Behind the Shelves
There are a lot of books out there, and sometimes choosing your next read can be the hardest part. We are pretty passionate about finding the books that stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page. The team reads widely, from gripping mysteries to thought-provoking non-fiction. Here you’ll find our honest review - books we’ve loved, books that surprised us, and the ones we simply couldn’t put down. So grab a cuppa, settle in, and let us help you find your next great read.

How Books Quietly Mess With Your Mind
Can reading change the way we see the world? Absolutely. It can also make us suspicious of everyone after a good psychological thriller and convince us we could survive in the wilderness with nothing...
Where every delivery is a surprise party!
There is no greater feeling than the familiar rumble of the courier truck outside the shop. Suddenly the day gets a whole lot more exciting. Box after box...
How to Choose a Thriller Without Scaring the Daylights Out of Yourself
I love a good thriller and it’s no secret that it has to be the ‘gritty’ kind. The kind that keeps me turning pages long after I should...
Playing Literary Matchmaker
Finding the perfect book for a friend can feel a little like matchmaking. Get it right and they'll be talking about it for years. Get it wrong and...
It’s right there. No, a little to the left!
If you’ve ever worked in retail, you’ll know this scene well. A customer walks up to the counter and asks where a particular stock item is, only for...
Reading Without Sitting Still
For many people, getting back into reading as we get older can feel almost impossible. Sitting still with a book and a cup of coffee for an hour...
When The Shelves Start Wobbling
Ever had that strange moment in a shop where the room feels slightly off balance? Not quite seasick, not quite faint - just a bit wobbly. You’re not...
Why We Need Third Spaces
Most of us spend our lives moving between two places: home and work. Home is where the washing piles up, the dog needs feeding, and there always seems...
Colouring in is Cheaper than Therapy
In a world obsessed with speed, productivity and endless scrolling, many of us are craving the opposite. Slow hobbies - puzzles, reading, colouring, knitting and journalling - are...
Just One More Chapter Please!
There’s a quiet kind of magic in a bookshop. Every day, people wander through the doors searching for something - escape, comfort, understanding, inspiration, or simply a way...
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New writing from behind the shelves, reading recommendations and a little of the Mackenzie light.