The Bookshop Book

The Library Trilogy

by Mark Lawrence

A fantasy adventure through cozy, cluttered bookshops and into the pages of classic literature itself, set in the world of international bestselling author Mark Lawrence's groundbreaking The Library Trilogy.

Bookshops have always been places where worlds collide. Places where ideas make war, where cultures meet and mingle. For Frederick "Red" Archer, a young man hanging on at the edge of society, a bookshop he wanders into will be the place that changes his life.

Rose Penrose is watching the world from the other side of the page, transported by an act of awful violence into a book her mother wrote. When a terrifying pursuer has Rose cornered, she is somehow able to leap from the book she inhabits into another—one that happens to be in the very bookshop where Red is standing.

This chance encounter entwines their lives together. Now they must journey through beloved fictional words, a great evil following their every step, until they can find the only story that matters—their own.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Books About Books, Adult, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

224 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 20, 2026

About the author

My books vary a LOT - so here's a handy guide.

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Mark Lawrence is married with four children, one of whom is severely disabled. Before becoming a fulltime writer in 2015 day job was as a research scientist focused on various rather intractable problems in the field of artificial intelligence. He has held secret level clearance with both US and UK governments. At one point he was qualified to say 'this isn't rocket science ... oh wait, it actually is'.

Mark used to have a list of hobbies back when he did science by day. Now his time is really just divided between writing and caring for his disabled daughter. There are occasional forays into computer games too.

Reviews

[Mark Lawrence]

Out today in the USA!

The Bookshop Book (definitely a book as it is 70,000 words and a book is anything over 40,000 words), is one of my shorter books, my first book, Prince of Thorns, has 82,000 words and my shortest book is One Word Kill at 59,000 words. My average is around 110,000 words.

It's a stand alone that has loose associations to The Library Trilogy (which starts with The Book That Wouldn’t Burn.


I signed all these just for you - will be sold through Waterstones and a whole bunch of independent bookshops - will likely be available from them online too.



But wait, there's more! :o

A standalone novel with loose association to The Library Trilogy, but definitely not one that requires any previous reading to enjoy.



Now with another magnificent cover from Tom Roberts.




Coming October 2026.

The Bookshop Book: A Library Novel

Bookshops have always been places where worlds collide. Places where ideas make war, where cultures meet and mate.

Frederick 'Red' Archer is hanging on at the edge of society, in the care of the state, when he wanders into the bookshop that will change his life.

Rose Penrose is watching the world from the other side of the page, exiled by an act of awful violence, and is now fleeing from story to story whilst searching for her own.

The Great Smith has had a hand in both their pasts and an eye on their future. They are tools that he has fashioned for a greater purpose. Tools to be used up and discarded.

All that is certain is that a story has them all in its jaws. And that it is about to bite.



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[Morwen]

Pre-read
Why am I always so criminally late with ARCs?? Where is time disappearing?? 😭
Anyway, I have not yet read the other books in this series but I hope this can be read out of order. I read it was a new book in that world, and not the next book in the series. So fingers crossed for me! 🤞🏻


_______
If a Mark Lawrence book pops up on NetGalley, I request it. Easy as that!

[Mitriel Faywood · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are two reasons why you should read this book:
1. It’s really very good
2. If you loved the Library trilogy this is a must and I so want to tell you why, but that would be a huge spoiler. So just trust me! ;)

[Patrycja · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

"The Bookshop Book" is a story about Red and Rose. Two young people, who don't know each other and have no idea how their lives are connected. It's a kind of story within a story, where you're not sure how to distinguish fiction from reality or written characters from the once made from flesh and blood. For sure it is a great read for anyone who loves books about reading. It does have a lot of references to other popular works of art, whereas the world building is a mix of urban fantasy vibes and fantasy/sci-fi where characters can visit different stories.

I haven't yet read The Library Trilogy, however, I do have it on my TBR, so I decided to start with something a bit shorter. It is a novella, which allows reader to immerse in this tangled world of reading. I wasn't that much connected to the characters itself, but the world building intrigued me a lot. I believe it to be the strongest part of this book and I cannot wait to sink into this world once again.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[✨ tweety ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this if you loved The library trilogy. You won't be disappointed :)

Frederick 'Red' Archer is in a bookshop and something unexpected happens. Surrounded by vintage paperbacks, he finds himself in the middle of an adventure to save a girl, Rose Penrose, who is running away from an enemy who wants her.

In this novella, Mark Lawrence brings us back to the world of the Library trilogy. The theme is dear to us readers: bookshops, the infinite web of stories, even those we've never read or were never written, the art of creation itself.

