Conversations With Kav – ‘If I Owned a Bookshop’ tag + Giveaway

I’ve always dreamed about owning a bookstore. I think every reader has a variation of that bookish fantasy…at least I hope so, otherwise this is going to be me being weird again. 🙂 I came upon this book tag on Chautona Havig’s Youtube page and thought it was too fun to pass up.

So, today, let’s chat about bookshops…specifically the kind we’d own. Money’s no limit, and, of course all our bookshops will be mega successful so let your imagination run wild. (And remember to check out the giveaway details at the end of this post.)

If I Owned a Bookshop…

Well, of course, I’d be over the moon and I would never want to take a day off! I’d order books and shelve books and make pretty display books ! Oh and I’d get to talk books all day long! Happy sigh. Of course, I’d have to be practical too and that’s where this book tag comes in.

Oh, and I should say what kind of bookstore. I have two dream ideas and they are exact opposites. One is a huge multi-storied bookstore with lots of reading nooks and craft corners and large spaces for book signings. The Hudson’s Bay Company (Canadian department store) has recently gone out of business and whenever I go to the mall and see that huge three storied empty space at one end of the mall I think, “that would make an amazing bookstore!” So that’s one of my bookshop dreams.

But the one I’m going to use to answer the questions for this book tag is my other dream — making over an old school bus into a travelling bookstore that I could take to out of the way places where people are hours away from a bricks and mortar bookstore. So, here we go!

  1. Operating Hours – They would vary depending on my destination so I’d have to be very flexible. And the season would play a part as well. Tough to be on the road in the middle of winter (mind you being stranded in a mobile bookshop in a the blizzard might be cozy!)
  2. Music Playing – I don’t think I’d do music but it would fun to play ambient sounds to suit the location and time of day. So waves crashing on the beach for a seaside town, a crackling fire and night owls hooting for an evening opening in the mountains…that kind of thing.
  3. Coffee and alcohol? – Definite no to the alcohol. Maybe I could have an awning across one side of the bus with a few cafe tables and chairs and I could serve simple coffee or juice. It would depend on how much room I’d be willing to sacrifice from my books!
  4. Set up of store – I’ve kind of described this already. A bus outfitted with shelves and a couple of cozy reading nooks. I’d have some clever storage set up so I could pull out a bookshelf and set it up outside on good weather days. OH – just had a brilliant afterthought. A double decker bus bookstore!!!
  5. Live entertainment and community events – welllll, that’s kinda hard, though I could partner with small towns and we could host something together. I’d bring the books and they could supply a meeting place for a book club or crafting event. That kind of thing.
  6. Store Location: Wherever the road takes me!
  7. External appearance: I’d definitely want to paint it with books and characters — kind of like the Magic School bus only book themed. 🙂
  8. What kind of books would you sell? – Everything. It would be fun to tailor my collection to the different communities. People could send it requests and interests beforehand so I could stock up. That means I’d need a warehouse in my home base….oh wow, a whole warehouse full of books! Thud!
  9. Name of the store:Novel Journeys.

The Giveaway

Now it’s your turn. Share a bit about the kind of bookstore you would like to own in a comment below and I’ll enter you in a draw to win:

US – $10 Baker Book House gift certificate

Canada – $10 Amazon or Indigo gift certificate

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday November 15 2025.

54 thoughts on “Conversations With Kav – ‘If I Owned a Bookshop’ tag + Giveaway”

  1. This is so much fun!!

    I think my fun dreamy bookstore would have overnight accommodations so people could spend the night among books. Adorable themed rooms. Tons of baked goods. And I want there to be pizza, but in such a way that does not grease up the books 😉

    The double-decker bus for communities away from book stores sounds so sweet!

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    1. I was right with you until the pizza. lol All I can think of is how the books would absorb the smell and then instead of that lovely paper and ink aroma it would be tomato sauce and spicy pepperoni. Bwahahaha! Love the overnight accommodation though — we could have book club sleepovers! Good luck, Stephanie!

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  2. There is a bookstore here that just open about a year ago. Sells book, bookmarkers, stickers and a little of everything else plus it works with the local animal shelter there is a cat room and they have adopted out almost 30 cats so far. I would love to have a bookstore like that.

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  3. Oh, I love this, dreaming with my eyes open!

    I’ve always dreamed of a bookstore in a historic building in a small town on main street. The kind of town with houses surrounding it where you could walk to town. I used to dream of living above my shop, but now I’ve moved that idea to a small cottage behind the shop with a path through a flower garden to the front door.

