“The bookshop is located in Carnforth, north Lancashire, close to the Lake District, Trough of Bowland and Morecambe Bay. We get a wide range of customers, from tourists and day trippers to regulars. The town is most famous as the filming location for Brief Encounter and for its railways,” says manager and bookseller Billy FK Howorth, who has been shortlisted for individual bookseller of the year at the British book awards for the past three years. “We offer a wide selection of new, second-hand and antiquarian books. Our strongest areas are local history, travel and railway books. As an independent shop we believe in offering something different to the larger chains, and work with many local publishers to showcase their books. We also stock toys, cards, gifts, art materials and stationery.”

Top five sellers

•Leighton Moss: Ice Age to Present Day Andy Denwood
•Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine Gail Honeyman
•Lancaster the Postcard Collection Billy FK Howorth
•This Is Going to Hurt Adam Kay
•The Burning Chambers (Limited Edition) Kate Mosse

Five recommendations

•Circe Madeline Miller
“A gripping modern interpretation of the story of Circe, inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, by bestselling author of The Song of Achilles.”

•Trails With Tales Beth and Steve Pipe
“An accessible and informative local guide to walks around Leighton Moss, Silverdale and Arnside by a local author.”

•To Be a Machine Mark O’Connell
“Winner of the 2018 Wellcome book prize and an insightful look at humanity and what’s to come.”

•Gin Made Me Do It Jassy Davis (illustrated by Ruby Taylor)
“A well-illustrated cocktail book packed with classic and modern recipes.”

•Hitler’s Monsters Eric Kurlander
“An in-depth look at how the Nazis used the occult, mythology and the paranormal.”

38-42 Market Street, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 9JX; carnforthbooks.co.uk