The story has a surreal touch. It is set in contemporary England, but that reality overlaps and intervines with more, and Red isn't sure what's real and what's not. Perhaps it's all real. Perhaps it's all possibile. This is the power of books, and why, the Smith holds such interest in Rose. A reader or writer can conjure realities in their mind and dream, hope, feel, or can be influenced to transform their minds in either a good or bad way, which is a big feat. Reading can save your life.

I can see Red as a stand against the dumbing down of literature we've been suffering due to AI and to book 'consumers' do not know how to read anymore and just buy books because it's cool. Red is not rich so it makes sense for him to buy vintage books, but this act is a critique against the overbuying of books just to be a performative reader. Old books most are often left behind because their covers are updated or the pages get yellower with time. Stories are written in a specific time so they are influenced by that time, but they are also timeless, because a reader can still read them differently according to their mood, their thoughts, which makes some stories be perceived differently by different readers.

Rose is an example of how an heroine or simply, a person who is a hero in her own life, can adapt to her reality as she hops from story to story. This metaphysically speaking is an example of how stories interact with each other and a story, a character, a theme, anything, links to something else. I appreciated the nods not just to famous books like Great Expectations or Alice in Wonderland, but also the nods to Lawrence's own books. This novella doesn't just explores the context of metaverses but also of metawriting, intertextuality, of storytelling. How, in the construction of a story, there are some stable points that remain (like the call for action of the hero) even though the story changes and it's never the same because the reader holds the reins and has infinite choices to make. It all depends on the story they want to tell. And Lawrence is a master at using myths, tropes, archetypes and giving them new life. The author will never write the same story twice, and his writing is exemplary of the metaphysical tenor of his novels.

Readers who've enjoyed The Library trilogy need to read this book because it is connected to that universe. The Library is itself a character in this story, and I loved to revisit its aisles, the Exchange, the Mechanism. Perhaps we'll see it again in the future, but I was glad to have revisited it now.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, HarperVoyager for inviting me to read an arc of this book. Opinions are mine.

[Lysandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction (HarperVoyager) for inviting me to read this ARC! Equal thanks to NetGalley. The review is personal and unaltered by external factors.

A resounding 5/5 ✨

“The Bookshop Book” by Mark Lawrence is a standalone novel part of his innovative “The Library Trilogy” universe. I will commence my review by saying that I have yet to finish the series, currently having read only the first volume, “The Book That Wouldn’t Burn”, nonetheless one book was enough for me to be able to state that this series has one of the most original yet avant-garde world-building and lore I have read so far. Its origins are enshrined in Judaism, Christianity, a mixture of gnosticism and cosmology, with a brilliant metaphysical twist which defies time, space, and the physicality of everything through the bending powers of sheer imagination. Everything is relative.

« The smell drew me in. Old books. A mix of neglect and love, a promise of secrets to be told and doors to other worlds waiting to open. »

The plot is represented by the origins story of (a) character(s) present in the main series. Considering the novel is a bit shorter and more direct than the trilogy, it is not such a mind-bending twist realising from the first chapters whose origins story this represents — again, I have only read the first book of the series and could sense it — and it is also hinted at in a very short yet poignant scene within this instalment. Consequently, the pace is tempered well, not too slow yet not too fast, but with a cadence enough for one to relish in the metaphysical and psychological twist of the tale.

« “Time is not a river.” »

The novel follows three perspectives — Red, Rose and The Great Smith — which constantly connect and disconnect, bending the timelines and reality itself, mirroring the original lore of the trilogy.

« “The universe is both far more random and far less random than we imagine, Rose. Which is to say that there are often no reasons at all, until suddenly there are.” »

The prose at a structural level is absolutely brilliant. For those who have experienced at least the first volume of the series (such as myself) the metaphysical aspect is forever present and part of the narrative, however, for someone who is reading this book as their introduction to this universe, it borders on surrealism. In particular, Red’s chapters have a style reminiscent of Virginia Woolf’s, encompassing a strong and rich psychological life, lyrical prose (let it be filled with contemporary references) and a very stream-of-consciousness narrative.

« “Everything is written. You. Me. This place. That place. Everything.” »

I can’t recommend this enough. It’s one of those stories — this particular novel and series overall — which is a highly intellectual stimulant and works magic on one’s brain in regards to mind-bending entertainment. It is something to be devoured with one’s sense of reason.

October 2026 Spookyfest Book #2

[Brian Stabler · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are few things better than getting lost in a bookshop, but Red Archer manages to take that experience to a whole new level.

Mark Lawrence’s The Bookshop Book is a wonderfully imaginative adventure that takes the idea of getting lost in a story rather more literally than most of us would expect. When Red’s visit to a second-hand bookshop takes an unexpected turn, he finds himself caught up in a world where the boundaries between fiction and reality are anything but straightforward. Meanwhile, Rose Penrose is on the run through stories of her own, with a dangerous enemy in pursuit.

