BOOKS · COFFEE · CONVERSATION
At House of Joy, you will discover diverse stories, global voices, and a carefully curated selection of books at Colchester’s newest independent bookshop.
Great coffee, good books and a place to pause. Whether you’re meeting a friend or taking a quiet moment for yourself, there’s always a seat waiting at House of Joy.
The best stories don’t just live on our shelves—they’re shared over coffee, in book clubs and through conversations that bring our community together.
How to Find Us
Location: 37 Crouch St, CO3 3EN, Colchester
Tuesday-Saturday 9:30-4 Sunday 12-4
Joys
Recommendations of August
Each month, House of Joy selects a collection of highlighted books that reflect our values, celebrate diverse voices and encourage readers to explore the ideas at the heart of our philosophy.
The World of Black Film : A Journey Through Cinematic Blackness in 100 Films With a Foreword by John Akomfrah by Ashley Clark (Hardback)
Selected as the 'Best Book about Black Cinema' in 'The 25 Best Books about Cinema Every Film Lover Should Read' - Time Out "My Brother Ashley Clark Has Broke It Down To What Black Film Was, Is Present Day, And What The Future Might Be. BLAK IZ BLAK. YA-DIG? SHO-NUFF. Enjoy This BLAK CINEMATIC SCIENCE." - Spike Lee. An indispensable guide for any film lover yearning to learn more about Black cinema." - GQ. The World of Black Film is an entertaining, informed, and thought-provoking survey of important and influential Black films from around the globe. Starting with the unfinished silent comedy Lime Kiln Club Field Day (1913) and concluding with Steve McQueen's World War II epic Blitz (2024), this book takes readers on an exciting journey through an eclectic mix of classics and hidden gems spanning more than 100 years and 30 countries. Beautifully designed and bursting with eye-catching film imagery and poster art, this is essential reading for general film fans, enthusiasts of Black cinema, educators, and students alike.
Includes a foreword by Sir John Akomfrah, CBE RA.
Elizabeth Zhang knows her place in the world. She knows she’s in the tenth percentile for likability, the seventieth percentile for attractiveness, and the ninety-ninth percentile for academics. With a hard-working ethic instilled in her by immigrant parents, armed with impeccable grades, Elizabeth thinks she is set for Harvard Law School.
Until she is rejected for being too ordinary, which she translates to mean she's just another boring Asian female. But when her classmate Laura Kim gets in, everything falls apart. Why was Laura accepted? What makes her so interesting? At first, she follows her because she’s just curious.
What Laura eats for lunch. Where Laura shops. The answer for Elizabeth’s failure must lie somewhere in Laura’s life.
But still, Elizabeth just can’t see it. The only thing she sees is that Laura has taken her spot at Harvard. A spot she knows she deserves.
A spot that she’ll simply have to take back. Layered, subversive, and satirical, this novel brings to light how, in the face of societal expectations and self-inflicted pressures, a person can unlock the darkest parts of themselves and show how far they’re willing to go to achieve their vision of success.
The far right is now mainstream in British politics. In 2025 we saw the biggest far-right rally in Britain’s history, after a summer of flag-waving protests.
The year before, racist mobs tried to attack mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers. Something incredibly dangerous has been unleashed, yet our political class seems at best indifferent and at worst to welcome it. In If We Tolerate This, Daniel Trilling explains how we arrived at this extraordinary moment and what we can do to change course before it’s too late.
What happens when politics is everywhere, yet nothing seems to change? From the abandoned dance floors of Thatcher's London to the mass mobilisations of Black Lives Matter, Anton Jäger traces how public life has become infused with protest, spectacle, and moral urgency - while the old infrastructure of parties, unions, and civic solidarity has been hollowed out. Hyperpolitics revisits the illusions of the "end of history" and dissects the strange energies that replaced them: viral outrage, endless culture wars, and the digital rush of causes that flare and vanish overnight. Jäger shows how the promises of post-Cold War liberalism gave way to a restless, unsteady public sphere where private passions overflow into politics but rarely build enduring power.
Ranging from Guy Debord and Wolfgang Tillmans to Houellebecq's disenchanted fictions, Hyperpolitics makes sense of a world in which collective action remains fragmented and the social fabric thinner than ever. For anyone trying to grasp why our age feels so charged yet so inconsequential, this book offers a vital map through the new contradictions of our hyperpolitical moment.
In the heart-aching new novel from the author of the award-winning Golden Child, a mother searches for the daughter she left behind a lifetime ago. When Dawn Bishop was sixteen, she left her home in Trinidad and journeyed across the sea to Venezuela.
There, she gave birth to a baby girl and returned to Trinidad alone. Dawn tried to carry on with her life: a move to England, a marriage, two sons and a divorce. But she never stopped thinking of her daughter and of what might have been.
Forty years later, a woman gets in touch on an internet forum, claiming that she might be her long-lost daughter. Dawn dares to hope that this may be a way back to her past. Could she finally give form to all the love and care a mother has left to offer?'
BOOK ORDERING
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Frequently Asked Questions
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House of Joy is an independent bookshop and community space in Colchester, centred around books, culture, creativity, and connection.
We curate books for all ages with a particular focus on diverse voices, underrepresented stories, and joyful discovery.
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You can find us in Colchester at 37 Crouch St, CO3 3EN.
Visit our shop to browse books, discover new favourites, and take part in events and activities.
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We’re more than a bookshop.
House of Joy was created as a welcoming third space — somewhere to slow down, connect, discover stories, and be part of community.
Alongside books, we host events, workshops, children’s activities, and creative gatherings.
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We stock a carefully curated selection of fiction, non-fiction, children’s books, poetry, graphic novels, and gift items.
We place particular emphasis on Black literature, diverse storytelling, and books that spark conversation and imagination.
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There are lots of ways to support us:
Buy books from us
Attend events
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Every bit of support helps independent spaces like ours thrive.
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We believe JOY can be radical, restorative, and communal.
House of Joy is our invitation to make space for stories, imagination, learning, and togetherness.
Let’s Stay in Touch
Ready to find your next great read? Reach out for a personalised recommendation or to learn more about our membership perks.
Drop us a request if you would like to order a book that we don’t currently stock!
Our team is eager to help you turn the page to something extraordinary.
