Octavias Bookshop

1 week ago

OUT TODAY!!! ... See MoreSee Less

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Emma will be pleased!!

Lovely looking book 😍

Sally Bult

The Great Godden by Meg Rosoff is glorious. Petite but perfect, a novella that satisfies all things Summer. I practically devoured it in one sitting, on a picnic blanket, which is what it warranted. My only regret is that now it’s over. Rosoff’s writing is poignant and lyrical, like watching a theatrical performance unfold in front of you. The Great Godden also feels a little like Gatsby but set on the British coast, which just adds to its appeal. The actual books design is also very cool and certainly one for keeps. ... See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago

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We are very happy to now have in stock ‘Memoirs of a 90s Schoolboy’ by beloved local star of This Country and adored friend to many Michael Sleggs! ... See MoreSee Less

4 weeks ago

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Check out some great reviews from my lovely bookshop team of their favourite lockdown reads 💕📚😊 https://octaviasbookshop.co.uk/category/… ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago

Reviews from the team Archives - Octavias Bookshop

The Lark By E. Nesbit Paperback £8.99 (reviewed by Octavia) Best known for her beloved children’s classics: Five Children and It and of course The Railway Children; The Lark is one of her several n...

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“This evening has been born from one of those murmuring sundowns, our bodies molten as the sea and the sky turned to honey. We’ve been dipping and diving and drying off in the sun all afternoon. The night-scented jasmine is soporific as a lullaby.” - this book is perfection and summer all at once... I am back on a Greek island with white stone and sleepy blue shutters and hot pink geraniums and bougainvillea 💕 ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago

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Do you stock it in Octavia’s?

Thank goodness you are only reading and not ‘doing a Johnson’! Pleased it can take you there.

Here is our lovely new window display ready to reopen on Wednesday.
Opening times will now be Monday -Sunday(10:00am-4:00pm)
Don’t forget that it’s only one household in the shop at any one time, if there is already a customer inside the shop please queue outside and respect social distancing.
You will be able to browse the books but no touching. We will then give your choices to you, to take a further look at with gloves on.
Payment will be card only please.
We have hand sanitisers and a screen in place, as well as a one way system to make life easier for now.
We will also be continuing the home delivery service indefinitely, for those who live further afield or for those not ready to face the shops.
Please support us and your other local independent shops.
Most importantly I can’t wait to see my lovely loyal customers and their littles again 😊📚 ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago

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It will be great to see you back open. Blackjack Street is beginning to return to a new normal with Jack's and the Candy Man open too.

So exited to come to Cirencester! 👏🏻

Can’t wait to see you too. We have missed your fantastic book shop 😘

The best bookshop ever! 💕💕💕

Lovely to see you both again Good luck

Such a lovely bookshop

Looks wonderful 🤩 xx

Good luck 😉

❤️❤️❤️

So glad I could make it to your bookshop on Wednesday afternoon and actually order a long awaited book. The interior looks brilliant and the health/hygiene measures are really well thought through, even down to the one-way system. Blackjack Street is beginning to come alive again.

So exciting!! Can’t wait to pop in with Layla x

We are still running our book home delivery service. We will then reopen the shop in accordance with government guidelines on July 1st.

I hope you are all well and look forward to your book orders. Please email them to info@octaviasbookshop.co.uk ... See MoreSee Less

2 months ago

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Cannot wait for you to reopen we've missed coming in to choose beautiful books!

Octavia's Bookshop I’ve sent you a message. ☺️

My wonderful book loving friend Gemma has been doing something lovely during lockdown with her son and his Grandma...

If children are missing friends and family during lockdown but are too young to take part in the family zoom quiz why not share a breakfast-time, afternoon-time, bedtime – anytime story together! Buy two copies of the same book but have one copy delivered into the hands of grandma (or other) so they can read to them via video chat while you follow along at home. A really lovely way to enjoy great storytelling and beautiful illustrations together when we can’t ‘be’ together. (This also works brilliantly out of lockdown with far flung relatives)
“Buzz has not seen any of his grandparents for over two months (like most children) but has really enjoyed reading Elmer with his G at bedtime. Definitely has become most requested story of lockdown and so nice to see their bond continue despite the absence.”

Grandma:
“Reading with children has got to be one of the most rewarding things to do, especially when the children in question are your grandchildren. Sometimes that physical closeness is not possible but that needn’t stop the shared bedtime story. All you need is FaceTime, the same book each, possibly a supporting parent or sibling and a cosy seat.
Buzz, my two and half year old grandson and I have been sharing our favourite stories recently; Elmer, The Gruffalo, Peace at Last, all stories his dad and I shared when he was a toddler.
We take it in turns, Buzz (his dad) and then me, following Buzz’s lead. Its brilliant for turn taking, language development and pausing for Buzz to fill in the gaps keeps it interactive and fun.
It’s not just the book sharing, when circumstances force families to be apart, but it’s wonderful to have a sense of keeping up with the changes that happen so fast in a child’s development, making sure he doesn’t forget Granny and who wouldn’t want those blown kisses across the screen.”