    My bookstore would be a Christian bookstore which I am sadly missing these days. It would have an inner door that I could open to the bakery/coffeeshop next door so customers of each shop could mingle between the two shops, the best of both worlds, books and bakeries.

    There would be comfy sofas and chairs near the front windows and a fireplace on the side wall. It would have a special room for children’s books with plush beanbag chairs. Maybe even a small tent to really hide away and get lost in a book.

    I’m not much for background noise, the two shops themselves would have that with conversations going on, but maybe some instrumental on low volume.

    There would be seasonal events on main street, spring summer, fall and Christmas. Besides books I’d sell all types of bookish gifts.

    Store name: The Next Page

    I just lived out an entire dream life in a matter of minutes! I can always count on you Kav to bring the bookish fun on Best Reads!

    Thanks for the giveaway, tracey14567 atgmaildotcom

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    1. Tracey, you’re my kind of bookish dreamer! I want to visit The Next Page (perfect name!) already. In fact why don’t you hire me? I’ll work for books and maybe I can crash in the apartment above the shop since you’ll have the cottage? I’ve always wanted to live in a historic building in a small town! And I’ll take care of your flower garden for you! I love the idea of having a doorway between the bookstore and a bakery! You get the benefit of the treats without having to do the work which will give you more time to cultivate your collection. I’m not huge on background music either…except maybe seasonal music. Like Irish harp at St Patrick’s Day and instrumental Carols at Christmas. I love the idea of your bookstore being right in the middle of all the town’s special events. Making window displays to match would be all kinds of fun! Thanks for sharing your bookshop dreams…I might have to steal a few of your ideas once I’ve had my fill of roaming country roads with my bookmobile. 🙂 Good luck, Tracey!

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      1. We can be full book partners, and the upstairs apartment is all yours! I’ll gladly let you tend the garden, and I’ll be your helper.

        Your bookmobile sounds like Sarah Monson’s upcoming Hearts in Circulation, can’t wait to read that one. I’ll imagine you as Hayley with the handsome Levi on the cover. Then when that job has run its course, you can retire to The Next Page 😉 After reading Wonderland Creek and Along a Storied Trail I wondered about being a packhorse librarian, but such hard work. Give me the bookmobile any day.

        What a great daydream to live out with you and the other Best Readers! 🙂

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      3. Oooohhhhhh, you’re good at naming bookstores, Tracey. I like The Great Escape too…in fact it would work for my mobile bookstore as well. 🙂 And guess what?! I just got approved for Hearts in Circulation from Net Galley. I’ll be listening to it this week. Eeeeeeppppp!!!!!

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      4. When Sarah’s book dropped from 18.99 to 12.99 I preordered it. I know it’ll be good, enjoy!

        Yes, to The Great Escape Bookmobile! I don’t know why but now I’m thinking about Scooby-Do’s Mystery Machine, lol.

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  4. I’d love for my book store for Christian fiction to be in a small town. I’d like to think it was the type of store what would draw people there from all over the United States and abroad. I’m thinking a older, two floored, stone faced building that fits in with the history of the town – maybe on the town square. The first floor would have the latest editions and most sought after books creatively displayed with books along the walls and in rows of shelfing . On side would have a small fireplace with a couple comfortable chairs for taking a break while exploring a book you might buy. On the other side would be a small niche where they could buy some of the pastries and coffee or soft drink (got to have my Diet Pepsi) and talk to other so liked people. Strictly for patrons with no carry out. While I love to bake, I want to deal in books not be baking all day. In the middle would be the wide staircase going up to the second floor. The second floor would house older books, both new and old, including a showcased area at the top of the stairs for rare and first editions collector books. I’d want the whole store to be a fun place to work or to just walk into off the street. Love your idea about the sound factor. Otherwise, I’d rather leave folks to their reading and thinking while a soft sound of folks talking about books. Not sure of a name, I’d have to give that some thought. I’d want it to be meaningful yet fun at the same time – maybe a play on words.

    Have a wonderful day! Today our temperatures start to plummet for the next couple days. BRRRR!

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Happy sigh — stone faced buildings are a weakness of mine! Love your description! And the town square is the perfect location for such an important community business! It’s snowing today — first snowfall of the season — so your fireplace idea sounds especially inviting right now. I think I’ll curl up with a book (or two) and you can just let me know when you’re about to close up so I can pay for my books. 🙂 Might have to explore your foodie niche and see if you offer hot chocolate! Sqqquuuealllll! I love the idea of a rare books / first edition collection upstairs. I’ve always wanted to collect those! Maybe I’ll find some of the Trixie Bedlen books I’m missing. I love play on words for bookshop titles. There are so many cute ones in cozy mysteries. Thanks for playing the dream game, Kay. Good luck!

