Synopsis

1. When a customer enters, always say hello first. 2. Never ask the customer what they want, but how you can help them. 3. Listen to the customer carefully. 4. Never judge. 5. Smile. Always smile. 6. Let the customer wander through every nook and cranny of the bookshop. 7. When a child enters, get down to their height. 8. Whenever you can, be daring. Take risks. Take the customer away from their usual tastes. 9. Read a lot, a lot. 10. Be patient. Choosing a book is like finding a friend: some people jump in, while others approach with suspicion. At the dawn of her thirty-fifth birthday, Bianca leaves the Dolomites to leave behind a painful memory and moves to the town where she spent her childhood, just outside Milan. She has decided to return to her grandmother's apartment, where she was truly happy. Because, downstairs, there is "La stanza di Virginia," the bookshop of Mr. Marco, who has always welcomed her with a smile and good advice. She grew up among those dusty shelves, wrapping books behind the counter and consulting textbooks for school research. When the old bookseller announces he's closing, Bianca can't believe it, and although disappointed, she accepts the offer to help him in the remaining months. Day after day, she learns the tricks of the trade from Mr. Marco: how to lend an ear without being intrusive, or how to read the gestures of customers looking for a book. Filling this new life are also Bianca's best friends, the irrepressible Mavi and the patient Dele, each with her own problems, but ready to support one another. Yet, in order to move forward, Bianca knows she must let go of the past. And perhaps the bookstore can be a starting point, both for her and for her friends. Amanda Colombo has worked as a bookseller for years and has learned to guide customers in choosing a book, discovering that, often, they're looking for more than just a good read. From her experience came "Thank God We're Here," a debut that's not just a tribute to bookstores, but above all a story of friendship and growth, one that transcends pain and blossoms again thanks to the printed page. Because there's no right age to discover and pursue a passion.