Frequently Asked Questions

A book nook is a miniature 3D scene built inside a box roughly the size of a large hardback book. It sits on your bookshelf between the books, so the scene appears to be hidden between the spines. Most of ours include a warm LED light, so the scene glows in the evening.

No, every kit is a DIY project. You get pre-cut wooden panels, miniature furniture and accessories, the LED light set and an illustrated step-by-step manual. Building it is the point.

Most kits take roughly 4 to 8 unhurried hours, spread over a weekend or a few evenings. The estimated build time and difficulty are listed on every product page.

For a first build, pick a kit with a shorter build time and a lower difficulty. Both are listed on every product page. Not sure which world suits you? Take our three-question Find Your Chapter quiz.

Every product page lists the exact assembled size in its specifications. Most of our book nooks are 11–18 cm wide, 17–23 cm tall and 10–19 cm deep, so they stand on a normal bookshelf. The free-standing houses and room boxes are bigger, up to about 29 cm wide.

They're adult craft kits rated 14+. Parts are small and some steps need patience and a steady hand. Younger builders can enjoy them with adult supervision.

Our kits are original, independently designed miniature kits from specialist manufacturers. They aren't licensed by, affiliated with or endorsed by any book publisher, film studio or other brand. Where a listing mentions a style or theme, it's purely descriptive. See our Brand Disclaimer.

Our current kits are made by specialist makers. We choose each one and test-build it in England before it's listed. Our own original byChapters™ designs are planned for 2027.

Occasionally. Manufacturers sometimes revise small accessories or colours between production runs, and photography lighting can differ from real life. The design, scale and contents listed are what you'll receive.

Usually two things: craft glue (a PVA or wood glue with a fine nozzle works best) and batteries for the LED light. If you're not sure which batteries your kit takes, ask us before you start. Tweezers, a small craft knife and a cutting mat make the fiddly parts easier, but they aren't essential.

A PVA or wood glue with a fine nozzle is ideal, and a small amount goes a long way. Superglue works for metal or plastic accessories but can mark wood. Dry-fit parts first to check they're the right way round, then glue.

It varies by kit. If you're not sure which type yours takes, ask us and we'll tell you, so you can have them ready before you fit the light. Switch the LED off when you're not enjoying it, as cheap batteries can leak if they're left flat for months.

Check that the batteries are fresh and the right way round, that the switch is fully on, and that the wire hasn't been pinched by a wooden panel. Still dark? Tell us and we'll send a new light set free, postage included.

Look two steps ahead, as some parts only make sense once you see where they attach, and match the letter and number printed on each sheet to the manual. Still stuck? Send us a photo of the step and your build so far — in the chat, or through the contact form — and we'll talk you through it. There are more tips on our Build Help page.

Yes. Ask with the replacement parts form, with your order number and kit name and we'll send a digital copy, usually the same working day.

Dust it with a soft, dry brush or a hairdryer on a cool, low setting, and never use a damp cloth on paper or fabric details. Keep it out of direct sunlight so the colours don't fade. It looks best between two full-height books at eye level, with the light on in the evening.

The kit is in stock at our UK warehouse now. Order before 3pm on a working day (Monday to Friday) and it's dispatched the same day. See everything that's ready to ship.

The kit is on its way to our UK warehouse and you can order it now. Payment is taken in full at checkout, and we dispatch it as soon as it arrives. The expected dispatch month is shown on the product page. If that date moves we'll email you, and you can cancel for a full refund any time before your pre-order is dispatched.

Yes. Your basket asks how you'd like it sent: the in-stock kits straight away and the pre-order kit as soon as it arrives, or everything together when the pre-order arrives. Either way, you only pay for delivery once.

Usually, yes. Most of our range is restocked regularly, and many incoming kits can be pre-ordered, with the expected dispatch month shown on the product page. If a kit you want shows "Coming soon" without a pre-order option, message us and we'll tell you when it's due.

Prices are in pounds sterling and include VAT. If you're shopping from Ireland or an EU country, prices are shown in your local currency and include the VAT and import duty due in your country. Elsewhere in Europe, prices are shown in your local currency, and any import duties are added at checkout or charged by your country on delivery. Payment is taken at checkout through Shopify's secure payment providers.

