I absolutely adored this book. From the diary format to all of the unique characters, each page was just a delight. I loved getting a peek into the everyday moments with Shaun. I would highly recommend this book. 

(I've added a link to my review on my site, but it will not go live until the book has been published.)

Another year in the annals of The Bookshop, Wigtown, its staff and customers

An utterly enthralling read, as was its predecessor

Shaun is back with a second installment of stories from what must be Scotland's most famous bookshop. Many of our most beloved characters return, including Nicki, but we are also introduced to a new character in the form of a temp from Italy. She has a name, but will forever be referred to as "Granny" - and she quickly became my favourite person in the book (Next to Shaun of course).

Shaun's disdain for annoying customers still shines through - and some of the ridiculous requests had me laughing out loud. I work in telesales and marketing and I can certainly relate to some of the interactions that take place with customers. The hatred of Amazon still shines through, although I do often wonder that if he hates them so much why he continues to use them to see his books (especially given their outrageous commisions).

I thought that, as with the first book, some of the best sequences came about when Shaun was planning the Wigtown Festival, and during the festival itself. There are some sections that felt like a bit of a chore, but as this is literally a diary of things that happened for 365 days of a year, we can't expect something good EVERY day can we.

Generally this is a very funny book (with some very sad moments built in), but Shaun does spend some time talking about his own faults, and criticising himself for these. He is very open and honest about himself throughout, and for this I applaud him.

While I do think that the first book was slightly more entertaining, this is till a very good read, and gives us some more insight into the life of Shaun. It has also left me even more desperate to visit Wigtown. I wonder can I convince my wife to visit Scotland...

Recommended to fans, others may want to read the first book before jumping in to this one. 

Review to go live on blog just before publication

Shaun Bythell is at it again with a new book chock full customer interactions, staff highlights and a slew of stories that only those running a bookshop could ever be involved in. I love reading books that follow the epistolary format. Peaking into the lives of ordinary people is a very intimate experience. Here you can do so without worry that the diaries owner will come upon you while your hand is in the proverbial cookie jar. 

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.

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My thanks to Netgalley and Profile books for a copy of “Confessions of a Bookseller” for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed Shaun Bythell’s first book “Diary of a bookseller” and have recommended it to several people. Also as a librarian it’s a book I often put out of display as the cover is as good as the inside 
I was thrilled to see that the tale has continued in this book.I can totally identify with some of the situations and customers he deals with( sometimes you just couldn’t make it up !).
I had visited Wigtown before I read either of these books so I can really imagine the scene as I’m reading them.
I understand that the first book has been made into a tv series , due to air Autumn 2019 so I’m hoping the books  will get the recognition they deserve.

This book was a bit of an odd one, there wasn’t really any overly exciting parts but somehow it was still a great read.

There's no way for me to review this without sounding harsh. Obviously, I love books and reading books. Therefore, I love books about books. 

I am sure, were I ever so fortunate to re-visit Scotland again and find my way to this bookstore, I would like it and its owner quite a lot. This book is just not the best introduction.

Mr. Bythell writes about himself in a very deprecating manner. I'm sure he can't be as crotchety as he would have the reader believe.

There do seem to be a few bees stuck up his bonnet and I would like to address a couple here:

1. Anyone who loves and reads books can certainly understand, appreciate and empathize with the plight of the independent bookseller, new or used. It has to be undertaken out of sheer love because financing such an endeavor in this electronic and economic era would be cause for sheer terror. I have no doubt his situation is tricky at best.

So, why would he assume the economic situation of most book lovers is really any different? He makes much of the fact that many of his customers haggle his already low prices. I myself have never haggled the price of a book. New or used, a book is a luxury item I either can or can't afford at any variable moment in time. I've never attempted to wager a sale in my favor, either buying or selling books for credit. I agree, it's bad behavior.

Then he seems annoyed when people come in to look at his books but don't buy. I myself do this all the time. Most book lovers do. I find being in bookstores around presumably like-minded people very therapeutic. Yes, I go to large chain bookstores to look at new releases. Yes, I add titles to an endless wishlist.

Which brings me to:

2. Amazon and Kindle. I won't pretend to know anything personally of their business practices. Still, small business must find SOME positive aspect out of aligning themselves with Amazon or they wouldn't do it. According to Mr. Bythell, they're basically thieving people such as he out of business. Could be true. He even tells of commissioning mugs with "Death to the Kindle" to sell in his shop. As a READER, however, I can't begin to elaborate all the ways they've enriched my enjoyment of books and authors in the last 10 years.

I would just like to point out that I read this book as an electronic file on my Kindle device as an Advance Reader Copy made available to me through Netgalley and am posting a review here on GoodReads, which I believe is also an Amazon entity. I'm assuming I received this book with Mr. Bythell's knowledge and permission. That's rather ironic, yes?

