The Book Shop in Lee‑on‑the‑Solent is far more than a century‑old bookshop, it’s the beating heart of a community, lovingly kept alive by owner Sarah Burrows.

After a high‑pressure global career in aviation, Sarah took a leap of faith and bought the shop she’d always dreamed of running, moving her family into the flat above. When the pandemic hit just two years later, she feared she’d lose it – until her daughter suggested creating “positivity boxes” filled with books and treats, that is. Orders poured in from across the world, saving the shop and cementing its role as a source of comfort, connection and joy. Today, the shop’s children’s section has doubled in size, subscriptions are thriving, and its book club has become a lifeline for many.

What keeps the shop going isn’t profit – it’s purpose. Sarah works a second job to keep the doors open, but her passion lies in the literacy and mental‑health work she does through the shop: giving away free children’s books, supporting local schools, and creating events that bring people together in ways online retailers never could. Candlelit classics evenings, author events, themed festivals and community deliveries have turned the shop into a place where stories genuinely change lives. As Sarah puts it, “I don’t run the shop for profit, I do it because I love it, and it means so much to my community.”

Nearly 100 years after it first opened, The Book Shop remains a cherished piece of local history, and Sarah is its fiercely devoted guardian.

Address: The Book Shop, 142 High St, Lee-on-the-Solent PO13 9DD

Phone: 07771 410074

Website: Lee-on-Solent The Book Shop | Home & Author Submissions | The Book Shop