UK delivery is free on orders of £25 or more, and £2.99 on orders under £25, sent by Royal Mail Tracked 24. Standard tracked delivery to Ireland costs £6.95, to Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria and Denmark £7.95, to other EU countries £10.95, and to the rest of Europe £12.95, free on orders of £100 or more; express courier delivery is available from £16.95. Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man pay UK prices. You'll see the delivery charge at checkout before you pay.

In-stock orders placed before 3pm on a working day (Monday to Friday) are dispatched the same day from our UK warehouse. Orders placed after 3pm, at the weekend or on a bank holiday go out the next working day. Pre-orders are dispatched as soon as the kit arrives.

Every UK order goes by Royal Mail Tracked 24, which aims to deliver the next day after dispatch (Royal Mail delivers Monday to Saturday). It's a target rather than a guarantee, and some remote addresses can take a little longer. Standard tracked delivery to Ireland and the EU aims for 3–5 working days after dispatch (5–7 working days to the rest of Europe), and the express courier option for 1–5 working days. See Delivery Information.

We email your tracking number as soon as your order is dispatched (check your junk folder if you can't see it). You can also find it in your account. Here's how to track it.

Yes. We deliver right across Europe: the UK, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Ireland, all 27 EU countries and the rest of Europe, including Norway, Switzerland and Iceland. Standard tracked delivery takes 3–7 working days after dispatch and costs from £6.95 (free on orders of £100 or more), with an express courier option from £16.95. Prices shown to customers in Ireland and the EU include local VAT and import duty, so there's nothing extra to pay when your parcel arrives; elsewhere in Europe, your country may charge import VAT or duty on delivery. We don't deliver outside Europe yet. See Delivery Information.

If your tracking hasn't updated for 3 working days, or your parcel hasn't arrived within 7 working days of dispatch (10 working days elsewhere in Europe), contact us or call 0333 015 6933 with your order number. We'll chase Royal Mail for you, and if a parcel is confirmed lost we'll send a replacement or refund you in full, whichever you prefer.

We'll put it right free of charge, including postage, and you don't need to return the kit. That covers parts that are missing, faulty, incorrect or damaged in delivery, and pieces that break during your first build, with no time limit. Send us the details on our Missing or Damaged Parts page and we'll reply within one working day.

Yes. If the kit is unopened (component bags sealed, everything in the box), you have 60 days from delivery to return it for a refund of the price you paid. You cover the return postage, wherever you're sending it from. Full details are on our Returns and Refunds page.

Opened or started kits aren't covered by the 60-day promise, but you keep your statutory 14-day right to cancel. We may make a deduction if the kit has been handled beyond what's needed to inspect it. If you opened it because something was wrong with it, it counts as faulty and we'll put it right.

Contact us as soon as you can. Photos of the item and the packaging help. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you can reject it for a full refund within 30 days of delivery; after that you're entitled to a repair or replacement, and if that doesn't put it right, a refund or price reduction. We'll always offer whichever you'd prefer, and we cover all the postage.

Refunds go back to your original payment method within 14 days of us receiving your return, usually 2–3 working days after it arrives. Your bank may take a further 3–5 working days to show the money.

Our rewards. You earn points for every world you build, review and share, and 1,000 points turn into £10 off. See how Chapter Points work.

Your own shelf on byChapters: every world you've built, your Chapter Points and your next chapter, all in one place. Open My Shelf.

Call us on 0333 015 6933 at any time: our virtual assistant takes your details and the team follows up. Or start a chat for instant answers from our AI assistant (if you need a person, our team usually replies in chat within 4–8 hours), use our contact form, or message us on WhatsApp, where we're byChapters. We reply within one working day.

WhatsApp is easiest: message byChapters on WhatsApp and we'll reply as soon as a team member is free, usually within one working day. The chat and the contact form work from anywhere too. Our phone line, +44 333 015 6933, is a UK number, so your provider charges calls from abroad as international calls.