Rhyme & Reason
Welcome to Rhyme & Reason, our June Bookshop of the Month, who are celebrating their 25th anniversary. Based in Sheffield, it has been part of the community and a sanctuary, promoting books and the importance of reading. We talked to Richard the owner to find out more about the shop, how he picks the books to put on its shelves and what’s to come.
1. We understand you opened the shop at the turn of the millennium. How much has the shop and bookselling changed in the last 25 years?
Rhyme & Reason opened for business on 1st June 1999, specialising initially in books for children and teenagers. The shop is situated at Hunter’s Bar about a mile from the city in a lively suburban area with other independent shops nearby.
A bricks and mortar bookshop selling new books seemed like a risky venture at the time, with online bookselling in the ascendancy as well as e-books. Bookselling still feels somewhat risky, although faith in the printed book has been vindicated by the high production standards of YUP and many other publishers as well as customers’ continued appreciation of printed books chosen in an independent bookshop. Our stock range now includes books for all ages, with contemporary poetry and fiction being two areas of special interest.
2. What’s it like running an independent bookshop in Sheffield?
Rhyme & Reason has been well supported by people in the local community who welcomed the arrival of an independent bookshop in the city. Much of our work is outside the compact shop premises in collaboration with community groups, book festivals, schools and universities as well as Sheffield Libraries. It’s always rewarding making contact with community groups such as playgroups and reading groups and to work with partners on author visits, book fairs and special promotions.
3. How do you pick the books that line your shelves?
We rely heavily on the advice of publishers’ reps as well as considering reviews, customer requests and recommendations. As a team we also have our own preferences in terms of categories and authors. Cherry-picking is essential even though the shop is sometimes referred to as a Tardis.
4. If you had to recommend one book published in the last year, which would it be and why?
There’s no one recommendation to suit everyone… One of the books I recently enjoyed was Ruth Allen’s Weathering (Ebury, 2024), a lyrical exploration of well-being and landscape formations by Ruth Allen who combines geological knowledge with the perspective of a practising therapist. Rhyme & Reason organised a successful book launch in which the author was in conversation with Sheffield poet, Helen Mort.
5. And finally, do you have any exciting plans for the shop in the coming months that you’re like to share with us?
Before the end of the school year, we’ve arranged with publishers for local schools to host two authors visiting to promote their books and enthuse the children during the summer term. The summer will also see a Rhyme & Reason bookstall at a Gala Day in Sheffield Botanical Gardens to celebrate the Friends’ fortieth anniversary.
In the longer term, the founding shop owner will be looking out for a successor to experience the challenges and joy of independent bookselling in a vibrant Sheffield community over the next 25 years.