The Book Fiend is about to celebrate five years in the area when the lease for the shop is increased by 30 per cent. The suggestion is made that Cait should relocate the shop to a shopping strip in the suburbs but Cait has built up a group of loyal customers who rely on the shop for reading material and has also invested much money into fitting out her shop. As well as working in the shop, Cait runs a mobile service taking books to older readers unable to personally visit the bookshop. One of these readers is June who used to look after Cait when she was a child. Initially she endeavours to keep the shop operating in Hay Street until reality sets in and Cait realises that the store must close.
Cait's customers often tell her how they enjoyed a book. Not surprisingly titles of books, old and new, are mentioned throughout the novel as well as references to events in the life of C S Lewis.
This is also a book about relationships as Cait copes with hard decisions and needs to decide what she really wants in her life. Through the bookshop Cait meets James but is this a relationship she really wants? On the other hand the relationship with June is important to Cait, not just as someone who has always looked out for her but who is a real friend. Then there is Seb who worked with her in the shop when she was able to employ staff but who still called in to ensure that she was OK when times were hard.
As news of the imminent closure of The Book Fiend becomes public the power of social media is invoked by Cait's friends, customers and potential customers to attempt to save the bookshop.
As someone who loves books and bookshops I really enjoyed reading this book.
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