Minnie's Fiction Addiction

There’s something magical about stepping into an independent bookshop. The smell of paper and coffee, the carefully chosen displays, the friendly booksellers who actually know what you like, it’s a far cry from the big chains. As part of Blogtober, I decided to take a little literary road trip through the Midlands to hunt down some of the region’s best indie bookshops.

Whether you’re a lifelong bookworm, a casual reader looking for your next cosy autumn read, or a traveller wanting to support local businesses, these stops are worth adding to your itinerary.

📚 The Heath Bookshop – Kings Heath, Birmingham

Tucked away in the creative neighbourhood of Kings Heath, The Heath Bookshop feels like a living room you never want to leave. The owners curate everything with love, from buzzy new releases to thoughtful indie-published gems. Their events calendar is also brilliant if you want to meet authors or join a book club.

✨ Voce Books – Digbeth, Birmingham

If you love discovering books you’ve never seen on the shelves before, Voce Books is your dream. They focus on independent publishers, translated fiction, poetry, and radical new voices. It’s edgy, surprising, and makes you feel clever just browsing.

🏡 Kenilworth Books – Kenilworth, Warwickshire

A warm, welcoming shop that’s part of the town’s heartbeat. Kenilworth Books has a great mix of fiction, non-fiction, and children’s titles, with plenty of staff recommendations. They’re especially good for signed editions and supporting local authors.

🐑 Astley Book Farm – Near Bedworth, Warwickshire

If you like your book browsing epic, this is the stop for you. Astley Book Farm is a huge converted barn stacked with everything from rare out-of-print treasures to affordable paperbacks. There’s a café on-site too, perfect for warming up with tea and a new read on a chilly October afternoon.

🏰 Warwick Books – Warwick, Warwickshire

A charming little shop just steps away from the castle, Warwick Books is a haven for readers of all tastes. Expect a thoughtful range from literary fiction to local history, and a welcoming atmosphere that makes you want to linger.

🌿 Five Leaves Bookshop – Nottingham

Technically East Midlands, but too good to skip. Five Leaves is a fiercely independent shop with a passion for political, radical, and diverse writing, but it’s also a wonderful stop for fiction, poetry, and beautifully produced small press books.

Why You Should Shop Indie

Independent bookshops keep reading communities alive. They introduce you to new voices, host events that connect readers and writers, and put real love into every shelf. Plus, your purchase supports small business owners rather than just adding to a corporate bottom line.

🗺️ Road Trip Tip

If you’re travelling by car or campervan like me (hi, Morag 👋), plan your route so you hit two or three shops in a day. Most of these towns have cosy cafés or historical sites nearby, perfect for making your book crawl a full autumn day out.

✨ Over to you: Have you visited any of these shops, or do you have a Midlands indie favourite I should add to my next crawl? Drop it in the comments, I love discovering new bookish spots!