I have always wanted to work in a bookshop and on several occasions wondered whether to apply to our local chain over Christmas time. I haven’t because I feel that all my romantic views of myself sitting there reading all day long and suggesting books to grateful readers just won’t come true.

Florence Green lives in the small town of Hardborough, the name itself is appropriate, and opens a bookshop in an empty and run down building that nobody wants. She is a novice at the business of book selling but believes that books are important. This is not a book, however, about the wonderfulness of books although it is implied, more a book about the townspeople and one woman’s scheming and manipulation to get the building for her own ends.

Mrs Gamart knows everyone and is a very powerful woman. After Florence had bought the building, she let it be known that she wanted it for an Arts Centre and set about achieving her aim. There is Milo who is an apathetic waster working for the BBC

Gentleness is not kindness. His fluid personality tested and stole into the weak places of others until it found it could settle down to its advantage. ‘You live by yourself, don’t you? You’ve just moved into the Old House all by yourself? Haven’t you ever thought about marrying again?’

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What a fabulous way to describe someone.

There is General Gamart, useless in retirment and a man whose emotions ‘from lack of exercise, had disappeared almost altogether.’ It sounds like there is no one on Florence’s side. There is but they do not wield power like the Gamart family. Christine Gipping is a ten year old girl from the town that Florence takes on to help out. She hates reading, apart from the Bunty, and comes from a large family so stands no nonsense and is good at sorting out things. There is also the wonderful Mr Brundish who stands up to Mrs Gamart at great personal expense.

It’s a bleak, melancholy story about a small town and small town inhabitants and the end left not just Florence but me in despair too. There is a meanness about the town and many small betrayals that all add up to other people winning. However, there is so much to enjoy, particularly Fitzgerald’s wit liberally sprinkled throughout.

Hope and a good book are not enough in Hardborough.