Shrew Books

Shrew Books occupies the South Street shop that was Bookends for decades, taken on by Kate Longman in September 2020 after a career that included buying books for Waterstones and the Royal Museums Greenwich. The shelves lean toward nature writing and Cornish subjects, alongside new fiction, children's picture books and a growing young-adult section. Kate keeps a subscription service running for customers who want a monthly book chosen for them rather than browsing in person. The shop is small enough that recommendations come from conversation across the counter rather than a staff-picks table, and Cornish writers get prominent space near the door. Opening hours run Monday to Saturday. Locals and summer visitors overlap in the till queue, and both groups get pointed toward the same handful of favourites each season.