Testimonies from passionate proprietors reveal the diversity of Taiwan’s independent bookshops, all with a distinct style and flair. Centring on the most human aspects of each, Hou Chi-jan’s documentary reinvigorates a love for these charming establishments as a second home. At the intersection of intellectual spirit and a desire for genuine human connection lies Taiwan’s welcoming bookstore culture. Shops are places to browse texts as well as havens for reflection, discovery and connection; here, interests are traded, tea is shared and furry friends cohabit. In the end, it doesn’t matter whether the stores are neatly inventoried or a creative mishmash of items; the warmth and the familiar scent emanate from every hand-picked book placed gently on a shelf.