By Kateryna and Valerii Staryk, Founders of Booklya Bookstore
We are Kateryna and Valerii Staryk, a couple with over 10 years of experience in IT. And now, we are also the founders of Booklya, a Ukrainian bookstore in Spain. Yes, it's true: two IT professionals decided to sell books. It might sound unusual, but our journey was quite natural.
The Move, Work, Daily Life—and a Feeling That Something Was Missing
We moved to Spain during the height of the full-scale war. Both of us continued working remotely for IT companies, adapting to a new country, culture, and daily life.
But at the same time, we felt that something familiar was missing in all of this. Especially books.
I've always loved reading; I had an entire library at home. But here, the shelves were empty. We started ordering books from Ukraine for ourselves, then for friends, acquaintances, neighbors. People passed our names around: "These are the ones who can bring books."
That's How Booklya Was Born
We decided to take the matter seriously. We created an online store, set up logistics, developed a website on Shopify, implemented integrations, enabled payments, automated email newsletters—everything we know how to do, but this time not for a client's project, but for ourselves.
Now, Booklya Bookstore offers the largest selection of Ukrainian books in Spain, with delivery available to Portugal as well. We personally select the books, read descriptions, look for new releases and those that "touch the soul." We're not just selling—we're sharing what we love.
Why Do All This If You Have a Stable Job?
We've heard this question more than once—from friends, colleagues, relatives. They say, why take on more work when you already have stable employment?
Because it's about something more than just work. It's about identity, about preserving and sharing our culture, about creating a community in a new place.
Booklya has become more than just a bookstore; it's a space where people can find a piece of home, connect with others, and keep the Ukrainian spirit alive abroad.