Donna and I hope you’re enjoying the summer and reading lots of books!
As you know, the books we feature in this newsletter are purchased at independent bookstores around New York City and on our travels. (This post on Instagram shows the ones we visited on our recent roadtrip across the Southwest.) We’re lucky to have so many bookstores here near us.
Donna and I love Lofty Pigeon Books, which opened nearly a year ago up the street from us. They have a great selection as well as author events, plus a monthly ‘hush hour’ where folks from the neighborhood gather to read quietly. We also love McNally Jackson, which has a branch near where I work. Sometimes, when I need a break from the grind, I go there and browse. They have an insane selection, not only of mainstream titles but also gems from small indie presses.
We’d love to hear from you! Tell us in the thread below about your favorite bookstore where you live and what makes it special. And if there isn’t one nearby, no worries! Weigh in with one you’ve visited elsewhere.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and we’ll see you in the thread!
i’m legally obligated to also say mcnally jackson, but i also loveeeeee spoonbill! they have an insanely good selection and i always find something interesting that i’d never heard of on their tables
It's horrible when great bookstores like this close down. My bookmark collection also reminds me of places long gone: Book Court in Boerum Hill, Ave Victor Hugo in Boston...
I was in Nola a few years ago and went to a bookstore there, but not during its open hours (smart!). I took a picture of the window, but not the sign (super smart!) but I don't think it was Maple Street. I think it was somewhere in the French Quarter.
lol 'legally obligated'! I've never been to Spoonbill. I gotta check that out. Williamsburg has a lot of cool bookstores these days that I've been meaning to visit. There's also a McNally, of course, but also Black Spring. Have you been there?
Hello friend! Thanks for the recs! I have long admired Astoria books and Kew & Willow from afar, but haven't made it to those places yet. Now that the G train doesn't go to Queens, I'll probably have to wait till the fall to finally get up there. Farley's looks great! And so does Montclair. If I remember correctly, someone was recently posting photos of it on Insta and it looked cool.
Fabled in Waco is pretty magical and has a cafe inside with book-themed drinks (like frobscottle!) https://fabledbookshop.com/
Probably my favorite overall is Borderlands in San Francisco, which is SF & F-themed and has employees who give great recs. It moved locations a few years ago but is still great https://www.borderlands-books.com/v2/index.html
Thanks, KB! Fabled looks really great! The last time I was in the Bay Area, I tried to hit as many bookstores as possible, but there are so many! I'll add Borderlands to my list for next time. Employee recs are so vital for finding unexpected gems. I've made so many purchases based off them!
If you’re interested in sci-fi or fantasy at all, Borderlands really is a must! But agreed, there’s a ton in San Francisco and it’s hard to see them all!
Okay first it's not super close to were I live now but Northshire Books in Manchester is where a bookseller named Ginger recommended Bunnicula to me as a child and got me into reading also it's massive and incredible.
My actual local bookshop is the Vermont Bookshop in Middlebury and it's right on the waterfall so there's a beautiful view in the back and they have a massive selection and pretty great events and everyone in there is just lovely.
Also shout-out my two favorite local used bookstores, Monroe St Books which is definitely the largest used book store in the state and is incredible and Otter Creek Books which also has a bunch of hidden gems.
Thanks, AI! I've been to the Northshire location in Saratoga and enjoyed it, but that was a few years ago. Looks like it changed hands since. That's awesome that a bookseller got you into books with one perfect rec. Also, a bookstore next to a waterfall sounds amazing!
Every year in the Spring, I meet up with many bookish friends to attend Booktopia at the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Vermont. It is an amazing store and an amazing weekend. Closer to home, in Larchmont New York there is J Anderson’s which has author signings and I stop in if I need something to read 😂😂. When my kid was away at college, I frequented Newtonville Books in Newton, MA, Inkfish Books in Warren, RI and then in DC, Politics and Prose and East City Books. All different, but all amazing!