The book itself is dry. The books mentioned are very selective and, pleading ignorance, I've not heard of many of them. Most are native to his territory, much removed from my own. The "characters" are not given much in the way of description. This is pretty much a listing of his day's profits or lack thereof and incidental happenings. 

I think this would be great if you personally know the author, the area in Scotland and the store itself. It's kind of a nifty little fundraiser in that regard. For the average reader in a different world, maybe not so much.

Diary like entries reveal the operation of The Book Shop in the bookish Wigtown Scotland. Quirky characters abound. My favorite was Granny, the young Italian intern with her accent and huge appetite. Charming and interesting for any bibliophile.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

I found this very uneven - some bits were quite interesting and humorous, while some of it seemed quite dull.  I was expecting something a bit funnier and struggled with it.  I'm sorry to say that this one was just not for me.

The Bookshop in Wigtown, Scotland - an idyllic sounding bibliophile's oasis owned and run by Shaun Bythell.  What stresses and strains could he possibly have? What could mar the sheer pleasure of his daily bookish vocation?...'The Customer'...- from the eccentric to the bizarre and downright unbelievable. A joy of a book and a follow up to our introduction to The Bookshop and to Shaun in ' The Diary of a Bookseller' (highly recommended by the way). Amusing, nicely written and hugely entertaining. For booklovers everywhere and anyone who thought that running a bookshop would be a breeze.

An insight into the say to day running of a second hand bookshop, told with warmth and humour. As a bookseller myself, many of these experiences are entirely relatable. Is the sequel to Diary of A Bookseller, but can be read stand alone.

Really loved every minute of it! It's a cozy, delightful read and I savored it from start to finish. 5/5 stars for a job well done.

This is continuation (literally) of author's previous book, so I would recommend it to those who liked the first part. Evryday's life of bookshop keeper is described here and like our lives, sometimes it's more and sometimes less interesting. This book has a similar humor and small town charm to it. The difference which I noted in comparison to the previous book, is that author's sense of humor and sarcastic comments are a little more subdue, especially at the beginning, perhaps it's caused by personal problems. I admire that he had courage to mention those in his writing. It must have not been easy.

This book is a great break while reading something more intellectualy demanding, as it helps to relax and refocus. There is no hidden message here, no goal to be accomplished, no special plot, no sophisticated metaphors. Just description of day to day simple and peaceful life.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for free copy of this book in exchwfor honest review.

Wigtown is definitely somewhere I’d love to visit. I really enjoyed the first book by Shaun Bythell, Diary of a Bookseller, and when I saw this one pop up I jumped at the chance to read it. It’s much along the same vein with diary entries listing takings, online orders & the day to day goings on in both the shop & Shaun's life. As it’s not something that I’ve ever dealt with, the insights into the second hand book trade were really interesting, & I liked the little extracts at the beginning of each month. While I can understand Bythell's frustrations with customers & I can only imagine saying some of the things he does, I do think he’s a little too rude to be likeable sometimes. The parts with Granny & Nicky were the most enjoyable to me, although I think I’d lose it if someone I worked with consistently ignored me, caused that much mess & underpriced so many books. 

I’ll definitely be picking up a print copy of this when it comes out, and be recommending it to my customers.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Profile Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This book is as funny and addictive as Shaun Bythell’s first book. The tales of customers in his bookshop are hilarious. Also, being given a glimpse of the activities of Wigtown, and information about the surrounding area is an added bonus. 
Written in a chatty style, this book takes the reader through a year of life for Shaun Bythell in a most entertaining way. Appropriate for anyone from teenage to old age, this is a great family book, which will be passed from one member of a family to another, with everyone finding enjoyment from reading it.

Confessions of a Bookseller is the follow up to Shaun Bythell’s The Diary of a Bookseller. It is a diarised account of the ups and downs of his life running a bookshop in Wigtown in Scotland. It is fascinating and humorous at the same time. Shaun is hilariously blunt in his descriptions of those around him – but seems to have gained quite a following because of it. There are some fantastic characters around him – some we’re revisiting (the wonderful Nicky) and some are new (the super Emanuela/Granny), not to mention the wide variety of customer personalities he encounters. 

Shaun talks about the ins and outs of running a bookshop and the precarious financial position in a market that is trying to squeeze small booksellers out of business – something that makes you want to instantly find your closest independent bookshop and spend all your money there. For anyone who has ever fantasised about running a bookshop this will give you a sense of what it’s really like. 

I loved the sense of community he talks about in Wigtown and for all Shaun presents himself as a bit of a grump, he’s the first one offering to help with any project or anything anybody needs, and seems to be permanently putting people up in his home. This endearing characteristic makes him a hugely likeable narrator. The community spirit demonstrated in the book can’t hurt the Wigtown tourism either – I’m certainly planning a visit now. I really enjoyed revisiting Shaun’s world and hope that he will be putting out another instalment down the line.

