The owner of an independent bookshop in Abingdon is celebrating her five-year anniversary during Independent Bookshop Week.

Sarah Dennis bought Mostly Books on Stert Street in Abingdon in June 2017.

Under her ownership the shop has been a South East Regional Finalist for Independent Bookshop of the Year for five consecutive years.

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It also won Bertrams Bookshop of the Year in 2019 and Best Bookshop in Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire in the 2021 Muddy Stiletto Awards.

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Ms Dennis said: “I can’t believe where five years has gone, but I’ve loved every moment. Getting Mostly Books through the pandemic and surviving the tough conditions of being a small business on the high street has been a huge challenge, but one that is so rewarding.

“Mostly Books is more than a shop, it fosters a whole community of readers of all ages while flying the flag for small independent businesses in the town.”

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Mostly Books has brought some well-known faces to Abingdon including Ruby Wax, 2019-2021 Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell, and Anton Du Beke, while Richard Osman and Reverend Richard Coles have been among the recent faces to pop in and sign their books.

Independent Bookshop Week is a celebration of independent bookshops in the UK highlighting the vital role independent bookshops play in their communities. The campaign was launched in 2006 by the Booksellers Association.

Read more from this author

This story was written by Rebecca Whittaker, she joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.

Rebecca covers education and news in Abingdon and Wantage.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Rebecca.Whittaker@newquest.co.uk or calling 07824524333

Follow her on Twitter @RebecWhitt

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