FIRST DATE FESTIVAL 2026 Book Lovers Bookshop

You can browse our full programme on our website lighthousebookshop.com/events/first..., and the Book Lovers Bookshop programme on their website here: www.bookloversbookshop.co.uk/pages/first-...

on a pink and orange background sit open books and a bicycle whimsically decorated with flowers. the banner readers First Date Festival presents Late Night Romance Market

Our programme ends on 7th May with another event co-hosted with Book Lovers Bookshop: Late Night Romance Market! We'll open from 6:30-9:30, expect exclusive deals, excellent tunes, beverages and activities, a perfect night for pals and dates or solo browsing! lighthousebookshop.com/events/late-...

On a pink and orange background are author photos for Gayathiri Kamalakanthan and Kai Spellmeier, with some pressed flowers, a cassette tape, and their book covers featured also

On 6th May at 7pm, we welcome authors Kai Spellmeier and @unembarrassable.bsky.social hosted by Andrés N. Ordorica to discuss their books BOY FRIENDS and BAD QUEER lighthousebookshop.com/events/findi...

On a pink and orange background is a photo of author Lily X, next to a book cover showing a glowing orange eye and the title Let Me Be Yours. In a corner is a hand writing into a notebook

For all writers looking to get into writing romantasy, we will host a workshop on Sunday 3rd May, 4-5:30pm, with Lily X, author of the Seventh Star series. The workshop will feature lively discussions and creative writing prompts. lighthousebookshop.com/events/roman...

on a pink and orange background is a blue and white book cover for Eros by Zoe Terakes, next to a black-and-white photo of Zoe. In a corner sits a Grecian statue

On 30th April at 7pm, join us for a virtual event celebrating Zoe Terakes' first book EROS: QUEER MYTHS FOR LOVERS. The event will be hosted by award-winning storyteller and theatre-maker Niall Moorjani lighthousebookshop.com/events/virtu...

On a pink and orange background are the photos for authors Meg Jones, Adiba Jaigirdar and Rebecca J. Caffery, with an illustration of a tennis player

The day after, on 27th April at 7pm, we welcome an all-star line-up celebrating queer sports romance: Adiba Jaigirdar, @megjoneswrites.bsky.social and Rebecca J. Caffery, hosted by @lolakeeley.bsky.social ⚽🏎️🎾 lighthousebookshop.com/events/sport...

On a vivid orange and pink background is a photo of author Nadine Aisha Jassat, and the book cover for Who's Loving You, edited by the late Sareeta Domingo

Our next event is a first for us! We've never done a romance book club before, so we're thrilled Nadine Aisha Jassat will host this one for us, with shared discussion and the opportunity to swap romance books with other readers. Sunday 26th April, 3-4:30pm lighthousebookshop.com/events/roman...

On a vivid pink and orange swirly background sits a lighthouse, and the headshots of authors Beth O'Leary and Rachel Wood. Beside the authors are the book covers for Beth's The Name Game and Rachel's Annie Knows Everything. In the background is swoopy white writing reading First Date Festival

We begin on 24th April with contemporary romance! At 7pm, we will host Beth O'Leary chaired by Rachel Wood to celebrate the release of Beth's new book THE NAME GAME. We're co-hosting this opening event of the festival with Book Lovers Bookshop. lighthousebookshop.com/events/the-n...

Only a few days until our romance fiction festival First Date starts for 2026! We started First Date in 2023 with a half-day event, and this year it will be over the course of two weeks, 24 April - 8 May, and we're co-hosting the festival with Book Lovers Bookshop! Allow us to share our programme...

I’ll be in Edinburgh next Thursday talking about THE ASSET CLASS at @lighthousebks.bsky.social - get your ticket here: lighthousebookshop.com/events/the-a...

Sample of "How Queer Bookshops Changed the World" by A.J. West Peek inside this book and discover another great read.

A new non-fiction book from @ajwestauthor.bsky.social is coming!

'How Queer Bookshops Changed the World'

available to pre-order from @gaystheword.bsky.social @lighthousebks.bsky.social & @foylesforbooks.bsky.social

📖 online book sample to peek inside & share
www.jellybooks.com/cloud_reader...

A reddish image of a protest with text that reads "An evening of Protest Poetry and discussion Tuesday 14th April, 7PM" and the Lighthouse Bookshop logo of a lighthouse. To the left there is a photo of the book cover, which reads "Shouting in the Tunnel, Poems of Protest - Ruth Aylett, Culture Matters (the publisher)"

Tonight! @ruthaylett.bsky.social will read from her new protest poetry collection 'Shouting in the Tunnel', joined by friends @zainrishi.bsky.social from Readers and Writers Against Genocide and a representative from Woman Life Freedom Edinburgh.

