3.71 AVERAGE

hapeedaisy's profile picture

hapeedaisy's review

4.0

I quite enjoyed this book. It had been sitting on my tbr bookcase for a few years when I recently decided I needed to make space, by reading my way through it's loaded shelves. Being a secondhand bookseller myself, I discovered much, and giggled often. For me, it was so relatable that I jumped online and ordered book #2, before I had even finished.
This book has inspired me to overhaul my online only bookstore, and 'freshen-up' my approach to my own style of bookdeslership.

amandasbookclub's review

4.0

A welcome insight into book selling. Written well; Bythell captures the characters around him with a sense of grace and comedy.

this is the year of dnfing books so i will probs pick it up later
funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Laugh out loud funny and strangely cathartic 

laouwra's review

3.0
informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Lightly entertaining throughout though not particularly compelling. I wish they hadn't included the epilogue.
purplepandemic7's profile picture

purplepandemic7's review

4.5
funny lighthearted medium-paced

chelledip's review


DNF at 28% - Returned back to the library.

It was a good read, even tho it didn't fully meet my expectations. Will read "Confessions of a Bookseller" anyways

abbennsky's review

4.0
funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

haklh's review

4.0

Despite an apparently cranky reputation, Shaun Bythell has written a diary / memoir that is warm and full of humanity. An entertaining mix of small-town life with quirkly locals, strange or irritating customers, Scottish scenery, as well as interesting insights into the book trade. (Though I couldn't help but feel slightly attacked by his apparent antipathy towards librarians). I envisage this as a bookish variant of Hamish MacBeth, and can imagine that it will become very popular as a tv drama (apparently in the works).