Stunning Books About Bookstores (23 New Books)

This novel is being pitched as perfect for fans of Station Eleven and The Last of Us!

A searing YA debut follows two teen girls fighting for survival in an abandoned bookstore just weeks before another storm threatens to end the world.

Seventeen-year-old Liz Flannery has been living in an abandoned bookstore, trading books for supplies with survivors, ever since a devastating Storm hit.

When another catastrophic event looms, a newcomer, Maeve, breaks in seeking shelter. Despite her initial feelings, Liz realizes Maeve has the skills to help repair the store.

As the girls grow closer, they face not only the impending storm, but feelings for each other.

Release Date- 7 January 2025

Is it too early to discuss books that I can't wait to read for next year?

This time-slip novel promises readers a whimsical story about a trans man in New York that sounds like a moving premise for book club discussions.

Almost 30, laid off, and broke, Darby reluctantly moves back to his small town.

There, he walks into the bookstore he worked at in high school, and unexpectedly slips through time to come face-to-face with his pre-transition, teenage self.

Release Date- 14 January 2025

Related- Best Time Travel Books

Rachel and James are inseparable friends.

So, when Rachel falls in love with her married professor, Dr. Byrne, James helps her devise a plan to seduce him the only way they know how—by leveraging their roles at their local bookshop.

In an elaborate scheme, they convince the shop owner to host a book signing for his rather uninspiring academic work, and Rachel can't wait for the night to end when she can finally act on her feelings for the professor.

But, when she wanders into the back of the shop, she discovers who has caught his eye in the bookstore that night.

Told through Rachel's new adult lens, this coming-of-age story was one of my favorite books of this last year.

Related- Best Debuts of 2023

"It has been said that books find their own readers—but sometimes they need someone to show them the way."

In this heartwarming translated work, Carl's life centers around delivering books to his cherished customers.

But when he loses his job, a spirited nine-year-old girl and the transformative power of books inspire them all to find new courage.

This novel has been a huge hit with book lovers all over the world. If you are a fan of A Man Called Ove, this will be a perfect cozy escape.

This compelling debut has been a hit with so many of our readers.

The story follows Sara Lancaster, who returns home after eight years to care for her ill father and their family's used bookstore, but she discovers more than she bargained for.

Eight years earlier, her daughter, Alana, came into this world following a terrifying sexual assault that left deep emotional wounds.

Now, the twin brother of the man who assaulted her has returned to Savannah to piece together the fragments of his once-great family.

When their two worlds collide, they find they are drawn together unexpectedly.

Gabrielle Zevin became a massive commercial success with her novel Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, but this debut novel made me a fan years ago!

A.J. Fikry, mourning his wife and watching his seaside bookstore decline, isolates himself from his community and loses joy in books.

Everything changes when a mysterious package arrives, transforming his life and rekindling his love for the written word.

I could not put this down and did not want these beautiful characters' stories to end. It is a must-read for book lovers as it references many incredible books.

Struggling to find purpose in bustling London, Nina Redmond impulsively moves to the Scottish Highlands to start a mobile bookshop.

Surrounded by stunning landscapes and quirky locals, she discovers the magic of connecting readers with the perfect books while navigating a new romance that could change her life.

Violet Powell has been newly released from prison after serving time for a fatal drunk-driving crash.

She's not the only one encountering significant changes. Harriet navigates an empty nest, and Frank faces marital troubles.

But as these three cross paths, their encounters spark a new journey through the healing power of books.

This latest novel offers transformative second chances from the beloved author of One-In-A-Million-Boy.

Related- Books About Books

Related- Monica Wood Interview

Nina meticulously plans her day, from bookstore shifts to carefully measured reading hours.

But when she stumbles upon the bombshell revelation of multiple siblings stemming from her estranged father's affairs, her perfectly orchestrated existence spirals into delightful chaos.

Get ready for big revelations and new feelings for her archrival trivia night opponent!

Related- Books About Book Clubs

Cassie Andrews works in a New York City bookshop, shelving books, making coffee for customers, and living an unassuming, ordinary life.

Until the day one of her favorite customers—a lonely yet charming old man—dies right in front of her.

She always loved his stories, and now she has nothing to remember him by.

Nothing but the last book he was reading.  

But this is no ordinary book…Intrigued by its mysterious packaging, she soon discovers that each door within its pages leads her to a new world.

Related- Books About Parallel Universes or Multiverse

Related- Books About Alternate Realities or Parallel Lives

When we borrowed this book from the library, it was ILLUMINATING. The book cover glows in the dark!

Designed by Rodrigo Corral, this novel was chosen by BookPage as one of the 25 best book covers for 2012.

Clay Jannon, an unemployed web designer, stumbles upon Mr. Penumbra's peculiar bookstore that operates 24/7.

Exploring its mysterious shelves and odd clientele, he uncovers a centuries-old secret society.

If you fall in love with this world, check out the other book in Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore series- Ajax Penumbra 1969. It's a 65-page prequel to expand this story.

Related- This Book Cover Designer Reveals His Surprising Process

I fell in love with Legends and Lattes and have been saving this prequel for a day when I need something magical to escape my real life.

In this cozy fantasy, Viv's mercenary life is put on hold after a mission gone awry, leaving her to recuperate in the quiet town of Murk.

Unexpectedly finding refuge in a bookshop with its irreverent owner, this low-stakes fantasy delivers sweet adventures with characters that I can't wait to revisit.

Related- New Fall Books

Emily Allen, a librarian on Martha's Vineyard, is offered a job by her favorite author, Siobhan Riordan, to help her write the final book in her acclaimed series.

But she has to deal with Siobhan's son who manages a local bookstore and doesn't want Emily around.