I absolutely loved the sheer inventiveness of this. Lawrence plays with familiar literary worlds and characters, weaving in references to classic fiction alongside connections to his own work. There's surreal strangeness aplenty, a generous helping of dark humour, and some wonderfully sharp observations from Red. Beneath the adventure lies a fascinating exploration of storytelling itself: how stories are created, how they change with each reader, and how the worlds contained within books can become something much more than words on a page.

Red and Rose make for an engaging pair of protagonists, but it's the way Lawrence brings everything together that really impressed me. The narrative keeps you guessing, occasionally leaves you wondering exactly what's going on, and then rewards your attention with revelations that make the journey all the more satisfying. For all its clever ideas and philosophical undercurrents, this never forgets to be an entertaining story in its own right. And when the emotional stakes come into focus, the impact is all the greater.

Having loved the Library Trilogy, I was delighted to return to its universe and discover another side to it. The connections are a real treat for existing fans, but this novella has plenty to offer in its own right. It's a testament to Lawrence's storytelling that he can take such an unconventional premise and make it feel both surprising and utterly compelling.
Ultimately, this is exactly the kind of book that reminds me why I love reading. Imaginative, witty, moving and packed with ideas, it's a celebration of books and the extraordinary possibilities they contain. I could happily spend more time in this world.

An easy five stars.

Thanks to NetGalley, HarperVoyager and the author for an advance copy.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Mark for sending me an advance copy of this book.

Wow! Just wow. For a short story (207 pages) this packed one hell of a punch! This is action-packed and fast-paced that gets you hooked from the off and refuses to let go.

This was an adventure in it's own right that took us on an adventure through other great works of literature, and is perfect for people who love reading books about reading books. One of my absolute favourite things about Mark's books is the way the threads of the story pull together forming connections between characters you could never have anticipated, and this book is no exception.

The gasps I gasped and screams I scrumpt as those connections became apparent, especially the very last one. But not only the connections, the clever play on words that related to characters, little easter eggs and almost fourth wall breaks. I had so much fun spotting them all, as I do with all of Mark's books (I'm absolutely convinced his writing room looks like that Charlie Day meme with all the red strings).

I really enjoyed the writing style. Red is 14 and the writing style portrays that perfectly but still in a mature and very humorous way. And thanks to Red and Rose I have a new swear word that I hope Mark doesn't mind me borrowing!

This is a standalone which is set within the world of the Library trilogy so it could be read by itself, however I would wholeheartedly recommend reading the Library trilogy first as so many moments will lose their impact without knowing the characters of the Library. Well, my genuine advice is always to go back to the beginning with the Broken Empire and read all the way through to pick up on all the connections in the Library trilogy too and to truly see Mark's genius as an author.

[Phil Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
How to define this book? My first reaction was to compare it to Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series – of which I am an enormous fan. A story where characters exist within the pages of books – and sometimes outside of them, in what we might call the ‘real’ world. And yes, that comparison has some merit. But this is Mark Lawrence we’re talking about so some of the surreal humour is sacrificed for dark tragedy. Not all of it, not by any means. In fact, in its earlier chapters, he had me giggling.
Let me give you a couple of examples: this is a description of one of the story’s 14 year old protagonist, “Red” Archer – ‘Relief, guilt, disappointment, the trifecta that rule my life. I’m not sure ‘trifecta’ is the right word to use there. I’ll have to look it up later. You’ll have noticed that I like to use longer and more obscure words than are typically found in my demographic’s vernacular. It started to get me bullied in school, so I translate back to common tongue when speaking – but in my head I’m very lah-di-dah!’
Red visits a bookshop at the start of the story, searching for some “old style” science fiction; ‘I clutched a new-to-me Moorcock book in remarkably good condition for a volume nearly old enough for a free bus pass.’
Its wry, witty and throwaway humour is used to define the story’s world and its people. Like all observational humour, accurate description is twist to forge the humour – the skill of observation acting as the source of wit.
I wasn’t familiar with the author’s Library trilogy, modelled on the same premise as this story but it didn’t matter. For one thing, this is a standalone novel. The pace, the description and the different plot perspectives mean you’re soon immersed in the story and its complexities.
It is a complex tale. Like its characters, you discover only what you need to know before you’re hurled into the next danger. For the other protagonist, Rose Penrose, the story does have that Thursday Next vibe as she’s pursued by a vicious and dangerous bookworm through novels written by authors who are no longer alive – a critical point, Rose is told at one point by a beloved character out of children’s literature.
The permanent threat that bedevils our two heroes is what led me to consume this book in 3 sittings. It’s not because there are numerous ‘set piece’ action sequences either, threat permeates every aspect of the story – and increases as it progresses. It’s partly down to the way the author isolates his heroes – Rose is written into her story and subject to whatever plot she finds herself in. Red’s isolation is harsher; a teenager trapped in a heartless care system who must survive on his own wits.
Threat also appears in the ambiguity of so many of the enigmatic characters the pair encounter. You’re soon forced to distrust everyone and everything, which adds to the tension and leaves you questioning the most innocent of actions.
The different perspective of the narrative bothered me at first, until you realise how important it is to the pay-off at the end. And what a climax it is too. It’s heart-rending in its tragedy yet affirming in other ways. It left me reeling emotionally.
That emotional investment surprised me as there were moments where the theory, the scale of the themes, could have overwhelmed a lesser author. Lawrence balances it perfectly, explaining sophisticated and complex concepts with such simplicity. He’s described the story as a love letter to books and reading in general and I can’t think of a better definition. There are so many references to literature, social culture, history and British folklore - all coalescing into a narrative which speaks to our current world in such nuanced ways. That simplicity I mentioned means you can ignore all that, if you feel inclined. Instead, you can enjoy being caught in the slipstream of this book’s narrative as its heroes strive to not only survive - but protect the lives of those they love. Heartily recommended!

