It was a sunny February Saturday afternoon in Ramsgate, and Sapphire Bates was sitting behind the till in the book shop she's poured her heart and soul into for the past eight months.
But as she looked out at the store, past the rows of hardbacks and posters for author events, there wasn't a customer in sight.
Book Bodega normally has an army of loyal customers as well as a regular footfall of tourists visiting the seaside town for day trips, but she's being told more and more often by would-be punters that they simply can't afford books at the moment.
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