It’s never too early to plan summer vacations, especially if you’re someone who dreams of one day opening your bookstore. The Open Book project in the small town of Wigtown in southern Scotland promises to make these two dreams a reality, even if just for a few days. Visitors secure accommodations while also managing the bookstore during their stay. Not surprisingly, there’s a two-year waiting list.

The project was conceived by author and filmmaker Jessica Fox, and it operates with the help of volunteers. It also supports the local festival (Wigtown Festival Company) with donations that total around £10,000 a year.

Among the unique guests is Isabella Garcia from Texas, who works in the humanitarian sector. In a recent BBC interview, she said: “I discovered Open Book years ago, I’d say five or six years ago. I’m a book lover, so in every city I visit, one of the first things I do is look for a bookstore or a book café.”

However, when she learned about Open Book, securing a stay was quite challenging, as there was no availability whenever she had the chance to travel to Scotland. Since reservations began in August 2014, the waiting list has already counted 450 visitors—some from as far away as Hawaii and Beijing.

She added her name to the list, and when two dates opened up, she seized the opportunity.

This summer of 2024 was one of the wettest for Scotland, yet Garcia said the experience was delightful. In fact, the large turnout at the bookstore surprised her.

Her getaway to the picturesque Scottish village was a stark contrast to her daily life in war-torn countries like Ukraine and Haiti. “It feels like I traveled back in time,” she added. It even sparked ideas for her future: “I can see myself comfortably opening an independent bookstore in a small town like this when I retire.”