Title: The Bookshop BelowAuthor: Georgia Summers
Pages: 441
Publication Date: Nov. 18, 2025
Publisher: Redhook
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Fantasy
Synopsis:
In this extraordinary standalone from the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The City of Stardust, a disgraced bookseller is offered the chance to restore a magical bookshop to its former glory, and enters a dark underworld of unscrupulous collectors, deadly ink magic and shady societies.
If you want a story that will change your life, Chiron’s bookshop is where you go. For those lucky enough to grace its doors, it’s a glimpse into a world of deadly bargains and powerful, magical books.
For Cassandra Fairfax, it’s a reminder of everything she lost, when Chiron kicked her out and all but shuttered the shop. Since then, she’s used her skills in less . . . ethical ways, trading stolen books and magical readings to wealthy playboys looking for power money can’t buy.
Then Chiron dies. And if Cassandra knows anything, it’s the bookshop must always have an owner.
To restore the shop, she’ll need the help of Lowell Sharpe, a rival bookseller who is everything Cassandra is not – and knows it, too.
But as she is plunged into a world of unscrupulous collectors, deadly ink magic and shady societies, a dark force threatens to unravel the bookshops entirely . . .
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The Bookshop Below is a unique and atmospheric fantasy about a hidden network of magical bookshops beneath London, full of enchanted bargains, magical books, and a lot of danger. It’s a story about stories, consequences, second chances, and choosing who you want to be, even when the odds are stacked against you.
When Cassandra Fairfax learns that her former mentor, Chiron, has died, she is shocked to discover that he named her the new owner of his magical shop, a place she was banished from years ago. She soon learns that Lowell Sharpe received the same letter, and the two rivals find themselves navigating other rival booksellers, old secrets, and the dark forces threatening their world.
Cassandra is a compelling protagonist. She is funny and flawed, very aware of the mistakes she has made, and trying to carve out a life for herself even though the world she grew up in has turned its back on her. And Lowell is a great contrast to her. They start off rivals, though there’s definitely a spark between them, and their connection builds so well over the course of the story. I loved it! Their romance is slow-burning, and their chemistry is fantastic. Some of their flirtations are so comical, and others are more romantic. It all makes for an entertaining relationship.
The other characters are interesting, but they weren’t as dynamically developed as the two main characters. There are a couple I wish we learned more about, especially those who work for Cass and Lowell, because I feel like their stories would be worth knowing.
One of my favorite things about this novel is its premise. I was fascinated by the idea of ancient, magical bookshops that feel alive and have personalities. Summers uses imagery and personification so well to bring these stores to life. It’s a world that is equal parts cozy and eerie, blending ink-magic, high-stake bargains, and a long history that defines each store.
The found family elements throughout the book were another highlight for me, and they definitely brought some heart-warming moments to the story, which is a bit dark at times. The plot is mysterious and dangerous and explores a secret society, murdered shop owners, and a disappearing magic system. It was all so intriguing, and though the pacing is slow, it is fleshed out well. There are also a couple of twists I didn’t see coming! Love that!
Overall, The Bookshop Below is a charming and immersive fantasy that I really enjoyed, and I’m so glad I got to buddy read it with Leslie @ Books Are the New Black. Special thanks to Orbit Books for sending me a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Books are just stories, after all. And there’s more than one way to tell them.
O to you who holds our fate most tight, we are but story made manifest.
- rivals to lovers
- magical bookshop
- found family
- secret society
Georgia Summers is half-British, half-Trinidadian, and spent most of her life living across the world, including Russia, Colombia, and the US. When she’s not doing bookish things, she’s planning her next great adventure. She currently lives in London, but she dreams of one day living in a haunted château with a ghost that cleans.
Brilliant review, Julie! I’m so with you on all of these points, I would have loved to spend a little more time with the side characters, and I also thought the premise behind the bookshops and their magic was so well done.
This looks good. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Adding to my TBR.
Yay! I hope you get a chance to read it!