[Naz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Stars.

As Rose Penrose is lost amongst the pages, dipping her toes into someone else’s story; Fredrick ‘Red’ Archer walks into the very bookstore she inhabits. What follows is the steady unspooling of fate, as their lives collide, sparking cracks in each other’s world. The Bookshop Book is a whimsy time-bending fantasy adventure, with Mark Lawrence’s elegant and evocative prose. The eloquent writing style, conjures and maintains that surreal fairytale-esque atmosphere and it’s a pleasant reading experience.

The story itself is predominately split between Rose and Red’s pov, but although Rose’s perspective offers that whimsical portal fantasy element –as she stumbles into familiar literary worlds; I actually found myself preferring Red’s story and was comparatively more invested in his fate. I think this was largely due to his story feeling more integral to plot progression, whilst Rose’s perspective quickly became narratively stagnant and repetitive; spending a majority of the book running through worlds, rather than time taken to explore. Furthermore, the literary worlds used are meant to feel cozy and familiar, but for me, they tipped into the realm of already well-trodden and overused; thus, it would have been more interesting to see something different.

This is an objectively well written novel, but I did feel the story initially unravelled as more of a Children’s/Teen book than New Adult/Adult. Subjectively, although I appreciated the positive experience it overall offered, this would have been something I would definitely have connected with more as a younger reader. Personally, I would have liked a larger role and more interaction from Olivia, Xavier and Josephine; who stood out to me as interesting side characters and felt sorely underutilised.

Despite this, the story had an interesting premise, which was generally executed well, and the conclusion of this fantastical novel was ultimately satisfying; in some ways poignantly cyclical, with a time-bending quality that brought the narrative full circle. This story works well as a standalone to Lawrence’s The Library Series and although I have not read the original trilogy, I’m quite curious to explore this world further.

Thanks NetGalley, and HarperCollins UK, for the eARC. This was an enjoyable, book-hopping-ly whimsy read.

[Hilary Treat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cool tie-in to The Library Trilogy but set in our “world.” I was able to read this through Mark’s Patreon. I will definitely be re-reading once it is published!

[T.O. Munro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book both as a pdf proof from Netgalley and as a hard copy from the author himself.

It's a fascinating and compelling addition to the Lawrence oeuvre which I reviewed in full on my blogsite here.

I have pasted an extract from that review below

This is a book of The Library and there are a number of story elements and setting that will be familiar to readers of that trilogy, but these aspects are sufficiently explained (without recourse in info-dumping) that the The Bookshop Book can be comfortably read as a stand-alone. But Red and Rose’s tale is one small battle in the war that convulses the library, a different front to be opened up at whatever cost to the couple caught in the middle of it.

The fictive characters are mostly drawn from classical fiction (conveniently for any copyright issues, the covers of books of still-living authors resist any effort by Rose to dive into them). That still leaves a welter of familiar faces taking a diversion or interlude from the tales that had been written for them in order to support or protect Rose. Of the non-fiction characters, I particularly enjoyed the appearance of one J. Campbell waxing lyrical about hearing the call to action, and refusing the call as he attempts to advise/instruct our heroine on the stages in her journey.

Throughout the tumbling adventures with lots of falling in, out and within different books, Rose and Red make engaging adolescent protagonists with distinctive voices as Lawrence expertly blends the surrealist and the realist in another compelling tale.