With our home delivery we can send the same books for story time to two different addresses. What a lovely idea! ... See MoreSee Less

2 months ago

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My youngest has been doing this with his godparents, they’ve read Ice Monster and almost through The Beast of Buckingham Palace

I've also heard of grandparents teaching a lesson a day/week to children about subjects they are interested in too. Reading stories together in this way is so lovely!!

Here are some pictures of books I’ve loved in lockdown 📚 ... See MoreSee Less

2 months ago

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Nice mug Octavia and I watched I am Castle the other night on your recommendation, good stuff, was delighted to find a young Henry Cavill, yum dom dom!

We are successfully back up and running our book home delivery service. We then aim to reopen the shop in accordance with government guidelines on July 1st. I hope you are all well and look forward to your book orders. Please email them to info@octaviasbookshop.co.uk
(Remember we can also send books to another address as a present with a note. We are happy to make Father’s Day recommendations too. Here are some to get you started) ... See MoreSee Less

2 months ago

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This is exciting! How do we look up what’s available please?

What are your top 5 lockdown reads Octavia?

Emily's and Henry's books arrived today, thank you

👏🏻 can’t wait to order from you xxxx

This is great news.. .💛🧡💙

How far is delivery? Thank you xx

Thank you our books arrived today x

Our books arrived today too, super quick!

Sarah Laney

The bookshop is in this months Cotswold Life Magazine, thanks to local author and book binder, the lovely Lorna Gray! ... See MoreSee Less

2 months ago

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For my third book choice, pure escapism and joy, I Capture the Castle 📚 ... See MoreSee Less

2 months ago

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Can we order through you at the moment?

Love this book. Loved the film too.

I always love your recommendations 😌 I would like to buy this please Octavia.....I'll messenger you x

I love all the books in this pic!!

I read this while sitting in the kitchen sink. 😉

I love that book

Love this book

Pure bliss 😍

2 months ago

My second choice... ... See MoreSee Less

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Sarah Nichols Louise Trudgian and Rachel Turner

I accepted a challenge by Raphaelle Watts to post 7 books I love: one book a day with no reviews, just covers. Today I nominate Madeleine Clark ... See MoreSee Less

2 months ago

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I loved it too. Beautiful descriptions of nature.

Just brilliant, managed to buy that one from you in person before lock down!

Loved this book x

I loved this book!

This book! Just beautiful ❤️

Great book

Fabulous book 💕 Beth Hendry

One of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

I’m reading this now ❤️

Louise Trudgian Sarah Nichols Rachel Turner you are always looking for a good book x

I am happy to announce we will be back up and running our book home delivery service from June 1st. We then hope to reopen the shop in accordance with government guidelines from the beginning of July. I hope you are all well and look forward to your book orders. Please email them to info@octaviasbookshop.co.uk ... See MoreSee Less

3 months ago

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Yay! Super happy to hear this we are in need of some new books! Will you be delivering to Carterton?

Fabulous. Ted and Elsie will enjoy choosing some new books. 📚

I have posted on the Ampney Exchange whats app and School page. x

Excellent news. I have been keeping a list!

Great news! Xx

Fab news ! X

Great news!🎉🎉🎉🥳

Fab news.

Wonderful news about a magical shop 👍👏👏👏xx

Brilliant, so happy to read this. One of your sparkly bags is on our coat stand and I was hoping that you would be able to do this.

I didn't know you did a delivery service, good news

Great news! Hope you’re ok? Xx

Best news 😁🎉🎉🎉🎉

Sarah Laney

Hurrah!!!

Fantastic to hear 🙌🏻

Hurrah!!!!!!

Excellent news

Yeah!!!!!

Yay!

Hurrah!!!

great news!!!

Brilliant news xx

This is such good news 🎉🍾🥂💙❤💙 x

Hurrah!

Here’s something more cheerful....the bookshop is in this month’s issue of Red magazine, the “best and most picture-perfect bookshops the country has to offer”💕📚☺️ ... See MoreSee Less

4 months ago

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Thoroughly well-deserved description! <3

That’s brilliant ... well done you!! Xx

Totally deserved- we will be back

Congratulations....well done you. Xx

Fantastic .. 👏

well done

You so deserve this 💕

Well deserved!

Well deserved 👌

Yea! My favorite shop and shop owner!

