Like most booksellers, Bas Bleu is always chasing that elusive question: What are our readers looking for? What’s guaranteed to end up on your bookshelves? It’s not a straightforward question either—sometimes, books we expected to be a shoe-in slip under the radar, and selections that originally seemed like a stretch take off. So, we offer you, dear reader, an analysis of our bestselling books: the reviews written by our editors, the comments from enthusiastic bibliophiles like yourself, and the reasons why we expect they’re so popular. Of course, we’re always open to new suggestions, so if this sparks a recommendation in your mind or prompts new curiosities, feel free to send us a message!
Today I Learned Dynamite Is Made From PeanutsThe Review: Today I learned that, despite its current prestige, champagne was once used as a shoe polish. I also learned that bubble wrap was intended to be wallpaper, and how very glad I am that that didn't happen. Readers will find this selection of more than 300 "strange-but-true facts you probably didn't know" enlightening, baffling, and extraordinarily amusing. Chock-full of myth-busting bulletins, time-saving tips, and peculiar proclamations, this book will fill gaps in your knowledge you didn't know existed! Of course, the book's layout should be as engaging as the information, so each page sports a different format, sprinkled with quirky illustrations that befit their subject. (HC)
Why So Popular? It turns out that our bluestockings love learning new things—go figure! Trivia books, games, and calendars tend to skyrocket to the top of our bestselling lists.
Want more like this? Try…
The Bookshop of Second ChancesThe Review: Newly separated from an unfaithful husband and summarily dismissed from her long-standing job, Thea Mottram is angry and depressed when she serendipitously receives a generous bequest from her late great-uncle: a substantial amount of money and a house in the small Scottish town of Baldochrie. What initially was intended to be a short visit to Baldochrie to settle the estate becomes extended indefinitely when Thea meets curmudgeonly Edward Maltravers, the owner of the local bookshop who ultimately hires her as his shop assistant. Romance blossoms as they navigate the bumpy waters of their evolving relationship and Thea's life is forever changed. A Reader Review by Rosemary Sant Andrea from Woodbury, Connecticut
The Comments:
★★★★★ It had me with “bookshop” and “Scotland”, and I was expecting a light bit of escapism pleasantry. But it was so much better than that! So relatable…I loved it!
★★★★★ Wonderful storyline of a difficult period in a woman’s life that was believable and eventually reached believable conclusion.
Why So Popular? Books about books are fun to read—especially on the beach, and especially for such dedicated bibliophiles!
Want more like this? Try…
A Single ThreadThe Review: "Shhh!"
Violet Speedwell frowned. She did not need shushing; she had not said anything.
The opening lines of this bittersweet novel are indicative of Violet Speedwell's whole existence at the time. Having lost her fiancé to the Great War years before, she was a thirty-eight-year-old "surplus woman" in England…always getting shushed and pushed aside. But her life starts to change when she joins a group of women who skillfully embroider kneelers for the magnificent cathedral in Winchester. A Single Thread is a beautifully woven story of friendship, love, and self-fulfillment. (CH)
The Comments:
★★★★★ Am in the process of reading this book now. Love learning about the work on the kneelers in the glorious cathedrals, the lives of people after World War 1, and so many details. Good book.
★★★★★ A terrific book. Bought copies for my friends!
★★★★★ Wonderful story of a woman who learns to find meaningful purpose through joining a group of women, learning a new skill that opens the door to new insight and self confidence. It's also a thriller as she learns to recognize and defend herself against an unexpected enemy. Hard book to put down once started.
Why So Popular? Historical fiction has always been a safe bet for our readers, and the female friendship dynamic makes for a heartwarming, relatable tale. With so many women readers, Bas Bleu certainly places an emphasis on finding women’s lit!