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every single time I pick up a Mark Lawrence book, I'm giddy because I know I'm going to dive into something special, full of incredible imagination. Furthermore, The Library Trilogy is one of my favourites, so I was even more excited about The Bookshop Book!
The sheer imagination of this story is absolutely brilliant and consuming, showing you the power of books and storytelling and, like the characters, making you wonder what is real and what isn't. Is everything real, or none of it? Everything is in the hands of the reader. It's a compelling blend of reality and the impossible, with so many gems from other literary works, not just his own books. The thing I loved most is that, no matter how things shift and change throughout the story, the foundation stays the same, like a guiding light in a stormy sea.
I was anxious because I fell in love with the unique and distinctive vibe of The Library series, but boy, it did deliver and then some, and I was really happy to dive back into that familiar feeling.
And that's why Mark Lawrence is on my insta-buy and favourite list without a second thought!

[M.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bookshop Book is such a rare thing in the Mark Lawrence 'bookverse' - a book that unapologetically ties to another of his books, in this case the Library Trilogy, without the reader having to scurry around, trying to find the connection (oh yes - almost all of his books have some connection, however frugally withheld aside from for those who know to look for them).

It's also somewhat rare in being set in the 'here and now' and reads 'quick' as well as being very engaging. Although those who plough through books be aware, this book will bite eventually, and you will have to stop and ask yourself what you've just read - it's a quick read, but each word is important - as are the words in the books themselves - do not devour them too freely.

There is much that could be said about the connections, about the relief of, despite this being set in the 'here and now', finally moving to something readers will know from the Library Trilogy, but that way lies spoilers, and I think knowing the connection exists is enough of a spoiler.

There were points when I was genuinely quite baffled, and others where I could sense the events building in such a way that they had to resolve in a way I thought they might, and I really couldn't stop reading once I'd started.

For those who've never read Mark Lawrence before, this is probably quite an 'easy in' to the way his stories work. For those who've been there from the beginning, this is a book where you can never relax, but you can certainly enjoy the events as they unfold, while thinking 'ah, well that 'almost' explains that then.'

I'm super proud of myself for reading this book so quickly, but that is because it hooks you right in and won't let go.

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

The Bookshop Book by Mark Lawrence is  a fantasy novel set in The Library Trilogy world.

Let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Berkley Publishing, and the author (Mark Lawrence), for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


First, if you haven't read The Library Trilogy, you don't have to.  Although this is based in the world Lawrence created in those books, this book is not actually a follow-up.  It starts off in our  modern-day world, until Red travels to The Library World.

It does, however, tell the tale of one of those old characters, and it was quite surprising.

I love how Rose moved from book to book, including The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and others.  A couple of them I did not recognize.  The book is told from the perspectives of both Red and Rose, and that of The Library.  Very interesting.

Like the trilogy, this book is about love between family and friends.

That  ending was such a surprise, and I loved it.


For a more thorough review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book and series background, its author information and a favorite quotation from this book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thing to note, I have not yet read the Library Trilogy (they're on my TBR), but The Bookshop Book is a standalone story that is fully enjoyable without having read the series - the story has enough detail that you understand what's going on without needing to read the series first.
Mark Lawrence has a great ability to write an intriguing world, and characters that are compelling and keep you coming back. Red and Rose are both 14 years old, and are written as age appropriate kids - but the writing and story itself doesn't read young!! (fine balance of having young MCs without reading like a kids book - and this did it well!) Loved how we slowly figure out what's going on (as Red and Rose start to figure out what's happening to them), and at about 25% it really starts coming together and then I couldn't put it down. The end (like other Mark Lawrence books) had me rethinking everything I read, wanting to go back to look for all the breadcrumbs that were left sprinkled throughout the story, cause "fiddlesticks", that was good and I'm still thinking about it later!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

[Shannon K G · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much adventure packed into one short story. Once the action began it never stopped.
There were so many feels to be felt. From heartwarming to absolutely devastating. At no point was I sure what would happen next and I didn't want to set this book down.
I love the way this is written. Mark Lawrence writes so detailed and fleshed out complex moments into something simplistic enough to follow.
I wholeheartedly enjoyed all the references to other literature. It was nice reminder of previous works.
I loved The Library Trilogy and this was a perfect addition to that world.

You do not need to have read the trilogy to enjoy and follow along, but I highly recommend doing so (whether before or after) because they're all so good.
Bonus points for a new word to keep tucked in my back pocket.

Thank you netgalley and Berkley for the ebook. All opinions are my own.

