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Ask a Bookseller: Charlotte from One More Chapter
Bookshops are the very best places to go for book recommendations – and booksellers are the friendliest, most knowledgeable of readers!
Charlotte from One More Chapter in Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottingham has joined us this Mother's Day to answer your questions and share her favourite reads.
Want a recommendation of your own? Submit a question for our guest booksellers and if it's answered, we'll send you a £15/€20 National Book Token to spend in your local bookshop.
What mkes One More Chapter a great place to visit?
"One More Chapter is more than just a bookshop – it's a place built on the belief that stories change lives, because they changed mine.
I didn’t grow up as the "top of the class" reader, but I had an English teacher who pushed me to think differently and showed me the power of books. That experience stayed with me, and now I've created the kind of shop I wish I'd had growing up – welcoming, encouraging and full of possibility.
Every book is carefully chosen, there's a cosy children's corner at the heart of the shop, and we run book clubs and author events that bring readers together. We're proudly community-focused (and very dog-friendly!), and we love nothing more than helping someone find a story that truly connects with them.
You might come in for one book… but there's always room for one more chapter." Charlotte
Can you recommend a heartfelt book about teenagers and single mums, something that captures both the challenges and the close bond in that kind of family? – Claudia
If you're looking for a heartfelt story that really understands the bond between a teenager and a single mum, I'd recommend Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson and The Last Chance Library by Freya Sampson, for slightly different but equally meaningful reasons.
Sing Me Forgotten is the most direct fit – a beautifully written, emotionally honest story about a teenage girl and her mum, capturing that familiar push-and-pull of closeness, misunderstanding and fierce love that comes with raising a teenager, especially when you’re doing it on your own. It's quiet, tender and deeply validating. The Last Chance Library, while not focused solely on a single mum and teen, speaks powerfully to anyone who has spent years putting others first. It's warm, comforting and hopeful, exploring family, community and the idea that it's never too late to reclaim a little space for yourself.
If you want something teen-centred and emotionally raw, Sing Me Forgotten is perfect. If you're craving comfort with depth, The Last Chance Library is a lovely choice – and together, they make a really special pairing.
What is a good book to read with my mum at bedtime? – Angel, age 8
A really lovely book (and one of my favourite) to read with your mum at bedtime is Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.
It's a gentle, comforting story about friendship, kindness, and caring for the people (and animals!) we love. There’s a little pig called Wilbur who's worried about his future, and a clever spider called Charlotte who looks after him in the most thoughtful way. It has funny moments, cosy farm scenes, and just enough adventure to keep you excited, without being too scary for bedtime.
What makes Charlotte's Web especially perfect to share with your mum is that it's a story for both children and grown-ups. You can enjoy the animals and the fun, while your mum will love the warmth and the big ideas about love and friendship hidden inside the story. It's the kind of book where you can read a chapter or two each night, snuggle up, and talk about what you think might happen next.
It's calm, kind, and full of heart – a perfect end-of-the-day story to share together, and one I have with all my children!
My mum really likes 'chick lit', but I don't know much. Can you recommend any authors? She likes Maeve Binchey and Cecelia Ahern. – Laura
If your mum loves chick lit and already enjoys Maeve Binchy and Cecelia Ahern, she clearly loves stories that are warm, emotional and full of memorable characters – the kind that stay with you long after the final page.
At One More Chapter, we find that so many of our customers who enjoy those authors also love Marian Keyes. Her books are funny, honest and deeply relatable, often exploring family life, friendship and those moments when life doesn’t go quite to plan.
Another favourite with our readers is Jojo Moyes, whose stories are heartfelt and emotionally rich, with strong female characters at their centre. For something lighter and wonderfully feel-good, Jenny Colgan is always a hit in the shop – perfect if your mum loves settling down with a comforting, easy-to-read story.
All of these authors are much-loved by our One More Chapter readers, so you'd be in very good company choosing any of them!
I have always shied away from classic fiction like Jane Austen, but I think I'm now ready in my 30s. Where should I start? – Meghan
If you've always felt a bit intimidated by classic fiction, you're absolutely not alone – and honestly, your 30s are a perfect time to come back to it with fresh eyes.
As the owner of One More Chapter, I'm a huge classics fan… though I'll happily admit that a fair bit of my love for them comes from the fact that, during my GCSE years, I spent far more time than I should have watching the BBC adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice than revising. No regrets.
If you're ready to start, Pride and Prejudice really is the best place to begin. It's witty, sharp and surprisingly funny, with brilliant characters and a romance that still works centuries later. It's far more accessible than many people expect, especially if you already know the story.
If you want something slightly shorter, Northanger Abbey is a great next step – playful, knowing and perfect if you enjoy a bit of humour.
My biggest advice? Don't treat classics like homework. Read them slowly, enjoy the language, and remember they were written to entertain. And if you ever want a nudge in the right direction, classics conversations are one of my favourite things to have in the shop.
I recently watch the new Frankenstein film and adored the classic gothic style. Do you have any recommendation that give the same beauty? – Anamaria
If you loved the new Frankenstein film for its classic gothic style, you're not alone – I adored it too. The cinematography was stunning: dark, moody and so carefully composed, capturing that haunting beauty gothic stories do best.
On the page, I'd always recommend starting with Frankenstein by Mary Shelley itself. It's far more lyrical and emotional than people expect, full of loneliness, wild landscapes and big, unsettling questions. Truly beautiful in a quiet, haunting way.
For pure atmosphere, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier is another favourite – elegant, tense and dripping in unease, with a setting that feels like a character in its own right. And The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde offers decadent darkness, beauty and horror woven together in unforgettable prose.
If you'd like a more modern gothic, I'd highly recommend Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. It's lush, creepy and visually rich, with a crumbling mansion, unsettling secrets and a heroine you’ll root for. It has that same sense of cinematic beauty – just with a contemporary edge.
These are exactly the kinds of books I love recommending at One More Chapter – where mood, language and imagery linger long after you've finished reading.
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