Rare Birds Books doubles in size to open non-fiction hub

Independent bookshop Rare Birds Books is expanding its premises to include a non-fiction hub as it celebrates its first anniversary. 

Based in Stockbridge, Edinburgh, the "home of female fiction" will double in size to create a new space dedicated to non-fiction and expand its role as a community space.

The new area will launch on 20th August and also carry a range of books for younger readers. The expansion will increase the space available to fiction titles too and allow the shop to host events that can accommodate more people.

Since launching in August 2021, the shop says it has sold more than 18,000 books, 1,000 tote bags and hundreds of bespoke "Book Smells" candles, alongside holding numerous events with authors and the local community. More than 30,000 shoppers have passed through its doors over the course of the year.

Founder of the bookshop Rachel Wood said: “In the last year the shop has become a staple in the community, hosting many events including a Tarot reading workshop, a ’Make Friends Mixer’, author events and even a wedding. Thanks to this incredible support from our customers, we are now at a stage where we are able to extend the bookshop even further.”

The decision to expand and takeover the space next door arose from the huge popularity of non-fiction titles. “The demand has been so strong for non-fiction," Wood said, adding she has sold hundreds of copies of Tough Women Adventure Stories: Stories of Grit, Courage and Determination, by Jenny Tough (Octopus).

Celebrating its Edinburgh roots, the store’s bestseller is currently Luckenbooth by Scottish author Jenni Fagan (Penguin). Other big hits with customers have been The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Atria), How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie (The Borough Press) and Where the Crawdads Sing by Della Owens (Corsair). Translated fiction, including Kim Ji Young, Born 1982 by Cho Nam-Joo, translated by Jamie Chang (Scribner) has also proved popular.