Book Lovers Bookshop has won a prize of £5,000 from Gardners in the latest British Book Awards, along with the title Independent Bookshop of the Year.
The shop specialises in romance and is the first of its kind in the UK. In less that two years the store has held more than 300 author events and runs a popular book club meeting every fortnight.
The shop founded by 25 year-old author, Caden Armstrong, now employs three members of staff and aims to create a fun safe and diverse space to celebrate all kinds of romance fiction.
Tom Tivnan, The Bookseller deputy editor, said: ‘Past champions of the Independent Bookshop of the Year have been trailblazers but, as the first-ever specialist romance bookstore in the UK and Ireland, our 2026 winner Book Lovers Bookshop has raised a high bar up a notch. Owner Caden Armstrong epitomises the canny modern booksellers who are flooding into the indie game – the starting point is a passion for books, but with that comes a nimble entrepreneurship and steely-eyed business plan.
“In fewer than two years, Armstrong has built her love for romance literature into a thriving hub, with a knowledge of the genre, expert stock curation and dizzying number of events that have struck a chord with Edinburgh’s community. Book Lovers’ on point social media game means its importance extends far beyond its walls and it has become an unmissable stop on global superstar authors’ book tours. But working in a genre that has long been overlooked due to gendered snobbery, Book Lovers doesn’t just go for the hits, with unstinting support for new and emerging writers, and those from marginalised communities. Does love conquer all? In a difficult 2026 across the world, it may not seem so – but it has certainly conquered the Nibbies.”
Caden Armstrong said: “‘We are so incredibly honoured to have won this award. This win is recognition of all the hard work our team dedicated to running the bookshop, but it is also recognition for romance fiction in general. This award is for all the authors that supported us, all the publishers that worked so hard to champion romance fiction and all the readers who have made every day of Book Lovers Bookshop’s existence absolutely magical and continue to celebrate romance fiction. We are so proud to be a part of that journey.“
Ruth Gardner, UK Sales Manager at Gardners said: “Congratulations from everyone at Gardners on being awarded this year’s Independent Bookshop of the Year. Your continued commitment, enthusiasm, and support for both readers and authors have helped shape your bookshop into a valued part of the community. This achievement is so well deserved.”
The shop reflects a growing trend towards genre-focused bookshops, and other romance stores opening in Book Lovers Bookshop’s wake include Cardiff’s Love Stories Bookshop and London’s Saucy Books.
