How to Find a Romance in a Bookshop
A Novel
Will be published approx. on 24. September 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
352 pages
978-0-06-346342-4 (ISBN)
Description
After a social media post gone wrong, a literary agent runs away to look after a seaside bookshop for the summer-and forms an unlikely friendship with a charming novelist struggling with his latest idea.
Petra doesn't like books anymore-not since her career as a literary agent imploded after a social media typo went viral. Now she is stuck for six months, babysitting a little bookshop by the sea-surrounded by books that just remind her of her failure.
Ross McCloud's award-winning debut novel blew the minds of the world's literati, but that was five years ago. Now Ross and his keenly awaited second work have vanished. Something has gone wrong-horribly wrong-and Ross doesn't want to talk about it.
Marooned in Capelthorne's Bookshop miles from London, Petra can't stop thinking about all the ways she has let people down. Then she discovers Ross lurking, incognito, in the second-hand books section. Misery loves company it seems, and a kinship tentatively forms.
In the meantime, the magic of the bookshop slowly begins to enchant Petra. Soon, her book recommendations assume legendary status; she is chairing the newly formed Beach Reads Book Club; leading a weekly writing group and hosting a series of popular talks and signings by local authors. She is even starting to read again.
Petra is also finding time to help her new best friend Jess-owner of a local telephone box library-to launch the inaugural Portneath Literary Festival. What better opportunity to put the Festival on the map-says Ross-than for Petra to unveil his second novel to the world there, before re-launching her career representing him at the Frankfurt book fair? What a comeback! But can Petra find the courage to help the man she loves?
Their love of books may be re-ignited, but is that enough to save them both from their own worst enemy-themselves?
Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Grumpy x Grumpy
Small-town romance
Slow burn
Petra doesn't like books anymore-not since her career as a literary agent imploded after a social media typo went viral. Now she is stuck for six months, babysitting a little bookshop by the sea-surrounded by books that just remind her of her failure.
Ross McCloud's award-winning debut novel blew the minds of the world's literati, but that was five years ago. Now Ross and his keenly awaited second work have vanished. Something has gone wrong-horribly wrong-and Ross doesn't want to talk about it.
Marooned in Capelthorne's Bookshop miles from London, Petra can't stop thinking about all the ways she has let people down. Then she discovers Ross lurking, incognito, in the second-hand books section. Misery loves company it seems, and a kinship tentatively forms.
In the meantime, the magic of the bookshop slowly begins to enchant Petra. Soon, her book recommendations assume legendary status; she is chairing the newly formed Beach Reads Book Club; leading a weekly writing group and hosting a series of popular talks and signings by local authors. She is even starting to read again.
Petra is also finding time to help her new best friend Jess-owner of a local telephone box library-to launch the inaugural Portneath Literary Festival. What better opportunity to put the Festival on the map-says Ross-than for Petra to unveil his second novel to the world there, before re-launching her career representing him at the Frankfurt book fair? What a comeback! But can Petra find the courage to help the man she loves?
Their love of books may be re-ignited, but is that enough to save them both from their own worst enemy-themselves?
Tropes:
Friends to lovers
Grumpy x Grumpy
Small-town romance
Slow burn
Reviews / Votes
"'I adored the Cornish setting - so real you can almost feel the dash of the sea spray - where Petra and Ross have each come to escape the mistakes of their pasts. An enchanting romance that explores the healing power of books and community, which is also sprinkled with insider insights into the publishing world." - Jo Leevers, bestselling author of Tell Me How This Ends"There's no comfier escape than a Poppy Alexander book, and How to Find a Romance in a Bookshop is perfection! If you've ever dreamed of running a gorgeous little bookshop in a picture-perfect UK village, this book is for you. Every tiny detail comes to life in a way that makes me feel truly bundled up and swept away. So, if you like chocolate biscuits, bookish flirting, reading in a window seat, farmer's markets, conversations by the fire, handsome Scottish authors and book clubs with cake, do yourself a favor and curl up with this absolute charmer!" - Kat Mackenzie, author of Work in Progress
"A wonderful tale of a bookish romance told in stunning prose and set by the sea in Devon. What more could one ask? Sublime!" - Amanda James, author of The Midnight Bookshop
"Delightful bookstore details, a family mystery that revolves around a witch trial, and a dash of enemies-to-lovers romance make for a breezy read." - Library Journal on The Battle of the Bookshops
"The Littlest Library by Poppy Alexander is a delight... If you're looking for a feel-good story this summer, with quirky characters, heart-tugging emotion, humor, and hope, all set in the lovely British countryside, give this one a try." - The Romance Dish
"A seaside-village, second-chance romance that tugs all the right heartstrings. I couldn't wait to see how our modern-day Romeo and Juliet would quiet their feuding families and find their happy ending." - Sue Moorcroft, bestselling author on The Battle of the Bookshops
"Author Poppy Alexander builds a picturesque village... Storybook Ending explores one woman's efforts to create her own future in spite of many detours." - Novels Alive
"Why did I wait so long to read this author? Poppy Alexander has a great sense of humor and it really came out in [STORYBOOK ENDING]... readers will find themselves smiling and giggling over and over." - Fresh Fiction
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers Inc
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 135 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
295 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-06-346342-4 (9780063463424)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
approx. 08/2026
HarperCollins
€12.93
Not yet available
Person
Poppy Alexander is the author of The Battle of the Bookshops, The Littlest Library, Storybook Ending, 25 Days 'Til Christmas and The 12 Days of Christmas She wrote her first book when she was five. There was a long gap in her writing career while she was at school, and after studying classical music at university, she decided the world of music was better off without her and took up journalism instead. She takes an anthropological interest in family, friends, and life in her West Sussex village (think The Archers crossed with Twin Peaks), where she lives with her husband, children, and various other pets.