Aberdeen woman used gran’s inheritance to follow dream to open bookshop.

Christie Murphie abandoned her hopes to become a lawyer to launch Somerville Books in Rosemount last summer.

Christie Murphie abandoned aspirations to become a solicitor and spent her grandmother’s fortune to pursue her dream of starting an independent bookshop in Aberdeen. She opened Somerville Books at Rosemount Viaduct last summer and characterises the experience thus far as “joyful chaos”.

Christie has worked tirelessly to build a community she is proud of, but she warns that rising costs are placing strain on small businesses like hers. Christie addressed our questions on her major problems, accomplishments, and future goals.

How and why did you start Somerville Books?

I started Somerville Books because I love books and bookshops. I grew up at my mother’s bookshop, Box of Frogs, in Wigtown, Scotland’s National Book Town.

I was looking for an independent bookshop in Aberdeen that carried the latest books I desired.

It took some time and much planning, but I finally opened the doors in July 2025, and it’s been wonderful chaos ever since.

How did you get to where you are today?

If you can believe it, I had planned to become a solicitor. I hold a law degree from Aberdeen University and a human rights degree from Glasgow University.

Who helped you?

This would not have been possible if my grandmother hadn’t died and left me some money. I’ve also relied on my mother’s advice and experience. Without her, I would be even more of a headless chicken than I am now.

My brothers help me set up shelves when I ask, but only if they have nothing better to do, and my pals shamelessly promote me on social media and attend my events. I am also a member of the Federation of Small Businesses. It requires an entire town.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever had?

Make it exist first, and then make it good. For me, this meant simply getting the doors open, making my presence known, and beginning to establish my community.

Once you understand your clients, you can improve things for them and with them in mind.

What is your biggest mistake?

My Christmas stock was ineffective for my customers. I need to improve my ability to listen to my intuition on these issues and keep my own customer vision at the forefront of all my decisions.

All of the product I got in from local businesses flew off the shelves, but the more generic items did not. Trust your instincts.

What is your greatest achievement?

I am proud of the community I have created. I organise a reading challenge, and my clients who join have expressed interest in meeting up and discussing what they are reading for the challenge.

I love that these are folks who have probably never met before, and I’m helping to bring them together.

How are you managing the rising cost of doing business?

My main concern is that Somerville Books will become unsustainable if the business situation does not alter.

The shop is open five days a week from January to March (Wednesday through Sunday) and six days a week the rest of the year (Tuesday through Sunday), and it’s entirely my responsibility. As things are, with escalating employment costs, I just cannot afford to hire anyone.

This implies I can’t take a vacation or get sick. I’m simply glad I decided to accomplish this while I still had the energy to work nonstop.

What do you still hope to achieve?

I’m now working on an internet shop to get books from further afield. My main aim is to start a free children’s literary festival in Aberdeen.

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