Welcome to Maldon Books, an award-winning independent bookshop located in the heart of the historical town of Maldon, Essex.
Our bookshop strives to create a welcoming, comfortable space for each and every customer who wishes to pay us a visit. We specialise in books for adults and children of all ages, and endeavour to always do our best to find the perfect book for any reader looking for something new. We’re a small team, but we’re all passionate booksellers committed to promoting our love of literature and the importance of reading for everyone.
We take great care in curating our stock, in the hopes that our customers might stumble across something a little bit different, or perhaps find the book they did not know they were looking for. We carry a wide range of titles and genres for readers of all ages, but we love nothing more than lending a hand or an ear to our customers, browsing the shelves with them, and discussing the books we love.
We host regular events, such as book signings, evening discussions and a weekly Song, Rhyme & Story Time session for pre-schoolers at All Saints Church every Tuesday morning. We’re proud to be part of such a thriving, supportive community, standing alongside an incredible range of independent businesses on our local High Street. Our shop opened in December 2019, just three months ahead of the first national lockdown, and we were overwhelmed by the support we received from both our customers and fellow book lovers up and down the country. We will never quite forget it. In 2020, Maldon Books shared the National Book Tokens Newcomer of the Year Award with Darling Reads, and a Pride of Maldon Award with Silo Refillery. Maldon Books has also been an Independent Bookshop of the Year finalist in the British Book Awards.
In 2024, our bookshop expanded into the adjacent building, and we now have a dedicated children’s bookshop, and an adjoining record shop, Novel Sounds, owned by Howard Monks.
Our bookshop is committed to providing our customers, friends and fellow readers with a unique browsing experience. We can order any book in print into our shop for the very next day, or have your books sent directly to your door, and we’ll always do what we can to ensure you find whatever it is you’re looking for. We care about books, and we believe everyone should have access to them. Maldon Books has and always will be a bookshop for everyone, and one we hope you’ll visit soon.
Meet the Team
Olivia Rosenthall, Owner
Ask Olivia for recommendations on contemporary fiction and children’s books. Olivia loves literary fiction, novellas and short stories.
Yolanda Westall, Bookseller
Ask Yolanda for help with children’s books, particularly for 0-5s! Yolanda runs our weekly Song, Rhyme & Story Time sessions at All Saints Church.
Eleanor McKnight, Senior Bookseller
Ask for Eleanor if you’re looking for your next favourite fiction book! Eleanor loves literary fiction, character-driven plots and sharp storytelling. She’s our go-to bookseller if you’re not sure what to read next!
Misha Roughley, Bookseller
Misha is an avid reader and sometimes reads two books in one sitting! Ask her for recommendations on historical and literary fiction.
Photos by Blanka Scollen https://www.facebook.com/thewildshuggie