A Bookshop Summer: The life-affirming new novel from the author of Found in a Bookshop, perfect for book lovers

by Stephanie Butland

352 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 28, 2026

About the author

Stephanie Butland is a writer, who is thriving after breast cancer. (She used to say she was a survivor, but that was a bit lacking in joie de vivre.)
Although she’d never have chosen it, her dance with cancer has changed her life in many positive ways. Now she is happier, healthier, and more careful with her precious life and the precious people and things in it.

Her writing career began with her dance with cancer, and now she is  a novelist.

Aside from writing, she works as a speaker and trainer, and she works with charities to help raise awareness and money in the hope that cancer will soon be about as scary as a wart.

She lives in Northumberland.

Reviews

[Fleurtje Eliza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found in a Bookshop was my first book by Stephanie Butland which I rated a whopping five stars, despite it being about all sorts of people and their shared human experience, yet not about chronics.

This book only gets two for there indeed being a character with health problems, but it is a senior lady who seems to be a burden on her grandchildren. Cherry does speak up about her managing all of this on her own, not to mention leaving her an emotional wreck, to her absent sister who tells her she shouldn’t complain living in a first world country. But everyone’s problem is validated and so is Cherry’s as we get to understand.

That said, I am wondering if next time the author might manage to write a book that again emphasizes interconnection (which I generally very much appreciate, let us not start about the state of the world we live in) with someone being a chronic (but not old) without it being a theme or worse: without them being charity.

Being ill and/or disabled is hard enough with all the uncertainties, insecurities, grief, and pain. Society turning their back on us adds to feelings of unworthiness. I don’t know what else to do but write a review like this for the world to see us. Currently, when someone with a support dog is casually mentioned in a book I am punching the air. Honestly, it is not too much to ask if a book club member could be in a wheelchair?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

[Humaira · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great continuation of the series. I still haven’t read the first book but I did read the one set before in the pandemic and this is a a great continuation of this work.

Loveday, the owner of Lost For Words, is not present as much but her impact is felt.

This book focuses on Trixie the shop manager and how she is trying to make a community project happen whilst bringing an unlikely group together.

I really enjoyed this book, as it focuses on friendship and found family but doesn’t shy away from hard issues.

I definitely think some character could have been developed more but I guess we’ll find out their story in the next book!

I do think to fully enjoy this book you need to read it from the beginning of the series but if you pick it up
In the middle the standalone story will still make sense.

[Miruna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Bookshop Summer by Stephanie Butland is a warm, cozy read that’s perfect for relaxed summer days. The bookshop setting is lovely, and the story has a comforting, feel-good vibe that makes it easy to settle into.

I enjoyed the gentle pace and the focus on personal journeys, relationships, and new beginnings. It’s the kind of book that feels like a quiet escape — ideal to read with a coffee or on holiday.

A sweet, bookish story that’s easy to enjoy and leaves you feeling calm and content.