Thanks, Kate! A second vote for Northshire! I need to get to Vermont! I had no idea there was a bookstore in Larchmont. Growing up in Westchester, I don't remember there being any bookstores besides Barnes and Noble. We had a couple of those in WP. One in the mall, another in a strip mall. Oh and a Walden Books, I think, also in the mall. But no indies. I'm glad to know lower Westchester has at least one now.
In a strange coincidence, I was recently in Newton with my mother and we were going to Johnny's Luncheonette to eat and she points and says look, a bookstore, and it was Newtonville. I don't think I've ever been in there, but I remembered it from when I went to school up there. So many amazing bookstores in and around Boston, I could go on and on! And when I was in DC earlier this year I hit a few, but missed East City. Next time!
East City Bookshop is essentially my home away from home. It's been closed due to construction after flooding earlier this month and I've seen just how much it's the center of my life.
Eve! I love Codex, too! Sometimes after work I take a walk down from Midtown to the Broadway-Lafayette subway station and I almost always pop into the Strand and, if it's still open, Codex. And Three Lives is amazing, of course. I've heard good things about Book Hampton, but have never been. When we make our annual trip to Montauk, I usually hit the used bookstore in the library there. Some gems there!
East City Bookshop on Capitol Hill in your nation’s capital. Great selection of books, knowledgeable staff, committed to our neighborhood (lots of book clubs, author events). Taffy Brodesser-Akner was scheduled last week to be “in conversation” with Jake Tapper, but things being what they are in Dc these days, he had to bail so Taffy interviewed herself. Hilarious and illuminating! Right Now the shop is suffering from water damage caused by a major leak from their upstairs neighbor so store is closed for browsing temporarily as they repair and recover. But you can support them by ordering books for pickup. A real asset to our neighborhood.
Thanks, Gina! Another vote for East City! That's crazy that Taffy had to interview herself. I'm glad she was able to save the event and that it was funny and interesting. Too bad about the leak damage to the store. I hope it gets repaired soon!
Oh man, I hear that, Leigh! There is always something interesting whenever I go in there. Just this week, I was browsing, minding my own business, when I saw this book from a brand new imprint that focuses on reissuing books from 'women and weirdos' of the 19th century. They've got two of these out so far and I just could not leave without one. My wallet was not happy lol! And I'm glad to know there's an interesting bookstore in Greenwich! https://www.athenabooksog.com/
This is a small, second-hand bookstore that uses its profit to support organisations in Athens which offer help to women who are survivors of abuse. It also has a great selection of english language books. Very cozy!
I love the Hush Hour! How great that you visited The Book Stop. My favorite is across the street: Antigone Books. It has a feel good story. When the original owners put it up for sale, three employees crowdfunded and the community kicked in so they could buy it.
Thanks, Abra! The Hush Hour is a lot of fun. I'm so looking forward to the next one. I love the story about Antigone Books! I'll have to stop in next time I'm in Tucson, if I don't melt crossing the street!
Bookmarx in Springfield, MO is a small independent bookstore that also happens to be the home of last year's Captain Springfield...Googey the Cat! The owners have hosted poetry slams, banned book events, and sponsored the local "Wild Bob's Musical Book Club" where participants read the chosen book then write and perform a song based on that book. It's a delightful little hole in the wall in downtown Springfield and we love it. https://www.bookmarxbookshop.com/
In Phoenix I love Nurture House which houses both Palabras Bilingual Bookstore (https://palabrasbookstore.com) AND Wasted Ink Zine Distro (https://www.wizd-az.com) -- so many books and zines, with a shared common space for workshops, art openings, and more.
Thanks, Devin! These places look great! I didn't get to spend time in Phoenix when I was in the Southwest a few weeks ago. Next time, I'll be sure to check them out. I love how Zines are having a comeback. I feel like Substack is basically Zines without the physical form.
