So… We’re Doing This
Beginnings are hard.
I normally struggle with endings when I write, but this, this is challenging.
I almost feel I have to justify why you should read this, but I don’t, and you shouldn’t, not if you don’t want to.
House of Joy is the representation of a choice: the choice to step into our ‘house’ and become friends. To come and find a book, chat with us, have a drink, and slow down. All of those things begin with you making the decision to buy into House of Joy.
It’s been over three months now, and I’m glad to see that many of you have made that decision
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Why a blog?
I suppose the answer to why Substack is simple: I wanted a home that could be more than just a newsletter.
A space that feels open, honest, and unpolished — somewhere you can see the inner thoughts, doubts, and workings of someone building an independent bookshop in 2026.
House of Joy isn’t just a shop. It’s a process. A living, evolving idea shaped in real time, in public, with people rather than just for them.
This space is an extension of that — a place to share what’s happening behind the scenes: the ideas that work, the ones that don’t, and everything in between.
I didn’t want to arrive fully formed. I wanted to build something you can witness as it becomes what it’s meant to be. Slowly. Naturally.
What’s happening in the House of Joy this month?
As we grow, we continue to experiment and try new things. We’re continuing our Little Readers Clubs, run by Erica. Sunday mornings, we have three classes ranging from ages 0–7. They’ve had varying levels of success so far. Initially, attendance was great, but the second six-week block has been more sporadic, which has led us to question how we structure and move forward with them
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Promotion is one of the most difficult parts of running a small business — I see that everywhere. Getting your message out there, getting your events seen by enough eyes, is a constant challenge.
In June, we don’t have too many events coming up, but we do have a couple of things we’re really looking forward to.
On Saturday 13th June, we will be available at not one, not two, but three locations!
House of Joy will be open from 10am-3pm.
I (Ryan) will then be at The Minories for their Queer Midsummer Market, running from 10am–4pm. We’re really excited and have been curating a thoughtful selection of books for our first markets.
Our third and final space for the day will be at Firstsite for Colchester Family Fest - All About Kids where Erica will be running a stall between 11:30am-4pm. We will have a small selection of kids books along with some really fun and interesting activities!
We see markets as a great way to reach new people and places that may not have heard of us yet — and as a chance to share the joy of the shop and of reading more widely.
Our June book clubs are:
The Girls Club — Thursday 25th June, 6 pm
They’ll be reading The People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry.
Open Book (House of Joy’s own book club) — Tuesday 30th June, 6:30 pm
We’ll be reading An Olive Grove in Ends by Moses McKenzie.
Both books are available to purchase in-store.
Children’s author Josie Dom will also be in the shop on the 12th and 26th of June, from 11 am–1 pm (12th) and 2 pm–4 pm (26th). She’ll be available to talk about what it takes to write a story and answer any burning questions you might have about the writing process.
Finally, on Thursday 18th June at 10 am, we’ll be at Colchester Library for a collaboration with Essex Baby Lab.
Staff Picks: June Reads
The Fathers - John Niven (Paperback, £9.99)
In a busy maternity ward, first-time father Dan meets Jada, a dad welcoming his fifth - no, sixth? - child into the world. But Dan and Jada come from very different places: both called Glasgow.
All Grown Up - Daisy Buchanan (Hardback, £16.99)
After thirty long years, Louisa’s daughters can finally look after themselves … or so she thinks.
Men in Love - Irvine Welsh (Paperback, £9.99)
It is the late 1980s, the closing years of Thatcher’s Britain. For the Trainspotting crew, a new era is about to begin – a time for hope, for love, for raving.
