The Mr B’s Team – where are they now?

To celebrate twenty years of Mr B’s, we’re taking a trip down memory lane – and popping in to say hi to some familiar faces along the way! Some of our former booksellers reflect on life at B’s, from funny memories and favourite experiences, to bizarre questions and brilliant encounters.

This time, we’re hearing from Becky M, who worked here from 2012 to 2013!

A funny memory from your time at Mr B’s?

Oh my gosh, SO many! Being nicknamed Becky Chops and turning up in my neon Adidas hoodies and leopard leggings and gold chunky hoops… 

The time I found a stunned bird by the side of the road on the way to work and didn’t know what to do so brought it to the shop, put it in a box under the stairs then forgot to tell anyone about it thus giving Kate the shock of her life… [An editorial note: Becky didn’t mention that this was day one of her working at Mr B’s and that the place she put it under the stairs was the fridge!]

Everyone rotationally bringing in cakes and when it was my turn deciding to up the health factor by making a yogurt and quinoa fridge cake that had the consistency a trainer’s sole which no one ate, surprisingly… 

The year I made personalised cocktails for everyone’s Christmas present (I still have my First Edition Tiger in the Smoke from that year!).

There was rarely a dull moment. 

What have you been doing since leaving Mr B’s?

Wow, well I left in 2013! It was really tough saying goodbye, and it felt slightly premature, but I had to move to Oxford. Still, I’d been looking into blogging and freelance journalistic pieces during Mr B’s, and so threw myself headfirst into these things. I ended up editing then owning a luxury lifestyle website with a network of global writers, which essentially allowed me to travel the world, eat and drink in the finest spots, and skip my way through London living a bougie existence via the merits of my words. 

I also started up a copywriting and PR business for F&B clients with my best friends, which we ran in London for three deliciously hedonistic years. In the pandemic, I turned to my other love, astrology, and since then have been working as a professional astrologer with workshops, 1:1s and writing for platforms such as Women’s Health, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and many more. I’ve lived in London, Portugal and India, and have just finished the first draft of my debut novel, which I’m currently editing – and will be hopefully host the first ever signing at Mr B’s, naturally! 

What book did you love recommending the most to Mr B’s customers?

I have such a soft spot for JG Farrell, so I’d love it when I thought someone might enjoy Troubles or The Siege of Krishnapur, and was so gratified when someone really ‘got’ a book I was enamoured by, such as Swamplandia! 

What 3 books are currently on your TBR pile?

Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood.  

What was your favourite part about working at Mr B’s?

The camaraderie! I loved being Becky Chops in our little crew. It felt like a real heyday of the shop – it was already established as one of the best in the country, but we were experimenting on how best to do Reading Years (now our Reading Subscriptions!). We used to pick each book individually and write a hand written note – it would take forever! Madness and wonderment! I loved Reading Spas although sometimes my 1:1s turned into mini therapy sessions or went on for well over an hour! I also loved the fact that reading was a true vocation – it was my homework and my hobby, rolled into one. I never read as much as I did in those days!

My Mr Bs crew was the real draw, though. The shop was much smaller back in 2011, and we had the Curtain Which Must Not Be Looked Behind. I felt such a sense of support and teamwork there, knowing we were helping to turn Nic and Ju’s incredible dream into reality. It feels so special to have been part of that alumni, and I loved that each one of us brought something unique to the team!