It is with great sadness my home delivery supplier Gardners Books have taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend taking any more orders. I fear that leaves Octavia’s Bookshop stranded as I can no longer get books to you in your homes.

The orders were coming in thick and fast which just shows your incredible loyalty to my shop at this difficult time.

Please remember after all this is over, to come back to the shop and for those who have now become customers further afield, we can still continue to supply you books once this is over. Amazon mustn’t keep the independent bookshops from coming back. The independent bookshop industry is small and beautiful, and has defied the odds through the precariousness of the likes of Amazon.

It is a tragedy that we cannot sustain our own magic directly to you through book delivery, when the escapism and hope of literature is what the world desperately needs right now. Please bear in mind that our flame has only been dimmed, but the spark of Octavia’s Bookshop can never go out if we have all our beautiful customers to return to, through the spread of homegrown recommendations and love of books. Our home delivery service will be back up and running, as soon as our supplier can safely distribute once again.

I will stay online with what I’m reading and loving from my reading room at home.

Wishing you all safety and love through these hard times.

Take care

Octavia x ... See MoreSee Less

4 months ago

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Please take care too and we'll see you soon ☺️

You and your beautiful shop will be back soon and have no doubt, we supported by your lovely customers. Truely magical place for young, inquisitive and aspirational minds. Hope you ok 📖xx

Oh so sorry to hear that, we will definitely be back and save our money to buy a good collection of books. My little chum is missing you and your beautiful shop and books!xx

We love you and will be back!

Sorry to hear that Octavia, we will be back in when this is all over X

Octavia, I’m so sorry to hear this. You’ve clearly been supporting everyone so well. Sending you lots of love. Happy reading. Xxx

There is no way my children will let me forget the wonderful shop that is Octavias! We will be back with several months worth of book requests when this is all over. Already looking forward to it

We would buy gift vouchers too. You’re a big part of our lives in the holidays and we love what you do, wishing you all the love in the world x

So sorry to hear this. Can I offer my services as a local bike courier? Surely food for the mind is up there as a “necessity” with food for the body...

Awww this is so sad...we promise to keep doing an order from a distance when the service resumes and we look forward to visiting late summer 💪🤞 in the meantime take care xxx

So sorry to read this Octavia. We will be back in as soon as we can buying our books from your fantastic little book shop. Cheryl & family x

Hopefully we can all get back to a small measure of normal quite soon 🤞🏻and new books to read in the summer holidays. X

Is there any way we can purchase gift cards/vouchers for your store to spend when this is all over? Would that help keep you going?

What a shame we were looking forward to getting in touch, but we will be back. Stay safe x

Oh Octavia 😔 Can you start your own youtube storytime? Build up some sort of following online in the meantime? I bet all of your lovely authors, celebs and customers will promote it? Have a link to buy gift vouchers for the time being? xxx

Hang in there. The world needs quality indy bookshops, now more than ever! X

Oh no! I was just about to contact you for Fred's birthday treat. We will be back as soon as you open up again. Stay well.

We will definitely be back in when life gets back to normal 💕

We'll definitely be back. We love you book shop and always pop in when we're in Cirencester. I have a little book worm who is saving his birthday money to come and spend it with you once this is all over x

Oh that's such a shame. Isla got her vouchers today for her birthday and was looking forward to a phone book spa to keep her ticking over until she can come into the shop. X

Oh Octavia this is so sad, we received Jack's books this morning and he was over the moon with them. Stay safe and we will see you once this is over xx

Oh no, what a great shame – placing an order with you was on my list for this afternoon. Please let us know if you consider doing local orders at any point, mine were for two Cirencester addresses.

Have you thought about doing a storytime live on Facebook? Just to keep you in people's minds? X

We just logged on to your site and seen your message. We are very sorry to read this and hope you can ride out the storm. We will be back when you are and than you for your enduring enthusiasm for literature, particularly children’s. Meanwhile our boy wants to read Norman the Norman and the Really Small Duchess yet again; we only bought it two weeks ago...

Could you deliver yourself in the area?

I’ve really enjoyed chatting to the children on the phone to recommend them books this week. It makes me happy to hear from customers; so then even if they can’t come in, we can choose the perfect books together. If you can’t see someone for their birthday, I can phone to help them choose books, which you could gift to them with our home delivery service too 💕😊🌈 ... See MoreSee Less

5 months ago

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Today I read Paper Dolls to my nephew Arthur on FaceTime from the shop... more of that to come for customers next week x ... See MoreSee Less

5 months ago

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Do you have any isadora moon books please ?

Can’t get through that book without crying. So lovely. Take care! Xx

I love this book, makes me cry every time though!

I love this book! Hope you’re doing ok xx

I love this story! 😁

I can't get through this book at the best of times - I think the kind granny would break me now! 😭

Agree with everyone. It makes me cry every time.