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  5. Definitely like Kathleen Kelly’s in You’ve Got Mail. I felt sad with them as the closing was imminent and then the empty shelves…. I will go with Tracey’s dream! Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House lanehillhouse(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Exactly! And that’s why I don’t like that movie! The bookshop dies, people! How can that possibly be romantic or a happily ever after?! I’ll join you at Tracey’s bookstore instead. 🙂 Good luck, Kathleen!

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  6. If I had a bookstore, it would be a warm, welcoming space designed for families to slow down and connect. I imagine shelves made of natural wood, sunlight spilling across cozy chairs, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the air. There’d be a small café inside — coffee and lattes for the grown-ups, muffins and cocoa for the kids — so everyone could settle in and stay awhile. I’d want it to feel like a second living room, where parents can relax with a book while their children discover the joy of reading. My dream bookstore wouldn’t just sell books — it would create memories, comfort, and a sense of belonging.

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    1. Ooohhh, I’ll hang with the kids and the cocoa please! Love the homey feeling you describe. Wouldn’t it be awesome to have your bookstore the starting point for young avid readers?! And now I have an image of a family cuddled up together sharing bits of their books with each other, reading firs sentences and trying to decide which books to bring home with them! Love this, Emily. Good luck!

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  7. The 1st Christian bookstore I ever went in was exactly as Tracey described outwardly. A shop nestled between old buildings on Main St. You could walk down the sidewalk to all the shops & hit the the bookstore during your travels. I’d change the interior, though.

    I’d name it “Novel” Treats! As you walk in, there’d be comfy chairs & a non-alcoholic drink bar to your right where you could have your choice of coffee, hot chocolate, tea, smoothies, and an assortment of sweet treats—-brownies, doughnuts, chocolate chip & sugar cookies, etc.

    Only Christian books in a huge fiction section (large enough for book signings) in the middle & a section for non-fiction & Bibles to your left. Instrumental Christian music would be playing softly & Christmas music during the holiday season. Oh, and a section around the back for gifts … devotionals or journals for a friend, Willow Tree figures, jewelry, etc. Now all I need is the capital to make my dream come true. 😄 Any volunteers?

    Thanks, Kav, for the giveaway fun! dianalflowers at aol dot com

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    1. I’m all for easy access to bookstores. Every town should have one front and centre! Love the name – Novel Treats — because novels are a special kind of treat! I’m all for a huge Christian Fiction section — and do stock all the indie books too, please and thank you! I’ll be there every time you have a book signing! I can even help with crowd control if needed. Love the idea of a gift section too — bookish related things and inspirational gifts. I miss that a lot since our CF closed up. Sigh, if only our dream money was actually spendable! Thanks for shaking your books dreams, Diane. Good luck!

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  8. A tea and book shop would be delightful, especially with literary themed teas – I have some book-shaped tea tins from NovelTea Tins that are gorgeous, with flavors like Pippi Oolongstocking, Pride and Peppermint, Don Quixo-tea, and the Picture of Earl Grey. I could just imagine a whole book shop with book and tea pairings, and tons of tea and literary puns!

    rdalquist AT gmail DOT com

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    1. Ohhh, literary themed tea parties too! I love the idea of those tea tins, they sound super fun! And bring on the literary puns. You could hold high tea sometimes and have your staff dress up as book characters! This has me grinning…and brimming with ideas. Thanks for sharing, Rachael. Good luck!

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  9. I love the idea of your bookstore—I also love the name. I worked in a bookstore for 10 years. Loved it.

    If I owned one, I’d have to have a partner that loved marketing and bookkeeping. I wanted the fun jobs, like ordering books, doing the creative book displays, and setting up special events. run a book club, and help customers with their purchases.

    I would continue the practice the bookstore I worked at had, which was praying for people in the store if they asked us to. I think the only thing missing in the store I worked at was a coffee and snack section. I’ve been in a few Barnes and Nobles that have done this setup beautifully. I would get ideas from them. Grin!

    I’d have instrumental music playing—featuring CDs you can buy in the store. I’d set up book club events with authors and book signings. and I’d have children’s special reading times and activities too.