[mo • lesmotsdemo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cosy and quick read, and a good addition to the universe.
The two main characters, Rose and Red, were quite different for me. I did like Rose, but I didn’t like Red at all. He was truly unlikeable, and I didn’t understand why he kept making comments on girls’ and women’s appearances… he was fourteen. It would have still been bad if he was an adult, but he was a kid.
The plot was interesting and the universe was still a pleasure to be into. I read the trilogy last year and I liked it overall. This book truly encapsulated the atmopshere of the trilogy, I definitely recommend it if you miss the universe and you want to get back into it.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

[Laura Vignals · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to HarperVoyager and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.25/5 ⭐
There is something irresistible about a fantasy novel that treats books not simply as objects, but as actual places you can escape into, and The Bookshop Book takes that idea in such an imaginative direction.

The story follows Red, a young man living on the margins of society, whose life changes when he walks into a bookshop, and Rose Penrose, who has quite literally found herself trapped on the other side of the page. After a terrible act of violence transports Rose into a book written by her mother, she discovers that she can move from one story to another. Eventually, her path crosses Red's, connecting their lives in ways neither of them initially understands.

What I enjoyed most was the concept of travelling through stories. Moving between books and reality creates this wonderfully strange feeling where the boundaries between reader, character and story gradually become less certain. As someone who loves books about books, that aspect was easily my favourite part.

I also really appreciated the atmosphere. The bookshop feel almost magical in themselves: cluttered, comforting places filled with possibilities, while the actual story has a darker and more dangerous edge underneath all that cosiness. That contrast worked surprisingly well.

Red and Rose are interesting protagonists, although I found myself slightly more invested in the ideas surrounding them than in the characters themselves. At only around 224 pages, the novel moves quickly, and I sometimes wished it had slowed down. Some relationships and emotional moments could have benefited from more space, especially considering how fascinating the premise is.

Still, this is a clever and genuinely imaginative love letter to stories, bookshops and the strange relationship readers have with fictional worlds. It's also connected to Lawrence's Library Trilogy, but I appreciated that it can be read as a standalone, so you don't need to have read the previous books to understand what is happening.

I finished it wanting to spend considerably more time wandering through its bookshops and stories, which is probably one of the best compliments I can give it.

[El Fish | libro.vermo · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite things about the Library trilogy is the way all the people and events are wrapped around themselves so perfectly. Everything is important even if you don't realize it right away. This book is no different.

I really enjoyed following Rose in the beginning as she made her way through several different books, including The Wind in the Willows and Great Expectations. It was very cleverly done. Red's journey was equally interesting, especially as someone who has read the trilogy.

This is a stand alone so you don't have to read the trilogy first, but I highly, highly recommend it. It's so wonderfully connected to those books that you get an extra treat if you've read them.

Thanks very much to Ace/Berkley for the ARC.

[Librow0rm Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if Mr Lawrence hadn't been so wonderful as to have sent me a finished copy of The Bookshop Book, I would have read it. I already have my pre-order(s) in and can't wait to see how wonderful they look as I add them as trophies to my shelf alongside this edition of this wonderful book.

The Bookshop Book is a standalone story set in the universe of The Library Trilogy, you can choose to read it as a standalone but, trust me when I say that this universe is not one to left alone, dive in, Mark's imagination and truly wonderful writing kept me hooked from start to end, and there are other mini novella delights from this series that Mr L has also written that I promise you will adore. And the added benefit from having read the original trilogy and those other wonderful novellas is recognising those easter eggs that he has most definitely hidden away in this novella, so don't do yourself a disservice, get ordering the whole series, your eyes, brain and imagination will love you for it!

The Bookshop Book is a novella, which means it's around 200 pages, which for me was perfect...I read a couple of pages by the pool and then decided that it would be the perfect flight home read and it totally was, I have never and I mean never known a plane journey to fly by so quickly. My husband didn't get more than a couple of words from me, I didn't get carried away with onboard shopping and I wasn't sat there getting grumpy at sitting in a tin can for 4 hours! I had been transported to The Library Trilogy Universe and Red and Rose, were the perfect new characters to meet in this amazing universe.

Red is an adolescent who alongside his sister has been abandoned to live within the social care system. He literally lives on the margins of society, with reading being his only escape from the unpleasant reality that is his life. Rose Penrose is a young woman who has found herself trapped within books, from Toad in Toad Hall to other fictional stories you will most definitely know and probably loved, Rose has found herself running from an unknown entity until one day her journey crosses paths with Red's and their stories become intertwined.

If you've read Mark's writing before you'll know that where necessary he doesn't pull any punches and truthfully there is an element of darkness to this novella but, right until the final page I was hooked. At times I gasped aloud and yes, the wonderful air steward did check on me to make sure I was ok- which was lovely...even if I did have to explain that it was this amazing book. I'm not going to delve massively into the plot of this story, I'm no rocket scientist, so I suspect that if I tried I would give to much away. All I will say is that once again Mark transported me to The Library Trilogy universe and I have zero regrets.