Thank you to Netgalley, Profile Books and Shaun Bythell for my arc of Confessions of a Bookseller in exchange for an honest review. 

Synopsis: Shaun Bythell is the owner of The Bookshop in Wigtown, Scotland. This is his second book and a collection of memoirs/diary entries based on the day to day running of the bookshop. It covers quickly customers, strange requests, the trials and tribulations of running a small bookshop including online selling from an amazon warehouse. 

I really liked this, it was very entertaining and quirky, different to anything I've read before. Shaun is an interesting and self deprecating character and his anecdotes are amusing. Having my own small business I was really entertained by his notes about customers with crazy or unreasonable requests and also empathised with the struggle of working for yourself and the good days and bad days that come with it. 
The only reason I didn't give this 5* is that I felt it was a bit lengthy for the type of book it was. There's only so much of someone else's diary entries you can read before it starts to feel like it's getting repetitive.

Shaun Bythell continues to recount his adventures as the proprietor of the Bookshop, in Wigtown, Scotland, in Confessions of a Bookseller. Earlier this year, I listened to the audiobook of The Diary of a Bookseller and loved it. I jumped at the chance to hear more weird tales of life in a secondhand bookstore when I saw this available on NetGalley. This new entry did not disappoint.

Covering 2015, Confessions of a Bookseller is just as chaotic as Bythell’s first memoir. The Bookshop sees multiple construction projects, surly staff, bizarre and belligerent customers, a wormy cat, bad house guests, and ongoing battles with online bookselling software. But The Bookshop, in spite of a crumbling chimney and customers who argue for deep discounts, seems to be on better footing in 2015 thanks to all of Shaun’s side hustles like working on the Wigtown Book Festival, interviews, meme-making, anti-Kindle merchandise, and the Random Book Club. Whenever Bythell mentions this club—in which subscribers pay to receive a random book each month—I’m tempted to sign up just to see what I would receive…But I have too much to read as it is.

As before, I was struck by the parade of customers who seemingly refuse to pay books what they’re worth when they’re at the Bookshop. This parade alternates with a bunch of people looking to sell books that they no longer have room for or that they inherited. These people always overvalue books rather than undervalue them, leaving Bythell caught in the middle. Once a book is purchased the first time, pricing becomes hugely subjective. We can say that a book is worth what the market will bear. Bythell mentions that a page from a Gutenberg Bible was once auctions for £74,000. It’s a crap shoot that Bythell can’t seem to win because taste in books changes over time, book condition raises or lowers prices, and there’s the ever present undercutting of Amazon. Small wonder that Bythell is tap-dancing as fast as he can.

I would recommend Confessions of a Bookseller (and The Diary of a Bookseller) to all my librarian friends. (A lot of the customers that turn up in the Bookshop sound like patrons who turn up in public libraries.) I would also recommend Bythell’s books to anyone who has ever wondered what it would be like to run a bookstore—not necessarily to disillusion them, but to give them a humorous reality check about life in the book trade.

I was intrigued by the concept of getting a behind-the-scenes look into a bookseller's life - the backstory to owning a bookstore, encountering the myriad of customers a bookseller would come across, and of course the “confessions” of a bookseller, which sounded interesting and fun! But, sadly it was literally a day-by-day account of 365 days in the life of a bookseller - the customers who visited the shop, books they asked for, what they bought, down to the number of customers who visited, sales per day, number of online orders and the number of orders found - oh no! When we’re at the point where I’m reading that “The rain began at 10 a.m.” or “The bathroom was occupied until 10 a.m.” or “my mother dropped round at about 4 p.m. and talked without interruption for half an hour”... I rest my case. But I was wondering if the book would continue in this vein, so I read on, then began scanning the pages to see if this would continue…and it did for the full year - from January 1 all the way through December 31. And, what was all that Amazon bashing about? One of the author’s channels for orders is through Amazon, a very viable part of his business... There were a few interesting customers and insights into the history behind some books, but apart from that I was not wowed by the book nor the writing style - the book could have been so much better, sadly. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book. It’s unfortunate I cannot offer a more positive perspective.

The Confessions of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell is essentially a diary of Shaun’s experiences as a bookshop owner in a rural Scottish village. But it’s so much more than that. Shaun makes you feel as if you are living in Wigtown with him and his crazy employees, friends, family, and fellow villagers. There’s so many lovable characters, from Nicky, his J Witness, Morrison/bin scavenging employee, to Mole-Man, the long time customer Shaun has never shared a single world with, to his ex-wife, the love of the whole town, Anna, to Granny, the Italian intern that speaks almost no English but worms her way into everyone’s heart, to Shaun himself, the cantankerous introvert that sees the world in such a fanatic way. Shaun manages to bring his community to life through his confessions in this gem of a book. I did not want this to end. I loved every single character. I was no where ready to say goodbye at the end. I nearly bought a plane ticket to Scotland so I could visit Shaun and the wonderful cast of Wigtown villagers.