    The store I worked at was LifeWay. It’s hard to come up with a name; yours is catchy. Maybe something like Book Nook Haven or Read, Relax, Revive.

    This was fun. Thanks for coming up with creative things to discuss.
    Thanks for all you do.

    Blessings
    Nora finding hope at yahoo

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  10. I left off what kinds of books I’d sell. I’d have a huge Christian fiction section. I was in Barnes and Noble the other day and they only have one bookcase half full with Christian fiction. Made me sad. There would be a children’s section and nonfiction books. We’d have to have a special gift section too. We’d sell Christian music and movies too.

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    1. Squuueeeallll! You worked in a bookstore?! Squeallll!!!! I’m totally with you on wanting to do the creative things and having someone else tend to the nitty gritty details like bookkeeping – ugh! Oh, the addition of praying for your customers is beautiful, Nora. Adding in coffee and snacks adds to the cozy, stay awhile feel. Love all your bookish activity plans — definitely makes a customer feel emotionally connected to a bookstore. I like Read, Relax, Revive for a name! Love your vision of what kind of books your store would offer. Our local Barns and Noble equivalent – Indigo Books – is the same — maybe half a shelf of Christian Fiction books though occasionally I’ll find a few scattered throughout the general collection. Makes it hard to find a book that way! Thanks for dreaming with me, Nora. Good luck!

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  11. Kav, my bookish heart is all twitterpated! My bookstore would be in a cozy brick building with exposed pipes and wood floors. Tucked away reading corners with blankets. Soft classical instrumental music playing. Such a lovely dream.

    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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    1. I know, right, our bookish hearts are on overload right about now with all this dreaming. Love the image you’ve created with those wood floors and exposed pipes. I’m imagining a brick interior too. And love the cozy tucked away reading nooks. I’d want to live at your bookstore, Caryl! Good luck!

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  12. Mine would definitely be a family business with all of my sisters. We’ve definitely daydreamed about a curated bookstore or Christian library with the odd classic or children’s book thrown in for nostalgia’s sake. Because we know of soooo many small or indie books/authors that no one seems to know/talk about and our library is unable to obtain copies of because they’re only allowed to order from specified vendors😱!! Since it would be a Christian bookstore/library (we really liked the idea of a Christian library, where people wouldn’t have to worry about the books they or their kids were looking through and checking out😉), it would be called “For it is Written”. (My dad came up with that name and, growing up, he always said he’d name a bookstore that, if we ever started one.)

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    1. Love the idea of a family owned/run bookshop. I’d happily browse your curated collection. You might even talk me into a fantasy book or two. 🙂 I agree that indie books need more representation in brick and mortar bookstores! Ooooohhhhh, great name for a bookstore – ‘For it is Written’ – especially a Christian bookstore! Sig me up to be a regular patron. Good luck, Elly!

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      1. I feel like I should add that one of my sisters is basically the family’s coffee-barista, so we would definitely be adding some sort of coffee shop inside, lol. As it is, when the sisters congregate at “The Hub” (our parents’ house, which doubles as a daycare and exchange/drop-off station for clothing and goods between us siblings😂), everyone knows to expect a large, hand-crafted coffee from this sister🤤☕️

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      2. A good barista is so important to the success of a business! You’ll lure patrons in with the scent of your coffee and then they’l stick around to browse the shelves. Love that your parents provide a hub for you sisters to hover around! 🙂

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  13. My best friend and I have always dreamed of owning a bookshop/coffee shop. I think the idea sprang after reading Susan May Warren’s first Deep Haven book that featured such an arrangement. She is very artistic, so we would let her do the designing. We dreamed of a cozy place, with the smell of coffee and books. No music, but flowers, large windows for natural light, and comfy furniture.

    kathrynlvossATgmailDOTcom

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    1. A best friends bookshop/coffeshop sounds perfect! I don’t drink coffee but I do love the smell so that works. 🙂 I’m all for cozy reading spaces that smell good! Good luck, Kathryn!

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  14. Truly, I’ve never really thought about it! But my book store would definitely be on the smaller side. Something on Main Street in small town America. But not too small, definitely have to have room for some comfy seating! Coffee or tea available for patrons would be nice.

    As for a name, again never really thought about it, there are two (well one actually closed recently) with clever names near me. One is called Fiction Addiction and the other As the page Turns.

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    1. Gasp — you’ve never dreamed up floorpans for a bookstore? lol I like the idea of a cozy smallish bookstore. I like both those names but As the Page Turns made me snort laugh – love a pun-y name. Good luck, Patty!

