14 Romance Books About Bookshop Owners
There’s something undeniably romantic about a bookshop—the scent of old pages, the promise of untold stories, and the quiet intimacy of a place where words hold power. When love unfolds between the shelves, it carries the warmth of whispered conversations and the charm of secondhand poetry. Whether it’s a brooding bookseller, an ambitious entrepreneur reviving a forgotten shop, or two lovers finding each other between dog-eared pages, bookshop romances are a dream come true for bibliophiles.
If you love the idea of bookish love stories, here are 14 romance books about bookshop owners that will steal your heart one chapter at a time.
1. The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
📖 A Literary Apothecary and a Journey of the Heart
Jean Perdu is no ordinary bookseller—he’s a “literary apothecary,” prescribing books to heal broken hearts. But his own heart remains haunted by lost love. When he embarks on a journey down the Seine, guided by books and fate, he discovers that love stories—like books—sometimes deserve a second chance.
📚 Read if you love: Soul-searching journeys, French charm, and poetic storytelling.
2. The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
🚚 A Mobile Bookshop and a Fresh Start
Nina, a shy librarian, loses her job but refuses to lose her passion for books. So, she buys a van and turns it into a traveling bookshop, bringing stories to rural Scotland. What she doesn’t expect is to find love in the rolling hills and among the people who welcome her into their world.
📚 Read if you love: Cozy small-town romances, bookish heroines, and Scottish landscapes.
3. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
📦 A Grumpy Bookseller and an Unexpected Gift
A.J. Fikry, a widowed bookstore owner, has given up on life—until a mysterious package arrives at his shop. As he reluctantly opens his heart to love and community again, his story becomes one of second chances and the unexpected ways books shape our lives.
📚 Read if you love: Heartfelt, character-driven stories and grumpy/sunshine romances.
4. Meet Me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson
📕 A Secret Manuscript and a Mysterious Editor
Savannah works at a highbrow publishing house that looks down on romance novels. But she secretly writes one herself—and when she hides her manuscript in a hidden nook, someone starts leaving her handwritten critiques. Could her anonymous editor be her perfect match?
📚 Read if you love: Office romance, secret admirers, and a love letter to romance books.
5. The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan
🏡 A Nanny, a Bookshop, and a Highland Romance
Struggling single mother Zoe takes a job as a live-in nanny in the Scottish Highlands, while also helping out in a quirky bookshop. As she navigates her new life, she finds love blooming in unexpected places—both in the books she sells and in the arms of a brooding bookseller.
📚 Read if you love: Slow-burn romance, picturesque settings, and found families.
6. How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry
📚 A Bookstore at the Heart of a Community
After her father’s death, Emilia returns home to run his beloved bookshop, only to realize it’s on the brink of financial ruin. As she fights to save it, the shop becomes the backdrop for multiple love stories—her own included.
📚 Read if you love: Warm, multi-generational romances and bookshops that bring people together.
7. The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs
📦 A Woman Rebuilding Her Life Through Books
Natalie inherits her family’s bookshop after a tragedy and must decide whether to hold onto the past or forge a new future. With the help of an intriguing handyman and a mystery hidden in the store’s old shelves, she begins to piece together her own love story.
📚 Read if you love: Heartwarming, emotional reads with a touch of mystery.
8. Much Ado About You by Samantha Young
🇬🇧 An American in England and a Bookshop Romance
Evangeline impulsively moves to a small English village to run a charming bookstore. She plans to focus on herself—but the town’s rugged, book-loving farmer has other ideas.
📚 Read if you love: Small-town charm, English countryside settings, and bookish romance.
9. The Last Bookshop in London by Madeline Martin
📜 A Wartime Love Story Between the Pages
During WWII, Grace finds a job at a dusty old bookshop, never expecting it to become her refuge as bombs fall around London. Through books, she finds courage, purpose—and perhaps even love.
📚 Read if you love: Historical romance, strong heroines, and bookshops as sanctuaries.
10. Book Lovers by Emily Henry
📚 A Literary Agent and a Bookstore Owner’s Sparring Romance
High-strung literary agent Nora takes a trip to a small town with her sister, only to run into her professional nemesis—Charlie, a grumpy book editor turned bookstore owner. As they keep crossing paths, their fiery banter turns into something neither expected.
📚 Read if you love: Sharp dialogue, enemies-to-lovers romance, and book industry drama.
11. The Little Bookshop of Love Stories by Jaimie Admans
📖 A Lottery Win, a Bookstore, and a Chance at Love
Hallie unexpectedly inherits a tiny bookshop and decides to make it her dream job. But running a business is harder than she expected—until she finds old love letters hidden in the books and embarks on a mission to reunite lost lovers.
📚 Read if you love: Sweet, feel-good romances with bookish magic.
12. Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin
📸 A Romance Author and a Book-Hating Bookstore Owner
Drew, who inherited her grandmother’s bookstore, doesn’t actually like reading. When charming romance author Jasper offers to show her the magic of books, their story takes an unexpected turn.
📚 Read if you love: Opposites attract, bookish banter, and lighthearted rom-coms.
13. Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
📜 A Bookstore That Holds a Secret Society
When Clay gets a job at a strange 24-hour bookshop, he realizes its customers never buy anything—they just borrow obscure volumes in a mysterious code. As he investigates, he’s drawn into an ancient literary puzzle—and a possible romance.
📚 Read if you love: Literary mysteries, secret societies, and bookish adventure with a touch of romance.
14. The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay
📝 Three Women, One Bookstore, and the Healing Power of Stories
When Madeline inherits her aunt’s bookshop, she plans to sell it—until she meets its two devoted employees, each dealing with their own heartbreaks. As the three women bond over books, Madeline begins to question whether the life she planned is the one she truly wants.
📚 Read if you love: Found family, uplifting women’s fiction, and bookshops as places of healing.
Love Between the Pages
These romance books about bookshop owners prove that sometimes, the best love stories aren’t just found in books—they happen between the shelves. Whether you crave small-town coziness, witty banter, or a touch of historical romance, there’s a book on this list waiting to sweep you off your feet.
Which one will you read first? Or do you have a favorite bookshop romance to recommend? Let’s talk love and literature! 📚❤️
