For this installment of our weekly book reviews from Booklist, the American Library Association’s nationally distributed book and media review publication, we have Diana Platt’s review of “Receipts from the Bookshop: A Bookseller’s Year in an English Seaside Town” by Katie Clapham, first published August 11, 2026, in Booklist Online.
Enjoy.
“Receipts from the Bookshop: A Bookseller’s Year in an English Seaside Town”
By Katie Clapham. Sept. 2026. 304p. Morrow.
Author and bookseller Clapham shares stories, overheard tidbits, and scenes from daily life accumulated during a year in her bookshop, Storytellers, Inc. She relates the drama of being the least popular employee at her own store (the only other employee is her mother, lovingly referred to as “bookshop mom”), the joy of helping someone find just the right book, and the despair of constantly being out of milk for tea. Clapham presents a lovely tribute to independent bookstores the world over. Readers will particularly enjoy the comments from passers-by, like “Must be a new bookshop” on the store’s 14th anniversary, and little stories like that of the couple who ordered each other books for Christmas then showed up together to pick them up. Each anecdote is short and speeds the reader along, making this perfect for the reader who only has a few minutes at a time. Perfect for lovers of independent bookstores and those who enjoyed Alba Donati’s “Diary of a Tuscan Bookshop” (2023) or other bookstore memoirs.— Diana Platt
About Booklist
Since 1905, Booklist has published thousands of book and audiobook reviews each year, helping library and education workers decide what to buy and how to guide patrons and students of all ages in choosing what to read, view, or listen to.
We’re proud to share these reviews with you each week. If you’d like to read more—along with must-read lists, author interviews, and top reading recommendations for adults, youth, and audiobook lovers—you can enjoy a free subscription to Booklist Reader, Booklist’s magazine for library patrons, as a benefit of becoming a Supporter of the American Library Association. What could be better?
How you can support libraries
With library funding being gutted and censorship on the rise, supporting libraries is more critical than ever. If you’re looking for a way to help, we urge you to become a Supporter of the American Library Association by donating.
At the American Library Association, we are here to protect libraries — today and for generations to come. What does your donation do? It helps a neighbor gain skills to start a business. It helps a child discover themselves through books and programs. And it helps keep libraries strong, open, and free for everyone.
Become a Supporter
Subscribe to the I Love Libraries newsletter! You’ll get news from the library world, advocacy updates, author interviews, book lists, and more delivered to your inbox every month.
