Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedinFounders Hannah and Jack turned their lifelong love of reading into a dream business in Jeffries Passage, creating a cosy haven for book lovers, book clubs and local authors.
Open the door to a bookshop and among the colourful covers and shelves of stories you’ll find different worlds, make new friends and discover a whole realm of emotions.
A bookshop is so much more than just a place that sells books as Hannah and Jack, the founders of Paper Moon in Jeffries Passage just off the High Street, have found in the last year.
The independent gem offers a wide and thoughtful selection of books in a calm and cosy setting, bringing the joy and wonder of reading to Guildford, which they were surprised to find with its history and culture didn’t already have an independent bookshop.
That both are self-confessed bibliophiles goes without saying, both had been working in bookshops before the opportunity for Paper Moon arose. It was always their dream to have a bookshop of their own “so when the chance came around, we decided to throw caution to the wind and try to live our dream”.
“I’ve loved reading my whole life,” says Jack who studied literature and history at university. “My taste in books ranges from dense classics to heroic fantasy, but honestly as long as it’s well written I will enjoy any genre. I started a career in bookselling after university, and from then on, I knew I didn’t want to do anything else.”
Hannah did a Master’s in psychology and followed that path before moving into bookselling. Reading was a big part of her childhood and she spent much of that time with her head stuck in a book.
“Fantasy is definitely my preferred genre, as I love the escapism of made-up worlds, but I will read anything that piques my interest, especially books that make you cry!”
With so many books to choose from, how do they select their titles?
“We never quite know how to answer. I suppose the truth is, it depends. A lot of the books in the shop are our favourites, but they can also be books we think all bookshops should have, books we are excited to read, or books related to what’s going on in pop culture or the world at the time.”
Many of these are enjoyed by book clubs which are a regular feature at the shop which among established and best-selling authors, puts the spotlight on three featured local authors at any one time, with each having the opportunity to display their work for a three-month period.
Despite “all the mundane stuff” – rent, business rates and countless other overheads – they are very excited to see what’s next for Paper Moon, adding: “We hope to be here for many years, growing with our community of book lovers and improving the whole time.
“If you want to pop in for a recommendation, or if you know any book lovers who haven’t heard about us yet, we are in the shop Tuesday to Sunday and are always happy to help.”
More at papermoonbooks.co.uk.
Share