When Siobhan's health takes a bad turn, Emily becomes their peacemaker.

Torn between helping Siobhan and her feelings for Kieran, Emily has to decide what happens in her next chapter.

For fans of The Seven Days in June, this story comes full circle when these characters make their way to a bookshop at a book signing for the two authors featured in that novel.

Ricki Wilde is the heir to the Wilde Funeral Dynasty but unexpectedly decides to go after her scrappy dream of opening a flower shop in Harlem.

But on an evening walk, she encounters a mysterious man in an unseasonably blooming garden, and her quiet life is changed in unusual ways as they navigate an instant connection.

I recommend this novel on audiobook, but readers should be aware there are a couple of spicy scenes in this one if you prefer a closed-door romance.

Related- Best Magical Realism Books

One year ago, Ellie Oliver lost her dream job in animation after a Christmas Eve romance turned sour.

Finding work at a local coffee shop, she's just getting through the days—until Andrew, the shop's landlord, proposes a shocking, drunken plan: a marriage of convenience that will give him his recent inheritance and alleviate her financial woes.

But, their holiday plans take a surprising turn when Ellie discovers that Andrew's sister's new fiancée is the very woman she fell for last Christmas after their magical meet-cute moment in a bookstore.

Nightingale Books is a cherished sanctuary in the heart of a quaint English town. Its shelves are curated with care by Julius, the beloved owner.

But when he passes away, his daughter Emilia must navigate the daunting task of preserving his legacy and keeping the bookshop afloat amidst financial struggles and looming developers.

As you might suspect from the title, love blossoms in the aisles in this sweet bookstore romance. So many of my bookish friends have ADORED this love story.

Emily Henry crafts a bookish romance where Nora and Charlie have an unexpected meet-cute moment in a bookshop.

Nora is a driven literary agent whose sister persuades her to spend the summer in a charming small town.

But, she didn't expect to run into her curmudgeonly editor, whom she'd been avoiding since their last awkward encounter.

As one might expect, these two catch feelings for each other, and Henry nails the chemistry on this sweet romance story.

The Emily Henry audiobooks, narrated by Julia Whelan, are always the best format- she adds something incredible to each novel.

Related- Julia Whelan Interview

In this surprisingly charming and darkly funny thriller, an obsessive bookstore manager crosses paths with an aspiring writer at his New York bookshop.

Their encounter sparks an intense, twisted romance, but Joe's fixation quickly becomes obsessive.

He uses his access to Beck's personal information to begin meticulously orchestrating events that become an indispensable part of her life, and thrilling shenanigans ensue.

Related- 30 Fictional Serial Killer Books to Read Now

Related- Caroline Kepnes Interview

In Natalie Jenner's evocative novel set in 1950s London, three women—Vivien, Grace, and Evie—forge new paths against the backdrop of Bloomsbury Books.

The author disclosed that the novel channels the charm of 84 Charing Cross Road with its plot, including bookish romantics, ambitious professionals, and literary icons—all navigating societal change in this fun bookshop setting.

Readers may be surprised to discover that Evie is a character from the author's first novel, The Jane Austen Society.

"All children mythologize their birth… Ask him to tell you about when he was born. What you get won't be the truth; it will be a story. And nothing is more telling than a story."

So begins Diane Setterfield's beautiful debut novel, which seamlessly interweaves two stories with some of the most beautiful writing I have read.

Margaret Lea has led a quiet little life, working in her father's bookshop and being proud of a few small autobiography write-ups that she has done.

But when a surprising letter comes from the world-famous and reclusive author Vida Winter, Margaret is shocked to discover that she has requested her presence at her home to write the untold story of her life.

The story is unlike anything ever told, and Margaret becomes enchanted with Vida's life and how, in many ways, it has reflected her own life story and who she is.

To say more will rob you of the reveals, but I can tell you that it nails the suspense with each shocking and creepy turn.

In Louise Erdrich's haunting and profound novel, a small independent bookstore becomes the unexpected stage for a year-long mystery and reckoning.

Tookie is an Ojibwe bookseller who found refuge in books after incarceration.

Unfortunately, her bookshop is haunted by Flora, the store's most irritating customer. She refuses to leave even after her death on All Souls' Day!

But, as she reckons with this ghostly presence, she also confronts the profound events that unfolded during 2020, including George Floyd's death, the political unrest, and the pandemic.

Daniel Sempere discovers a mysterious book in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books—a labyrinthine tale that holds surprising secrets from the past.

As he grows, he unravels a web of intrigue that binds his fate with the author and the dark forces seeking to destroy every trace of his work.

This book is the first novel in the Cemetery of Forgotten Books series.

Related- Best Coming-of-Age Books

I adored this heartfelt young adult story.

When Rachel returns to town, she's haunted by the unanswered love letter she left for Henry before her departure.

Now working at Henry's family-owned bookshop, the two reignite their old connection.

Among the pages of beloved books, Crowley crafts a mesmerizing tale celebrating the power of second chances that's perfect for book clubs. My book club loved this sweet YA romance story!

Related- Best Second Chance Romance Books

In this moving story, eighteen-year-old Amelia is healing after her best friend and book buddy, Jenna, devastatingly leaves this world.

Plans went awry before her death when their favorite author backed out of an appearance at a book festival.

So, when Jenna meets the author and Amelia does not, an inevitable rift occurs shortly before the tragedy.

But, as Amelia mourns this loss, a mysterious edition of the Chronicles arrives, seemingly sent by Jenna from beyond.

Pursuing its origins to a charming Michigan bookstore, Amelia discovers more than she anticipated- the elusive author N. E. Endsley and perhaps the closure and understanding she seeks about Jenna's final wishes!

Related- Books on Grief and Loss