A very quaint read! The author builds shops into microcosms of their own, liminal spaces where we at once escape and are inundated by the systemic grind of every day. There are a lot of parallel lessons to find in the world of this book compared to the world outside of this book. Humorous at times. I would have appreciated a bit more critical insight - moments felt overly romanticized - but still a great read.

This delightful book evokes a cozy ambiance, ideal for leisurely reading in a favorite coffee shop or local bookstore. While enjoying its warmth, I couldn't help but imagine the juxtaposition of the author's narrative with the bustling activity of the café. Despite its brevity (and maybe because of it), I find myself savoring each page. Through beautifully penned prose, the book offers a sincere portrayal of the shopkeeper's way of life, inviting readers to reflect on its significance.

I enjoyed the way this book made me feel. I finished reading the book and I was so inspired to get started with my bookshop. To get into the every day drama and mundaneness of shopkeeping. To become a character within a neighborhood and form community with other shops on the street. It made me impatient to get to sell books and help people find their next great read, maybe even become their favorite place to hang out for game nights and book signings.

I can see myself coming back to this book as a reference when I'm in need of advice. Shopkeeping: Stories, Advice, and Observations by Peter Miller is very reminiscent of the lessons I'm learning from my Basic Bookselling course professors (professional booksellers during the day).

Peter Miller's writing style is so approachable. He's not talking down to the reader about his vast knowledge (40+ years!!), he's walking alongside us and hand selling shopkeeping life. Letting us get a feel for if this life is for us...and if it wasn't at the beginning of the book, it definitely will be by the end. Suddenly you'll be strolling by vacant spaces and daydreaming about what your store could be.

As someone who has always dreamed of owning a bookstore, I've never read anything as thoughtful about stores as this book. I loved hearing about Peter's passion for his work, and the experiences that come with it. I was surprised to learn about what it's like on the side of the counter and the amount of consideration and planning that goes into running a store. I found this book to have a good balance of information and inspiration!

A cozy little book and - as advertised! - a true love letter to shopkeeping. The kind of book to be savored over a cup of tea in your favorite cafe. I appreciated and admired Peter Miller's enthusiasm; while at times his opinions struck me as a bit rigid and paternalistic, I found his passion infectious, so much so that the first thing I did after finishing was look up the website for his bookstore. (I have to admit I was taken aback by how poorly designed it was - I fully understand and agree with his preference for physical spaces, but given how meticulously he seems to care for the brick-and-mortar store, I was surprised to find so little effort applied to the digital one!) Thanks to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a lovely exploration of various angles of shopkeeping. I love the thoughtfulness and broad range of topics. This book has changed the way I see shops and shopkeeping.

A beautifully penned and honest account of what it means to be a shopkeeper.

Although, I've never personally visited Peter Miller books, after reading this, I feel as if I'm a longtime and loyal patron. Turning the pages, I learned the stories of the shop, the intentionality of the design, and the tireless efforts and profound dedication of the proprietor.

Highly recommended if you are a lover of books and independently owned bookstores.

Gosh, this is a treasure trove of thoughtful advice from an experienced shopkeeper. "A shopkeeper puts on essentially the very same show each day."

As a shopkeeper myself, it was really sweet to know that my experiences are universal, and there is always a way to grow and improve and learn.

This is one I would love to have on my shelf to reference in the future, in the varying seasons of retail.

Meh. There is no magic / stories / interesting life details of a bookshop or bookseller or small store. This book is weirdly HUGELY about architecture and similarly odd things. Which... yea architecture is something that goes into any building structure that exists in this world. But this book is put forth as something about the life inside and behind the scenes of a shop, community, people, stories. It does NOT deliver that. It delivers (for example) dry architecture.

Do you ever read books that make you want to give them a hug when you're done? This book is very short but I'm savoring it, because the shopkeeper in question is writing a detailed love letter to this entire way of life.
After you read this, you will look at a well maintained store in a whole new light. The writer goes through the process of maintaining a store, making changes, adding inventory, and most importantly, creating the mood. Everything in his store is placed where it belongs and inventory is chosen to improve the aesthetic, not necessarily because it would seem logical to someone unfamiliar with the store. This was amazing.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

It was a really quick read and I enjoyed his ideas for being a shopkeeper as well as his stories from shops around the world.

This book is chocolates, a bouquet of roses, and a love letter to the people who have always been there when we need something, shopkeeps

such a cozy read!! highlights what goes into owning and managing a shop, and what owners expect/think of customers, as well as how different cultures view shops. this would be so perfect to read when sitting on a bench in a small town on a cool fall day, holding a coffee and able to look around to see shops surrounding you.
i enjoyed the author’s anecdotes and opinions, and how they were woven in with facts throughout the novel. overall so well written and really interesting, not to mention eye-opening to those of us who have never given a second thought to how retail works.

This book would have been perfect to read while I was in my favorite coffee shop. It’s a warm and comfy book, but it would have been interesting to look up at the shop and see what they were doing compared to what the author was saying.

I enjoyed this, with my main problem being it was too short. The thoughts on shops are endless, so a few more chapters would have been great.

I recommend reading this one, in your favorite place to read and happily enjoy this well written and informative. Then maybe do what I did afterwards, and imagine what your shop would be.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

a light read, a feel-good learning about other people kind of book, stories that I always wondered about.