Independent Bookshop Week 2025
A Wonderful Celebration of Books and Community!
Independent Bookshop Week 2025 was a fantastic celebration of literature, community, and the joy of supporting local bookshops.
At Darling Reads, we were delighted to take part in this nationwide event, supported by the Booksellers Association, which ran from 14th to 22nd June, and brought together readers of all ages to champion the unique value of the independent bookshops.
We had a packed schedule of events and activities, including:
Author Events:
We were thrilled to host AF Steadman who visited the shop on the Sunday, for a book signing. It was such a special morning, and it was so great to see so many excited faces as her fans queued down the street. If you need a new book series for your tweens/teens this summer, we highly recommend the Skandar books, and with the final instalment due out this August, it’s a great time to get on board!
Giveaways, Prizes and Competitions:
Everyone who shopped with us during the week had the chance to win a prize on our spin to win, the first 50 customer got a free £5 voucher AND had the chance to win a £10 voucher with our recommendation competition!
We also offered double loyalty points all week to everyone on our loyalty scheme. (If you’re not signed up and want to be, please get in touch!) It was wonderful to see our community getting excited about books and bookish treats.
Bookseller Favourites and Recommendations:
We each chose two of our recent favourite books to recommend to our lovely customers, and we offered an additional 10% off! Want to know what we chose?
Here is the full list:
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo chosen by Fran
Saltblood by Francesca de Tores chosen by Laura
Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland chosen by Asher
The Burial Plot by Elizabeth Macneal chosen by Shelley
The Kings Mother by Annie Garthwaite chosen by Asher
My Dog by Olivia Wakeford chosen by Fran
The Whisperwicks by Jordan Lees chosen by Shelley
Skandar and the Skeleton Curse by AF Steadman chosen by Laura
Which one of these would you want to read next?
Celebrating Independent Bookshops Now and Forever
The support we received during Independent Bookshop Week was overwhelming.
Every book purchased and every visit to Darling Reads helps us continue doing what we love most: connecting people with great stories, recommending amazing books, and championing the power of local.
Thank you to everyone who chooses to buy local and support your independent bookshop. With your help, we keep our shelves buzzing with excitement and our hearts full of gratitude.
Here’s to the next chapter – and many more Independent Bookshop Weeks to come!
#IndependentBookshopWeek #BuyLocal #SupportLocalBookshops #DarlingReads