Join us from 7pm!

For those of you not yet in the know…

The Alliance of Radical Booksellers runs a sibling award for adult non-fiction:

The 🍞Bread & 🌹Roses Award
for Radical Publishing!

#KidLitUK

A great event at @lighthousebks.bsky.social yesterday. I got interviewed by @bellacaledonia.bsky.social about Radical Abundance. It turned into a pretty wide ranging and enjoyable conversation. A link to a video of the discussion below.

lighthousebookshop.com/events/radic...

As people are getting their pre-orders in the lost now, and as a distraction from *gestures broadly*, I made the POLBLAR TMOLKOP PLAYLIST

a snowy or cloudy landscape, in greys and blues, forms the background for blocky navy text which reads POLBLAR TMOLKOP, Andrew Blair's new poetry pamphlet. On the cover, a person dressed in orange dives from the sky.

Tonight!! @andrewblair.co.uk will read from his new pamphlet POLBLAR TMOLKOP which is not an endorsement of the 2009 film Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Marianne MacRae will read from her 2025 publication RECITAL! It will be a brilliant night of poetry! Join us from 7pm lighthousebookshop.com/events/polbl...

Tomorrow I'm doing an Edinburgh launch for my new pamphlet, polblar tmolkop, at @lighthousebks.bsky.social with Marianne MacRae reading too. 7 - 8pm.

lighthousebookshop.com/events/polbl...

On a soft green background sit illustrations of apples, cherries, and blossoms, with the book cover of Radical Abundance nestled in. The book carries the subtitle How to win a green democratic future

We're excited to welcome @kmilb.bsky.social to the bookshop to celebrate RADICAL ABUNDANCE: HOW TO WIN A GREEN DEMOCRATIC FUTURE tonight at 7pm. We're sold out in-person but you can still join us online, or email for the waiting list! lighthousebookshop.com/events/radic...

Absolutely CANNOT WAIT to host the brilliant Ariana Reines, and in the wickedly cool pianodrome as well! Come one come all!

a bright pink background showing drawings of people enjoying music or using a rainbow megaphone, and in the centre is a copy of Yvette Taylor's book Queer in a Wee Place

We're so looking forward to hosting editor @yvettetaylor.bsky.social and contributors to the new book QUEER IN A WEE PLACE: SMALL NATIONS, SEXUALITY AND SCOTLAND at our sold-out launch tonight! You can still get online tickets, or email us for the waitlist! lighthousebookshop.com/events/queer...

A green and white banner including an image of a group of people sitting on the ground by an olive tree. A book cover is in the forefront which reads "Olive Growing in Palestine / Stories of Everyday Forms of Resistance by Juman Simaan. Below the book a small sign reads "Book Launch / Tues 31st March, 7pm"

Really looking forward to tonight's SOLD OUT event on Olive Growing in Palestine. Tickets are still available to watch online - do sign up before 5pm for the event at 7pm!

@lighthousebks.bsky.social @edinburghminute.com @edinreporter.bsky.social @theskinnymag.bsky.social

Radical Abundance | @kmilb.bsky.social | Edinburgh | Apr 8 | @lighthousebks.bsky.social
lighthousebookshop.com/events/radic...

Books from Below: A Radical Bookshop for Newcastle!!

www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/booksfromb...

smiling woman in red top with a microphone

Book titled Radical Justice Building the World We Need by Nani Jansen Reventlow

“We are living in the imaginaries of those who have been long gone. We are living the world they wanted...” Angela Davis

Nani Jansen Reventlow challenges us in her new book Radical Justice to grasp the roots & build new imaginaries of a better world 🌎

Radical Justice | Nani Janson Reventlow | Edinburgh | Mar 21 | @lighthousebks.bsky.social
lighthousebookshop.com/events/radic...

The Othered Woman | Shahed Ezaydi | Edinburgh | Mar 25 | @lighthousebks.bsky.social
lighthousebookshop.com/events/the-o...

Radical Abundance | @kmilb.bsky.social | Edinburgh | Apr 8 | @lighthousebks.bsky.social
lighthousebookshop.com/events/radic...

Neither inevitable nor immutable Make Hope Possible, the new progressive collaboration supported and promoted by Democratic Left Scotland, have made tickets available for their next series of events – ‘An Evening with George Monbiot’...

Nothing 'natural' about neoliberalism: event www.democratic-left.scot/post/neither... @georgemonbiot.bsky.social @makehopepossible.bsky.social @reidfoundation.bsky.social @lighthousebks.bsky.social @adamramsay.bsky.social @anothergreen.bsky.social @reidfoundation.bsky.social

Tonight! It's almost a full house, but we've had a few drop-outs so you can still get last-minute tickets here: lighthousebookshop.com/events/front...