It was a case of familiar territory and an unfamiliar role for me on Tuesday night. Over the past year, I’ve been a regular attender at the monthly Author Talks nights (previously known as Books and Bubbles) at Southbourne’s Sobo Sommelier wine bar. Back in March, I was the guest author, interviewed by organiser Alex Stone, but this time around Alex had asked me to be the guest host, interviewing Ally Fir, co-creator of TikTok sensation The Mysterious Bookcase.

The Mysterious Bookcase is an online indie bookshop specialising in matching readers with their ideal books. One of the things that shone through as Ally talked was just how passionate she and her partner Matt Rawlins are about books, and about the idea that sometimes we need help in judging them by more than just the cover. Customers can order TMBs signature ‘Blind date with a book’ to be sent a gift-wrapped novel and care package (which includes the makings of a hot drink and some chocolate, to complete the perfect cosy night in with your new print partner). You can request something from a specific genre (or not – ‘surprise me’ is an option when ordering) as well as providing further steers on what kind of thing you might like. If customers are happy to share their Goodreads profiles, Ally and Matt can make sure they don’t send something that has already been read, as well as performing some ‘if you like that, you’ll love this’ deductive reasoning. When I first heard about their service, I wondered what part AI played in their process, and I was delighted to hear that they are entirely old school: it’s all down to human brainpower, with Matt in particular going deep into the available information to make the perfect match. They’re up for readers who set them a challenge too: one customer recently cited a lyric from the song 'Which Witch' by Florence and the Machine, asking for a book that fitted that vibe. Even that didn’t prove beyond our heroes, although just in case that particular customer comes across this post before receiving their parcel, I won’t reveal which book they chose for her.

Ally had brought some books along to sell on the night, all lovingly packaged with tantalising descriptions. I picked up one marked as ‘mythology, historical fiction, retellings’, which sounded right up my street. When I got it home, it turned out to be Mother of Rome by Lauren J.A. Bear, which I haven’t had the chance to read yet, but am very much looking forward to. They also run a monthly book club, where everybody receives the chosen book at the same time, gets to join an ongoing chat with other club members while reading, and then takes part in an online discussion of the book at the end of the reading period. It sounds like fun.

The Mysterious Bookcase will soon be opening their bricks-and-mortar real life bookshop, in Bournemouth’s Westbourne Arcade, but that doesn’t mean that their online presence is going away. If you want the occasional (or regular – they offer monthly subscriptions too) curve ball thrown into your To Be Read list, they’re well worth a try. Ally even bought both of my books on the night, which just goes to emphasise the impeccable literary taste that lies behind The Mysterious Bookcase.