I can't express how grateful I am to Mark Lawrence for sharing a finished edition of this book with me and I am hugely grateful that I don't have to deal with Gertrude giving me that face again (other series - dog's life.) Thank you once again Mark Lawrence. And I'll be honest this review is totally honest but, not at all unbiased.

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bookshop Book is an absolute delight for anyone who believes there is a little bit of magic hiding inside every bookshop.

This was such a fun, imaginative, and wonderfully strange adventure. Mark Lawrence takes the idea of a magical bookshop and runs with it, creating a story where the boundaries between books, stories, and reality become increasingly blurred. The concept of being able to step directly into different fictional worlds—and encounter familiar characters and settings along the way—completely hooked me. As a lifelong book lover, I couldn't get enough of the idea that stories could literally become places you could visit.

At the heart of the story are Red and Rose, two young characters whose paths become intertwined as they discover that there is far more to their world than they ever imagined. I really enjoyed their dynamic and watching their relationship develop throughout the adventure. Beneath all the fantasy, mystery, and mayhem, there is also a lovely emotional thread involving family, friendship, belonging, and the way stories can shape who we are.

And the world-building! Lawrence packs an incredible amount of imagination into this relatively short story. I loved the way classic literature is woven into the adventure, with characters moving through recognizable fictional worlds while those stories are turned wonderfully on their heads. There were several moments when I had absolutely no idea where the story was going—and I mean that as a compliment! It has that wonderfully trippy quality where you just have to trust the author, settle in, and enjoy the ride.

There were definitely moments when I was a little confused about the rules of this world, but eventually I stopped trying to figure everything out and simply let the story carry me along. And I'm so glad I did. The payoff is worth it.

I also loved that this works as a standalone, even though it is connected to The Library Trilogy. I haven't read the trilogy yet, but after finishing this, I absolutely want to. If anything, The Bookshop Book made me even more excited to discover the larger Library universe.

Whimsical, clever, atmospheric, adventurous, and completely devoted to the magic of stories, this felt like a love letter to books and the people who can't resist getting lost in them. If you love fantasy, magical bookshops, portal worlds, classic literature, or stories about the power of storytelling, you absolutely need to add this one to your TBR.

5 stars!

Thank you to Mark Lawrence, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Grace]

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

A delightful companion to the Library trilogy. The manner in which Lawrence weaves philosophy into his work has always delighted me, and with this story in particular I was getting hints of Sophie’s World, perhaps he is right and we're all only characters written in another's story? My one caveat here is that Rose and Red did not feel like vibrant characters in their own right, rather more like placeholders to get the point across, but this was also far fewer pages than Lawrence usually works with so perhaps they just needed more time on the page. A brilliant dipping and diving story full of curious worlds and great questions to go with them.

[Whitney ✨A River of Books✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Thank you to NetGalley & Berkley/ ACE for the eARC✨

Let me tell you, I just absolutely love Mark Lawrence’s Library Trilogy- with my whole heart ♥️

So, I was really excited to return to this world & I wasn’t disappointed! I love a book (& an author) that can make me laugh out loud, question my own sanity, & tear up in the same few pages.

Words like “fucklesticks” are really what get me through the day as I try to introduce them into my work vocabulary.

But seriously, this was a story of great sacrifice & these characters accomplish so much in such a short amount of time- I really could have done with another 100 page to get more backstory, but within the short book I really felt a whole lot for these characters. And I just love that about Mark’s writing.

Definitely would recommend- just for the comedy and tragedy of it all 🫶🏻

[Mela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

In this story we follow Rose and Red as they move through stories, books and libraries. And whilst one is on the run looking from the pages to the world. The other is trying to find his sister while falling into the stories.

This was such a great addition to the original trilogy. I think you can still read this without having read the rest because it shows how the magic works without spoiling the original series since we follow different characters. I enjoyed Rose’s story line more than I did Red’s, however I still liked how everything tied up in the end. One thing I love about this series is how the characters keep meeting and distancing thought out the story.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted eARC!

This story immediately grabbed me and didn’t let go. The worldbuilding that was packed into this book was intricate, mind bending, and simply incredible, and I absolutely adored Red and Rose despite the short amount of time we ultimately spend with them. I also can always appreciate a literary reference or retelling, and having characters dive into the pages of classic stories that get upturned by outside forces was exactly the spin I needed on that. I’ve been wanting to read The Library Trilogy and I’m now more convinced than ever that I’m going to love it!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Electronic ARC provided by NetGalley.