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  15. Kav, I like the idea of your traveling bookshop! 🙂 My dream bookshop would be more like Tracy’s — definitely on the old fashioned side. Probably two-stories. Books and bookish gifts on one side, and coffee/hot chocolate shop with yummy baked goods on the other and also a large room for book events, book clubs, writers groups, children’s story hours, etc. And bells that jingle above the doors when you come in off the street 🙂

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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    1. Cheery bells are so welcoming! I like that addition and I love the sound of your store, especially the book event space. So important! Since we’re dreaming of our bookshops we can give them nice roomy areas that aren’t always easy to come by in a real life bookstore. Prime real estate is pricey! Good luck, Cheryl!

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  16. Ohh, I’ve always wanted to own a used bookstore, but with just Christian fiction books. It would have both old, and new titles; and different sections for historical, contemporary, mystery/suspense, and maybe even a dedicated Christmas section! I like the idea of a cafe, probably set off the one side, where you could get coffee, tea and maybe a little sweet treat. I don’t know what name it would be, probably something witty though. 🙂

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    1. Used bookstores are such treasure troves! Sadly, the one closest to me has closed it’s doors just a week ago. They’d owned the store for over thirty years and were past the time for retirement. They tried to find a buyer but no one was interested. I should have put them in touch with you! 🙂 Good luck, Sabrina!

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  17. Well, I can’t say I’ve ever wanted to own a bookstore, because I have no idea how to run a business. LOL I’ll gladly just help out with yours or Tracy’s or one of the other lovely bookshop-to-be owners here. I could shelve the books and recommend books to the customers. Or maybe I’ll just travel around the country visiting all of your bookshops! That sounds like a treat!!

    whthomas13 at yahoo dot com

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  18. If I owned a bookshop, it would named: Come and Read. I’d carry both new and used books. I’d have lots of comfy chairs for readers to curl up in and read. I’d definitely host a book club, which I may or may not lead. Tea and snacks for sale would definitely be essential. Pretty sure, I would just want to live in an apartment above the store, so I could easily raid the shelves when I need a new read. :)Jolene – iwant2save34 at gmail dot com

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    1. I like the idea of a mix of new and used books and comfy chairs are a must. Yes, an apartment above the bookshop is an absolute dream of mine! If I ever saw one available I think I’d snap it up sight unseen. 🙂 Good luck, Jolene!

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  20. My long-term vision is to have a private bookmobile so I can travel to rural areas and reach kids/families there. And, another vision of mine is to have a private library with books, puzzles, board games, etc, and children can have a safe place to hang out if the parents need a date night or if a single parent needs a place for their child if they have to work longer. I guess, in essence, my dream is to have a literary ministry focused on children/youth. I know it’s not actually a bookstore, but it’s along the lines. 😀

    bookgurl60 at gmail dot com

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    1. Oh, I love this. A literary ministry! And it would fill so many needs. It’s perfect! Like adding puzzles and board games to your collection too. My friend lives in a small town and her library is amazing in that they meet all kinds of needs for the area — lots of rural families and a higher unemployment or seasonal employment issues. Anyway, the library lends out games and puzzles and toys and even tools, sewing machines etc. And they often have people lending days where an expert can be borrowed for consultation – like a carpenter or a quilter etc. That library is the hub of a far-reaching community. It’s brilliant! Good luck, Elizabeth!

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  21. It’s weird but I always wanted to have a bed & breakfast and have a bookstore in it. That way I could bake my goodies and share with the patrons. It would be an old farmhouse with lots of rooms. leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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  23. My bookstore is single a single story with a nice condo around the corner that would be perfect for my living quarters (no yard work!) It would have to be a Christian bookstore, because the closest one here is about 40 miles away. I picture a small town with plenty of parking and large window space for fun displays of books and other supportive merchandise. There would not be any food available, so as not to ruin books or compete with other local eating establishments. Someone would have to be hired to tend to the pretty flowers growing in large pots outside (I have a black thumb).  This would be a fun community gathering place with a nice conference room ready for book clubs, author talks with book signings and presentations.  There would have to be a yearly book festival to attract lots of customers and authors for meet & greets and autographing books.  The book festival would be a major fundraiser to support local community interests. I would name it Turn the Page.

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    1. Love your practicality with the condo right around the corner. 🙂 Ohhhh, I’ll do your flower tending for a book a month. 🙂 And I love the community centered ideas for you bookstore. Turn the Page is a perfect bookstore name! Good luck, Perrianne!

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