U.S. bookseller Barnes & Noble says it will enter into a partnership with British retailer John Lewis to offer its Nook electronic readers in the U.K.

John Lewis is the first Nook partner for Barnes & Noble outside the United States. The book retailer says in a statement Tuesday that the reader will be available both online and in stores in the fall, ahead of the key Christmas season.

Barnes & Noble Inc. has faced tough competition from online retailers like Amazon.com and discount stores, with shoppers moving away from traditional books in favor of electronic books. That's pushed the company to invest heavily in its Nook e-reader.

Sales of Nook unit - which includes e-readers, digital content and accessories - were essentially flat in the first quarter.