As someone who has enjoyed previous works by Mark Lawrence but didn't currently have the time to get into a full trilogy, I was happy to see this shorter standalone book set in his recent library universe pop up. The Bookshop Book is shorter then Lawrence's other novels, and although it definitely has world building elements that I assume are explained or fleshed out in the main trilogy, it also presented a compelling and satisfying standalone story. Red is 14, and living in a care facility with his older sister Sophie (the modern equivalent of an orphanage). Rose doesn't quite know where she comes from. She has grown up in books, and now something horrifying is pursuing her through the book world for unknown reasons, destroying everything in its path.

One day Red wanders into a local bookshop to do some browsing and things start to get weird. Localized earthquakes, sinister strangers following him, a suddenly missing sister, and a girl showing up on the covers of books where he knows she isn't a character. Figuring out what's going on, and how to save both his sister and his new friend Rose, will take Red on a journey through the book world and towards a future he could never have imagined.

Red and Rose were both well written viewpoint characters, though I ended up finding Red's side of the story more compelling since most of the action was driven from his end. The family that owns the bookstore were interesting enough that I was left wanting to know more about them. There were several points in the book where I felt that I would have benefited from knowing the lore and world building that went on in the main trilogy, but overall it wasn't necessary to understand this particular story. Mark Lawrence is very good at character design, especially in writing both male and female characters that just feel like people instead of like gendered fantasy archetypes. I definitely recommend The Bookshop Book to anyone who has either enjoyed Lawrence's work in the past, or new readers who are looking for a low investment entry point to his work.

[Sharon Greenwood · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

"A dark, fast-paced tale so gripping and filled with twists you will devour it in a single sitting."

This fast-paced fantasy gripped me from page one and refused to let go. The easy-to-read narrative glides along with incredible momentum, packing so many twists and turns into its pages that I found myself completing the entire journey in just one sitting.
At its heart, the story feels like a classic, dark fairy tale. The tone balances a sense of wonder with an underlying, atmospheric danger. There are moments that make you smile with genuine warmth, instances of deep sorrow that tug at your heart, and tense scenes that force you to look over your shoulder in fear. The balance between light and shadow gives the adventure real emotional weight.

The magic truly shines when characters enter stories within the story. Visiting the intricate worlds built across these different layers was an absolute joy. It is a brilliant concept, executed with precision. Exploring these literary landscapes allows you to see familiar archetypes and timeless figures in a completely different light, which adds a wonderful layer of depth to the plot.

Every destination feels rich and distinct, yet the focus never strays from the people navigating them. The well-written characters drive the narrative forward. They possess clear motivations, distinct voices, and believable bonds that anchor the high-concept magic. Their growth across this brief, whimsical adventure feels entirely earned. If you want a quick, enchanting escape that honours the power of imagination while delivering genuine thrills, this magnificent tale is well worth your time.

Thanks NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the advanced reader copy.

5 Excellent read - Loved it.
4 Enjoyable read - Liked It.
3 Average read - Mediocre.
2 Below average read - Mundane.
1 Regrettable read - nearly a DNF

[Ali Bunke · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

The Bookshop Book by Mark Lawrence is a fantasy novel with an urban fantasy tilt, set in the same world as The Library Trilogy. Having read the trilogy, I think it is worth starting there before picking up this book, as much of the world-building is already established and provides additional context for the story.

One of the things I enjoy most about Mark Lawrence's writing is his ability to weave stories within stories. The narrative layers and threads come together, pull apart, and gradually reveal a larger picture. I especially loved the idea of characters from books stepping into the real world, with the line between fiction and reality becoming increasingly blurred.

Although this is very much a book about books, it is also an adventure. Red and Rose are at the center of the story, but the connections to the Library create touchpoints that make the world feel both comforting and familiar. Despite its shorter length, the story is packed with action, adventure, clues to uncover, and mysteries to unravel. As the layers are peeled back, readers discover the truth alongside Red, making for an engaging and rewarding journey.

[Books0507_Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bookshop Book is part of the Library trilogy but can be read as a standalone. I've read and loved the original trilogy and the mini novellas Mark has already put out so I was so keen to get me hands on this.

I was looking for all the little connections I hoped would be dotted about. I'll say no more on those!

While this is a story book at just over 200 pages it was so nice to be back in this world, with these new characters. It flows really well and as usual Mark knows how to write some intriguing characters.

Red and Rose are two youngsters who's paths become intertwined through some interesting circumstances. I enjoyed seeing friendships grow and develop and I really loved the classic lit woven into the story I thought this was a really nice touch.

Thank you so much to Mark Lawrence who sent me an early finished copy. I'm so thankful and I honestly can't wait to read more from one of my favourite authors.