If your missing meeting up and discussing all things bookish ( and sharing a few bottles of wine! ) with your book group right now or browsing in your local book shop, maybe you can live vicariously through these films.
You’ve Got Mail ( 1998). In this romantic comedy the owner of a chain bookstore falls in love by email with the owner of a small independent bookshop around the corner. Neither realises that their online pen pals are actually their real life business rivals. Starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Watch on Netflix.
The Book Shop ( 2017). In a village in the 1950s a young widow ( Emily Mortimer) dares to open a book shop and faces opposition from disapproving locals. This slow burner is a study of how hard it can be for an outsider to conquer suspicion. Available on Netflix.
The Jane Austin Book Club ( 2007). The novels of Jane Austen are discussed each month by six Californians in their book club. Life imitates art as their situations mirror those of the characters in Emma, Pride and Prejudice etc. An ensemble cast includes Emily Blunt, Maria Bello and Hugh Dancy. Rent on Amazon.
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society ( 2018). The second world war has ended and writer ( Lily James) strikes up a pen pal friendship with a Guernsey islander who writes about the German occupation and the ingenious ways the islanders hoodwink the invaders, including the introduction of a literary and potato peel pie society. Intrigued she visits Guernsey to put their story to paper and falls in love. Available with Amazon Prime and on BBC I Player.
Notting Hill ( 1999). In real life could a movie star walk into a bookshop unnoticed, buy a book and then fall for the foppish owner. Well probably not, but this romantic comedy put the real Notting Hill on the map and Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant make a charming couple. Rent on Amazon.
Funny Face ( 1957). Funny Face begins in a bookshop, the shy owner is played by the beguiling Audrey Hepburn. Fred Astaire is a photographer who needing a bookstore as a backdrop in a shoot, ends up whisking a reluctant Audrey to Paris instead for a modeling assignment. A romantic musical comedy. Rent on Amazon.
Dan In Real Life ( 2007). Romantic comedy drama starring Steve Carrol as a lonely widow and single father who makes a connection in a bookshop ( Juliette Binoche), only to later discover she is his brothers girlfriend. Rent on Amazon.
Book Club ( 2018 ). In this fun film four life long friends tackle The Fifty Shades trilogy at their book club meet ups. The racy novel soon inspires them to not only spice up their sex lives, but give love another chance too. Nice to see Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen together in one film. Watch on Netflix.
What are your favourite movie Bookshops?
Are you in a Book Club?
sunshine and celandines 