How to Find Love in A Bookshop – the Test

As any booklover will know, books serve many purposes in life. There are books which you’ve grown up with, book which immerse you in  a new time and place and books which become your best friends.

Books make us happy, cry, smile and and give us comfort but can they help you find love?

The postman has recently brought me a book entitled “How to find love” . Well it was then I realised the full title was ‘ How to find love in a bookshop” but I was still shocked, I mean that’s quite a claim for a book.

So, being bookshop week, I headed up to a favourite bookshop of mine to test both theories out. Booktrail the locations of this novel here
Cogito books in Hexham was a good place to start. Hexham is a lovely picturesque market town and Cogito a book haven within it. It’s nestled down a kind of Harry Potter style alley (a cobbled lined lane down an archway tucked behind the main market square). What’s not to love?

I opened the door and that little tinkle of the bell immediately made me feel at home. As I walked in the shop, even before I saw any books, I smelt cake. Ah it just happened to be Cogito’s 15th birthday party!  15 years of bringing great books to the good people of Hexham and everyone else who walks through its doors. I was offered a glass of fizz and a slice of cake. Book Cupid had struck his first arrow. Veronica Henry you’re good!

Raise a glass the sign said, to all the wonderful readers, authors and books that have contributed to Cogito’s success over the years”

Words worthy of a great acceptance speech when an award is announced. In that sense, the books all around me now were like spectators in a theatre.  Immediately I reached up to a high shelf (The upper circle) Charles Dickens was there.  Then over to the Royal box where  Lesley Pearse was in deep conversation with Louise Penny. Now there’s  love right there. Two regal authors if ever I saw them.

Target spotted? This book is good!

As a booktrailer however I decided to head straight over to the travel section. Would I find love here? Well now,there was a man lurking beside the travel section….good sign.. so I wandered over….Picked up a book.

Just then, his phone rang. Turns out he was just sheltering from the rain. Off to meet some friends. He left the store…without a book. Without a book! Game over. Cupid you missed by a mile there!

What I needed now was strong literary man   – Poldark was peeking out from the end of the row. So was Michael Palin but but I picked Poldark up right there and then (I’m a fast mover) and put him on full display as it were. Demelza was lurking in the distance but I turned her facing the wall. She’s now somewhere near Kazakhstan incase you’re wondering.

Would Lee Child help me find love?

Breathless from my encounter with Poldark, I sat down on the softest sofa ever – the Cogito sofa. As I sank down in the heavenly cushion and felt like Alice must have done down that rabbit hole. I fell for a number of books there – some Slightly foxed editions and the new Charlie Parker crime thriller. I did meet Vogue who was showing a bit of leg trying to entice Poldark, so when I got up, I hid her under the cushion. Finding love in a bookshop is hard enough, I can do without the competition frankly.

Tired from searching for love, it was now time for tea -a nice cup of tea. Cogito offer a Book recommendation service which mixes, tea, cake and books. Love in three forms then. I felt a bit oozy at this point, maybe from the effects of the fizz. Or maybe the excitement of tea and cake and books in Cogito!

It was then I stopped in my tracks as Cupid shot his biggest arrow yet .I was struck dumb. Totally in love and utterly enraptured by the sight before my eyes. Would this be it? Would I really find love…. in a bookshop?

For this was no bookshop, it was a book haven, a theatre of bookish delights and now before me I had an unimpeded view – the cast of thousands on the stage before me, in the stalls, the upper circle, those in the stalls and sitting up high in the gods. All looking down at me, waiting for me to pick the star of the show

I spent a further six hours in that shop. Several pieces of cake later and I was utterly and truly in love.

Love is all around

So it turns out that it is true, you can really find love in a bookshop. Cogito is full of love. Cherish every book you pick up and surround yourself with bookish friends.  There are books which have seen you through some hard times in life, books which make you smile when you feel down, books given as presents, books you would save if your house were on fire.

Books mean a lovely new story from your favourite author, the chance to fall in love with a literary character, the chance to move and live in a new culture, the chance to live another life and to learn to appreciate your own. Books are friends for life.

Susan Booktrailer – Happy IBW 2016! With many many thanks to Cogito Books Claire and Kate, the customers I chatted to on the day including that nice man and of course the books!