My favourite story ever!

Lovely idea keep going 🌈

Yah!!! ❤️

A shop rainbow for hope and happiness 🌈💕📚 ... See MoreSee Less

5 months ago

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Today is our last day open for the moment. Though I will be running the home delivery service from Monday, let’s make today the best day for buying books. I would love to see all my loyal, lovely customers and leave in high spirits. We are open from 9.30 till 5.30💕📚😊#lovebooks #escapeinabook #shoplocal #supportsmallbusiness #cirencesterrocks ... See MoreSee Less

5 months ago

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Would love some advice and suggestions on books for upcoming learning. Can I email you? Not sure how far you are happy to deliver- in minchinhampton but in isolation right now!! 💚

Shared - will be using your delivery soon once I get my head around the home school plan 😱

Octavia for your adult fiction happy to help with a book list for adults in these times - Claire MA English lit

Shared x We will pop in for a book today. 📖❤️

Shared onto Gardiner Haskins Cirencester page for you. Good luck today 🤞

Hi Octavia I’m wondering if you would deliver to Cricklade,I’m wondering if you could give me a list of books for a 4yr girl to keep her going through these tuff times. Many thanks in advance. 💕

The first lines of 10 classic novels, rewritten for social distancing. ... See MoreSee Less

5 months ago

The first lines of 10 classic novels, rewritten for social distancing.

Of course, books can be a balm in these terrifying times—but as the surge in sales of plague-related literature reveals, sometimes all we want to read are books that speak directly to our terrifyin�...

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Brilliant. Loved Pride and Prejudice

Saturday will be our last day open as I don’t want to put customers or staff at risk. However, from Monday onwards I will still be in the shop running the home delivery service.
I can get any book to you, or an isolated family member (particularly elderly members who aren’t on social media so are unaware) across England, starting from £2.75 per delivery. We can do interactive educational books, crossword books, art and craft books and even jigsaw puzzles and games. I will also be as happy as always to make recommendations for all ages.
Maybe best to do a household list so you can get it in one go. Or order as you read and need, up to you. So from Monday please email me on info@octaviasbookshop.co.uk with your requests and phone number for card payments over the phone.
I will also be putting boredom busting inspiration daily on our Instagram octavias_bookshop and Facebook page @octaviasbookshop . Love to all of you X ... See MoreSee Less

5 months ago

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Send me an email on Monday and I’ll send some ideas 😊😊

I need some books for Jack, he hasn't come home with any reading books and he's in reception. What would you recommend to keep his reading skills up xx

Amazing we will definitely be after new books to keep us entertained ❤️

Octavia what time is the shop open tomorrow ?

Amazing x

Today I am loving: Where the Crawdads Sing, an absolutely beautifully written coming-of-age story set deep in the marshes of North Carolina. The long awaited Giffords Circus cookbook and a giant oat cappuccino from Jacks Cirencester X ... See MoreSee Less

5 months ago

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Aw I loved Crawdads! Great story x

The Giffords book is gorgeous. I've already got a lot of pages marked ready for cooking up a feast!

Sadly our book signing this Saturday with Lorna Gray and Saturday April 4th with Hannah Shaw will be cancelled (we have their books in stock though) X https://www.octaviasbookshop.co.uk/book-events/ ... See MoreSee Less

5 months ago

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I am afraid tonight and tomorrow’s book groups will be cancelled. So that the children don’t feel they have missed out, I would like to offer a £5 gift voucher prize for the best review by each age group. For the 7-8 Tuesday group who read, The Boy Who Biked the World by Alastair Humphreys(which I literally loved and learnt loads from) and for the 8-9 Wednesday group, The Last Zoo by Sam Gayton. You can send them by email to info@octaviasbookshop.co.uk X ... See MoreSee Less

5 months ago

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Slightly different but our adult book group took to using WhatsApp to include me as I couldn't make it due to a broken elbow and rib - it was fantastic fun - could you try a skype or something similar?

I totally appreciate that decision. Hopefully things will be back on track for the next meeting🤞

I hope that none of you are stuck at home or have poorly nearest and dearest that you are caring for, but if you or they are in need of books, or indeed you have children that need entertaining, I can make recommendations and get them delivered to you at home. Just pm, email info@octaviasbookshop.co.uk or phone us on 01285 650677 Xx ... See MoreSee Less

5 months ago

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We want to keep this store afloat during this tumultuous time. This is a great idea! We will need some recommendation for a newly turned one year old who is full of beans!

Brilliant bookshop - run by a good-hearted lady

You are amazing. The Guest List is currently keeping me sane!!!

I have a 8year old that loves dog man if you have any of those?? I know she has a few already!

Love you! X

How lovely 😊

Love x