My birthday was back in October and Paul definitely pulled out all the stops. It felt like we celebrated all month long between concerts, date nights, and a trip to Paris. He truly made it special for me in so many ways! One of the sweetest things he did for me was to give me a year of books from Heywood Hill. I was so excited to receive this gift that I had to share it with you! It’s the best gift you could give the well-read reader in your life, or anyone who loves a good book (and a carefully curated surprise).
A Love Affair with Bookshops
First, let’s talk about bookshops for a second. I know I tend to indulge in a lot of different things, most of which can be a little cliché like having rosé on a cafe terrace or buying flowers at the market every week because they just look so perfect in that brown paper and twine! But one of the greatest pleasures in my life is visiting an independent bookshop where I can immerse myself in that “book smell” and find the just right read to bring home. I want to go up and down every single aisle and feel the warmth of thousands of pages surrounding me. I especially love finding bookshops in the places we travel to. I’ve been to Shakespeare & Co. in Paris and Atlantis Books in Santorini. I love Strand and Bauman Rare Books in New York City. So you can imagine how excited I was to discover Heywood Hill in the Mayfair area of London.
Related posts: 8 of The Best Places in NYC for Book Lovers , The Best Boutique Hotel in NYC for (Book) Lovers (these are some of my very first blog posts – go easy on me!)
About Heywood Hill
Heywood Hill first opened in 1936 and has been selling new, old, and antiquarian books in the same location ever since. I love that their website says that it is a place where “good writing and beautiful books really matter.” I consider myself a person with whom good writing and beautiful books really matter, so I guess you’d say this is a match made in literary heaven. I cannot wait to visit Heywood Hill in person, but until then I have a lovely subscription gift of a year of books to keep me company.
About My Book Subscription
Heywood Hill offers a bespoke book subscription service called A Year in Books. You can choose between hardcover, paperback, and even children’s books. Next, you’ll have a personal consultation with one of Heywood Hill’s team of bibliophiles. Imagine having your own book concierge to select books that are suited to your unique interests. I loved speaking with Conal, my personal book concierge, about the kinds of books I love to read. We spoke about authors, genres, themes, character traits, and so much more. It was truly refreshing to speak with someone who is as well-read as he is. My little librarian heart was bursting! Heywood Hill will then ship his carefully curated selection to my home every other month. I receive two books at a time plus an entire year of beautiful bookmarks to enjoy them with!
You don’t have to live in the UK or even in Europe to receive a book subscription from Heywood Hill. They ship worldwide! And if you’ve already read the books they send you, you can simply exchange them. Correspondence with your book concierge is encouraged!
My First Books
My first two books came beautifully wrapped in brown paper with the signature Heywood Hill blue and white ribbon. I couldn’t help but feel like I was opening a Christmas present!
The books I received are More Than I Love My Life by David Grossman and The War of Nerves: Inside The Cold War Mind by Martin Sixsmith. The former title is a work of fiction about an emotionally complicated family and a long-ago ordeal that its matriarch experienced in former Yugoslavia that impacted the family for years. So far I’m really enjoying it! The nonfiction title about the Cold War is one that I might not have picked up for myself, but I’m so glad I received it. The topic is one that absolutely fascinates me. I really like how the two titles have a common thread of history connecting them. I couldn’t be happier with my first selections and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings!
There is so much to love about this gift. I hope it has inspired you to think about your own reading selections, or perhaps to consider a gift for the voracious reader in your life. You’ll be an instant hero!
Be sure to visit Heywood Hill online and @heywood_hill on Instagram!
As always, thank you for reading! You can follow me on Instagram for daily updates on stories!
For exclusive off-blog content, subscribe to my email newsletter!
xo – Erin
A Year of Books from Heywood Hill appeared first on CathedralsandCafes.com. If you see this content published anywhere else, please email cathedralsandcafes@gmail.com.
You might also like:
