The story takes place in England in 1959. Florence (Emily Mortimer) lost her husband not long ago, but the strong woman did not indulge in grief. She knew that she had to live strong. Florence came to the remote seaside town of Hardborough, where she spent all her money to open a small bookstore. This is the only bookstore in the area. Before that, no one in the town had ever been exposed to literature. Florence's bookstore opened a new door to the world of the town residents. The whole town has changed because of the appearance of her bookstore. The existence of the bookstore also allowed Florence to meet Edmure (Bill Nighy), a fellow who shared the same interests as herself. At the same time, Florence's outstandingness also attracted strange eyes from those with ulterior motives.