Books Set in Cafés, Bookshops, and Libraries
It is probably unsurprising that we enjoy a story set in community spaces such as a cafe. And of course, we are going to love anything bookish like a library or a bookshop. Books that are set in cafes, bookshops, and libraries often have a little communal magic to them. As a book club, we love anything about books and community.
These are the kinds of spaces where people gather, ideas spark, and lives quietly intertwine. The perfect settings for comfort, connection, and a touch of everyday magic.
And as the evenings draw in, there’s something especially lovely about curling up with a book that celebrates these communal spaces. Whether you fancy a heart-warming romance, a story about second chances, or a mystery tucked between the stacks, here are some books set in cafés, bookshops, and libraries to add to your autumn reading list.
Books Set in Cafés
The Little Café in Copenhagen by Julie Caplin
Part travel romance, part hygge-inspired escapism, this book whisks readers to Denmark for a story of warmth, pastries, and second chances.
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
In a tiny Tokyo café, customers can travel back in time but only while their coffee remains warm. Told through four interlinked stories, this tender, magical novel explores love, regret, and the small moments that define our lives.
The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski
This is a delightfully whimsical and cosy novel where three sisters run a tearoom and read fortunes in customers’ teacups. Their business becomes a space for stories, connection, and healing.
Books Set in Bookshops
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
A grumpy bookshop owner’s life changes forever when an abandoned baby appears in his store. A heartfelt, witty story about second chances, love, and the transformative power of books.
The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
A floating bookshop on a barge might not be a café, but it offers the same intimacy, a place of conversation, healing, and connection. Perfect for Francophiles and dreamers.
Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum
When Yeongju leaves her high-pressure city job, she opens a small independent bookshop in the quiet Seoul neighbourhood of Hyunam-dong. There, she and her customers rediscover the joy of slowing down, connecting, and finding meaning through books.
Books Set in Libraries
The Library by Bella Osborne
A heartfelt story about an unlikely friendship between a teenage boy and an elderly woman as they bond over their small village library. Gentle, funny, and full of heart.
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
Set between a local library and the lives of two lonely Londoners brought together by a mysterious list of books. A moving exploration of connection through reading.
The Librarian by Salley Vickers
In 1950s England, a young woman takes a job as a children’s librarian and discovers the quiet power of books to shape lives. Nostalgic, gentle, and ideal for lovers of literary fiction.