Dear readers, one of the many things I love about library work is seeing the variety of books that this world has to offer. Truly there is something for everyone. One of my favorite tasks is sorting and putting away the cart of new books. (This has resulted in the extreme growth of my ‘want to read’ list). As of late, I cannot help but notice the variety and abundance of books where the setting or theme revolves around a bookstore. These stories come in pretty much every genre! Dear reader, I wish to share with you a few titles that have caught my eye regarding this theme. Perhaps, like me, some of these will end up on your ‘want to read’ list.

The Bookstore Diaries by Susan Mallery

Many of the bookstore related books I have seen lately have been romances. The Bookstore Diaries is no exception, though the plot really caught my eye! The bookstore featured is called The Painted Lady Bookstore and is located in a gorgeous Victorian mansion. The Painted Lady Bookstore is run by Jax, a bit of a control freak. Though, as of late, everything around Jax seems to be going out of control. Her ex recently became engaged to another person. Her sister, Ryleigh, is looking to move away in search of a husband. To try to dissuade Ryleigh from moving away Jax hired on a handsome contractor. However, the contractor seems to instead be interested in Jax!

An odd quirk of the town is that everyone with a diary keeps it in a special lockbox inside The Painted Lady bookstore. Jax’s life suddenly becomes very interesting when the numbers on the lockboxes are somehow erased. The only way to find the owner of each is to read the diary! Secrets and scandals come to light resulting in a delightful drama.

If you are in the mood for some juicy drama and romance, give The Bookstore Diaries a read!

Click HERE to request The Bookstore Diaries!

Death By Coffee by Alex Erickson

Another genre that makes good use of the bookstore setting is the genre of cozy mysteries. There are SO many cozy mystery series that involve a bookshop owner solving crimes. I have chosen to feature Death by Coffee, book one of the Bookstore Cafe series. The title caught my attention as I may have a coffee addiction.

The bookshop in this series is actually a bookshop cafe named Death By Coffee. This name is based on a book written by the main character’s (Krissy’s) father that also happens to be of the mystery genre. Krissy and her best friend Vicki are excited to open their new business, but on their very first day of being open a customer falls dead from a peanut allergy after drinking one of their coffees! How were there nuts in the coffee? Who could have stolen his emergency medication? To save their new business Krissy and Vicki must discover who wanted Brendon dead. In the course of the investigation it seems that none of the townsfolk seem sad to see Brendon gone. Who could have committed this dastardly crime?

Find out by checking out Death By Coffee!

With Love from London by Sarah Jio

With Love from London is a mystery of a different sort. Instead of being a gruesome murder mystery, this is a story of a daughter trying to uncover the secret life of her estranged mother.

When Valentina was a teenager her mother inexplicably abandoned her and her father and moved back to London. Now a librarian in her thirties, Val has received word that her mother has died and left her an apartment and bookstore (The Book Garden) in London. Val sees this as an opportunity to finally find closure over her mother’s abandonment. Arriving in London, Val falls in love with the apartment, the eccentric shop, and the cozy neighborhood. The only problem: The Book Garden is in danger of closing down. Feeling a connection to The Book Garden, Val rallies the staff to keep the doors from shutting forever. In working with this interesting crew, Val comes to learn much about her mother. As the bookstore is restored Val’s mothers story is slowly revealed bringing closure for her and us readers.

Discover the secrets by reading With Love from London!

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong

Personally I LOVE a good gothic horror, thriller, mystery, fantasy, romance. Ok, I just like to order my genres gothic if I can. The bookstore in this case features rare and hard to find tomes and is run by Ruby Vaughn, an American heiress who moved to Exeter after The Great War. Ruby has some history in this part of the world. History that she would rather not have to deal with ever again. However, Ruby is forced to deliver a box of books to a folk healer at the very place she swore she would never return to: Penryth Hall.

Penryth Hall is home to Ruby’s one time friend, Tasmyn and her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth. While there, Sir Edward is found dead in the orchard. People say that Sir Edward was killed by the curse of Penryth Hall. Ruby does not put stock in curses, but the people of Cornwall are a superstitious bunch. According the the curse, the next victim will be Ruby’s old friend, Tasmyn. To protect Tasmyn, Ruby must team up with Ruan Kivell, the folk healer, to discover what really happened in the orchard of Penryth Hall.

I am pretty excited about this one and have it added to my to read list!

Click HERE to request The Curse of Penryth Hall!

Disclaimer: I have not actually read any of the books on this list. These were some that have caught my eye lately and that I have added to my ‘want to read’ list. I hope that some of these suggestions spark interest in the rest of you as well. Happy reading!