Found in a Bookshop

By: Stephanie Butland

Narrated by: Imogen Church

Length: 12 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Dear Lost for Words,

We are trying to stay at home... I am enclosing a cheque and I hope that you will use it to send us some books. Please choose books that we might think are wonderful.

Rosemary

Loveday Cardew's beloved Lost for Words bookshop, along with the rest of York, has fallen quiet. At the very time when people most need books to widen their horizons, or escape from their fears, or enhance their lives, the doors are closed. Then the first letter comes.

Rosemary and George have been married for fifty years. Now their time is running out. They have decided to set out on their last journey together, without ever leaving the bench at the bottom of their garden in Whitby. All they need is someone who shares their love of books.

Suddenly it's clear to Loveday that she and her team can do something useful in a crisis. They can recommend books to help with the situations their customers find themselves in: fear, boredom, loneliness, the desire for laughter and escape.

And so it begins.

©2023 Stephanie Butland (P)2023 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

Critic reviews

"A delightful and original concept about how a second hand bookshop can heal a community." (Katie Fforde)

"What a lovely book - so assured and gentle, full of compassion and replete with astute observations of human nature and behaviour." (Carys Bray)

"Beautifully written and atmospheric." (Tracy Rees)

Loved it!

Wanted to keep listening long after my long commutes to and from work were done…

Charming, endearing novel!

This novel felt like a comfortable friend. Charming and wholesome, it gave my heart such healing. The performance/reading was perfect. Excellent purchase!

What a Lovely Book……

I did not expect to love listening to this audiobook so much! In fact I listened twice! So many different characters, different things happening! I could really see with my ears the settings and faces of the characters. The fact that one of my favorite narrators (Imogen Church) did the narration was a real plus!

1st book I've read about living through the pandemic

This is the 2nd book is a duology set in the Lost for Words Bookshop in York, England. The 1st book was set in 2016 and this one is set in 2020 and begins in the very first days of the Covid lock-down months. It is a delightfully written book full of both humor and pathos detailing how the shop adapted its day to day operations in order to survive the pandemic by filling "book prescriptions" based on what their customers said was ailing them - lonliness, lost love, their usual thrillers seeming inappropriate, etc. As a result, we readers also get a ton of book recommendations as a side benefit.

Lovejoy and her Mom continue to also help women in recovery from having been the victims of domestic violence. The interpersonal relationships of the book store employees come into play and Lovejoy passes on the comfort she received from the previous owner to a young girl who reminds her of herself.

52 Books 2024 Challenge
Prompt 15 - part of a duology

Best book I’ve read in a long time.

I loved everything about this book. The story is wonderful, heartwarming and uplifting. I also loved the narrator.

Nice look back

The first time I opened up this listen, I put it away. It was too soon. But now, I enjoyed it. Lovely stories and just very “real”.

Best book I’ve read in ages

This book was recommended by a dear friend. Best gift I’ve ever been given. I just wish the shop actually existed within walking distance.

Listen Today

I could listen to Imogen Church read all day long. Loved this sequel and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the familiar characters grow, and getting acquainted with new characters.

Heartwarming Pandemic Tale

This is a tender and heartwarming commingling of interconnecting stories that take place during the overwhelmingly frightening and disorienting early 2020 pandemic times.

A genuine pleasure to read (especially several years beyond those strange sad times)!

Bookshop help

This book is set right before, during, and after the COVID 19 pandemic. So…is it sad, yes. BUT it’s soooo fantastic! The characters are all wonderful amazing people the need some book therapy during the lockdown. The Lost for Words Bookshop helps them find what they need.