“Absolutely delightful.” — People The enchanting story of a bookshop, its grieving owner, a supportive literary community, and the extraordinary power of books to heal the heart   Nightingale Books, nestled on the main street in an idyllic little village, is a dream come true for book lovers—a cozy haven and welcoming getaway for the literary-minded locals. But owner Emilia Nightingale is struggling to keep the shop open after her beloved father’s death, and the temptation to sell is getting stronger. The property developers are circling, yet Emilia's loyal customers have become like family, and she can't imagine breaking the promise she made to her father to keep the store alive.  There's Sarah, owner of the stately Peasebrook Manor, who has used the bookshop as an escape in the past few years, but it now seems there’s a very specific reason for all those frequent visits. Next is roguish Jackson, who, after making a complete mess of his marriage, now looks to Emilia for advice on books for the son he misses so much. And the forever shy Thomasina, who runs a pop-up restaurant for two in her tiny cottage—she has a crush on a man she met in the cookbook section, but can hardly dream of working up the courage to admit her true feelings.  Enter the world of Nightingale Books for a serving of romance, long-held secrets, and unexpected hopes for the future—and not just within the pages on the shelves.  How to Find Love in a Bookshop  is the delightful story of Emilia, the unforgettable cast of customers whose lives she has touched, and the books they all cherish. “From unique characters to a charming romance, How to Find Love in a Bookshop is an absolute gem.” --HelloGiggles “Absolutely delightful.”  --People “A romance for readers everywhere.” -- Philadelphia Inquirer “Engaging. . . In the great tradition of Ireland’s Maeve Binchy. . . Henry has created an engaging ensemble cast, placed them in a charming locale and interwoven their stories with that of a plucky central character. . . Need an engrossing light read to while away one of the last afternoons of summer? This is it.” -- The Star Tribune   "Few books are more soothing and more conducive to break taking than Henry’s new novel  How to Find Love in a Bookshop." - -Vox “A love letter to books and the shops that sell them.” --USA Today “Charming. . . A light romantic comedy well-suited for bibliophiles and Anglophiles alike.” --Kirkus Reviews "Henry describes her novel as an ode to bookshops, and it is that. . . Readers who laughed and cried over ­Gabrielle Zevin’s The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove will love this one ." —Library Journal “Romantic, utterly heartwarming and a perfect treat for bibliophiles everywhere.” --Jenny Colgan, New York Times bestselling author of The Café by the Sea “Henry’s quirky cast of characters with their heartwarming intertwined tales of loss, love, and community make this a must-read for summer.” —Amy E. Reichert, author of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake  “Henry’s sweet novel, filled with likable characters and shaped by a love of books, will appeal to fans of tender fiction who find bliss in bookstores and libraries.” --Booklist "A gorgeous escapist read."  --Good Housekeeping  (UK) Veronica Henry worked as a scriptwriter before turning to fiction. A winner of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Romantic Novel of the Year Award, Henry lives with her family in a village in North Devon, England. ***This excerpt is from an advance uncorrected copy proof*** Copyright © 2017 Veronica Henry Prologue   February 1983 He would never have believed it if you’d told him a year ago. That he’d be standing in an empty shop with a baby in a pram, seriously considering putting in an offer. The pram had been a stroke of luck. He’d seen an advert for a garden sale in a posh part of North Oxford, and the bargain hunter in him couldn’t stay away. The couple had two very young children but were moving to Paris. The pram was pristine, of the kind the queen might have pushed—or, rather, her nanny. The woman had wanted only five pounds for it. Julius was sure it was worth far more, and that she was only being kind. But if recent events had taught him one thing, it was to accept kindness. With alacrity, before people changed their minds. So he bought it and scrubbed it out carefully even though it had seemed very clean already, and bought a fresh mattress and blankets, and there he had it: the perfect nest for his precious cargo, until she could walk. When did babies start to walk? There was no point in asking Debra—his vague, away - with - the - fairies mother, ensconced in her patchouli - soaked basement flat in Westbourne Grove, whose memory of his own childhood was blurry. According to Debra, Julius was reading by the age of two, a legend he didn’t quite believe. Although maybe it was true, because he couldn’t remember a time he couldn’t read.