This month saw a lively debate at the House of Lords about bookshops and libraries.

WHS’ sales have been boosted by vlogger Zoella, as the company launched a share buyback and opened four new stores in Helsinki airport. Blackwell’s is changing the face of university bookselling with a state-of-the-art shop in Liverpool.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was launched at the beginning of the month with spectacular sales – however not all HP fans were impressed. Three new Hogwarts ebooks will be available through online stores. An exhibition will take place at The British Library in 2017 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter.

Bookshops are safe havens when the world sometimes seems bleak. And they continue to make themselves a vital part of their communities.

UK publishers have been discussing the EU Referendum vote and what Brexit could mean for the industry. In the shorter term, here are some reading suggestions for the Brexit blues. Theresa May has warned Amazon and Google on tax avoidance, and has appointed Karen Bradley as the new Culture Secretary.

In a month when the entire political landscape seemed to shift hour by hour, there have been some reasons to be cheerful.

This is what cheered up J K Rowling in all the gloom and doom. And could Brexit be a problem for Amazon?
 

Further reports on the demise of ebooks: teenagers don’t like them, Waterstones is no longer selling them and printing company Clays is reporting stabilisation in the demand for printed books . Is it because of some dire self-published books? ‘The Bookshop is Back’ according to a very uplifting talk given by Foyles’ Sion Hamilton, a view supported by research from Nielsen.