Our Story
The Book Stop grew from a lifelong love of stories, learning and community, but also from the quiet realisation that through life’s various upheavals, books have always been a constant.
After over twenty-five years spent teaching, writing, reviewing and championing literacy abroad, I (Sally Flint) returned to Lincolnshire to support my parents when my dad, Eric’s, Parkinson’s worsened. Not long after, I sadly lost my dad, and around the same time the world shifted in the strangeness of COVID, which made everything feel even more unsteady. Through all of it, the idea of a bookshop never really went away, it just sat quietly in the background, waiting for the right moment to take shape.
Family is woven quietly through the heart of The Book Stop. My lovely mum, Freda, who died in January 2024, was a huge reader, and some of my happiest memories are tied up with books, conversation and the comfort stories can bring. I did briefly wonder about naming the shop ‘Freader’s’ after her, but in the end The Book Stop felt like the right fit.
We are not a café, but we are a place to pause. There is always coffee brewing and, more often than not, a slice of Freda’s Crunch (my mum’s favourite tiffin) waiting for you. Whether you are a child discovering your first favourite story or a reader looking for an unexpected treasure, we want you to feel at home here.
Hi, I’m Sal (the owner!)
I grew up in Broughton, Lincolnshire, and studied English and European Literature at the University of Essex, later continuing my studies at the University of East Anglia and Nottingham University.
After starting out teaching secondary English in Norfolk, I spent more than twenty-five years living and working in Tanzania and Thailand, mainly in education and school libraries. My most recent role before returning to the UK was Head Librarian at Bangkok Patana School, a community I loved being part of.
Alongside this, I’ve worked as a teacher, librarian, educational consultant, reviewer and writer, including writing children’s stories and educational fiction for schools. Through all of it, I’ve always come back to books, reading and the belief that stories quietly change lives.
When it came to naming the bookshop, I went through quite a few ideas. I briefly considered “Freaders” after my mum Freda, and “Nanna Briggs” after my nanna in Brigg. Another strong contender was “Time to Read”, inspired partly by my dad’s love of antique clocks and my husband Mick’s interest in watches. In the end, The Book Stop simply felt right.
I live in Roxby with my Mick, and I’m happiest when I’m around books, conversation and a good cup of coffee.
Handpicked Reads
Click the titles to read Sal’s reviews
What begins as an ordinary road trip soon becomes something far less predictable. Bold, witty and brilliantly observed, All Fours explores identity, relationships and what it means to reinvent yourself in midlife. Trigger warning – rude in parts!
In a future where humanity has conquered disease, ageing, and death, only specially appointed “Scythes” are allowed to end lives to control the population. When teenagers Citra and Rowan are chosen as apprentices, they are drawn into a dangerous world of power, morality, and survival.
A haunting, unforgettable novel that starts with an extraordinary premise and becomes something much deeper. Thought-provoking, beautifully written and surprisingly moving, it’s a story about survival, freedom and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
The Book Stop 