the romance and cozy mystery genres love bookstore books, and why not? Those aren’t my fields in general, but I do love a bookstore book, fiction or otherwise. I read the Matt Haig recently and liked it.
Thank you, Jeff, for saying you enjoyed The Midnight Library since that’s my Book Tasting book for next Saturday. I need to get to that one.
That’s quite a list. I can add The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop by Takuya Asakura, and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa. I know I’ve read a couple of other Asian translations featuring bookshops but I can’t think of them right now.
Thank you, Sandy. I’ll have to look for those after I take a few back to the library.
I love his list – thank you for taking the time to put it together for us! i have read some of these, have a couple on my Kindle in is TBR room. I’m going to have to revisit The Midnight Library. It’s one I did not finish because I just didn’t like Nora. The concept intrigued me, and still does. I’m going to be interested in hearing what you think.
Oh, Kaye. I was overwhelmed with my own list! A few too many, but I’ll wait and see which ones call for me.
Thank you for this list. Several titles are on mu radar.
I read the Midnight Library and loved The Bookbinder’s Secret. Romantic Hero wasn’t for me.
Well, we’ll see what I think of The Midnight Library, Sharon.
What an excellent, fun, yet dangerous list of books Lesa!
I already own two of the books mentioned, already had another two on my own list, but I had to laugh at your comment ‘I hope you find a title or two to help you escape’, and I am here to tell you I found eight more titles to help me escape!
Although I’m not convinced how helpful it is to now have so many more books on my wish list, I do thank you for making my life better, if somewhat more complicated. Do you also offer speed reading lessons? You could make a fortune!
Oh, Lindy. You made me laugh. I’m not sure it did me good to find out how many I had. I think it¡s an addiction.
That’s funny you mentioned speed reading. I took it one semester in college, but tested out at 95th percentile before taking it. My college roommate begged me to take it with her since she read slowly. She was not happy with me.
I am very proud of myself for not adding any of these to my TBR list because my NetGalley shelf now has 18 books to be read (admittedly, some publishing in 2027), more than ever before, and I have so many more on my bookshelves at home and on Kindle. I did, however, look at every book on your list on NetGalley–some current and some previous–and every single one had four stars from readers. If I’d found one with five stars, I might have added it (s-o-o-o selective right now). I do want to mention How to Read a Book by Monica Wood, which I’m sure you have read, Lesa, and I can’t recommend it highly enough to those who have not.
I think I did read it, Margie. I’ll have to go back and check. I can see why you didn’t really want to add any more books to your list. It was a fun list.
Great idea for the post, I love a good theme!
Thank you, MM. I don’t usually have a good idea for a themed post.
Enjoyed your list, Lesa! Like Margie, I refused to add more to my TBR list right now! But I was tempted!
Oh, Mary. That’s funny.