Sadly, I'll be moving away from this bookstore in the next week. Before I go, though, here's a love letter I wrote to the store yesterday:
When my wife Jean and I moved to Helena in January 2020, we landed in an apartment building just off the downtown Last Chance Gulch shopping area. This meant the neighborhood bookstore—now MY bookstore—was less than three blocks away. I have never been closer to a bookstore, in both physical proximity and spiritual alignment. Montana Book Co. not only has a rich, deep inventory of adult and children’s books, it’s an ad hoc community hub, an all-inclusive space where folks can gather in safety and camaraderie. The bookstore, a fierce champion of human rights, is a lamp post for western Montana, a beacon of “fuck-the-bastards-and-full-steam-ahead” strength. They’ve hosted Drag Queen Story Hour for years, despite literal death threats which got federal authorities involved; they’ve funded the rainbow-bright “You Are Loved” billboard on the interstate—nestled between the signs for anti-abortion legislation and 1-800 numbers to “Chat with Jesus”; they’ve hosted author events that sold out the 1,900-seat Civic Center; and they’re welcoming to all: they tolerate everyone except intolerant ignoramuses.
I’ve bought SO MANY books from owners Chelsia and Charlie over the past four years—a majority of the titles were personally handsold to me by these 2 beautiful human beings. I have come to love and admire these #booksellers in ways that go beyond cash register transactions. I’m far from the only #reader in Helena who feels that way; Chelsia and Charlie are warm, fierce and funny. I will carry their fire with me wherever I go.
Thanks so much for sharing the letter, David! https://mtbookco.com/ seems like a wonderful place! I've never been to Montana, but have always wanted to go. This would be a great reason to visit!
Two local faves where I live (between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara).
Timbre Books in Ventura. They opened during the pandemic and have so much beautiful community support. They have a DJ on Sunday afternoons, a regular bring your book, hang out & read together event and just added a Moth-style storytelling evening.
Thanks, Alana! These shops look terrific! I love the DJ idea. I think it's great that so many bookstores are turning into these spaces with great vibes where people from the neighborhood can not only find good books but hang out and feel like they're part of a community.
As I live in Portugal my favorite indie bookstore is here! Essência do Livro - Livraria urbana. They have a great used book room and lots of books in English. I LOVE them so much!!! If you're ever in Porto: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FwQe6vA9orzdE3HK9
Riffraff in Providence: https://riffraffpvd.com/. Small but very well curated.
This place looks great! A well-curated bookstore AND a bar?! I'm there!
I’m going to be in Philadelphia and Toronto this fall for work, so any recommendations for either place will be greatly appreciated!
I don't think we visited any bookstores the last time we were in Philly. But I just found this list: https://independentbookreview.com/2019/04/08/7-amazing-bookstores-in-philadelphia/. Also, this looks like a cool spot in Toronto: https://typebooks.ca/
But I'd also love to hear what others recommend!
In Philly: Brickbat Books is my fave! Small but excellent selection. Feels like a personal library with a distinct POV.
Thanks, Emily!
Thanks, Emily! I love that name. Will definitely check it out.
Here's the link for folks to take a look: https://brickbatbooks.blogspot.com/
I highly recommend the Wooden Shoe in Philly.
Thank you!
Thanks!
Here's the link: https://www.woodenshoebooks.org/
i’m legally obligated to also say mcnally jackson, but i also loveeeeee spoonbill! they have an insanely good selection and i always find something interesting that i’d never heard of on their tables
and my favorite bookstore from nola, maple street books, closed years ago but lives on in my heart and my bookmark collection!
It's horrible when great bookstores like this close down. My bookmark collection also reminds me of places long gone: Book Court in Boerum Hill, Ave Victor Hugo in Boston...
I was in Nola a few years ago and went to a bookstore there, but not during its open hours (smart!). I took a picture of the window, but not the sign (super smart!) but I don't think it was Maple Street. I think it was somewhere in the French Quarter.
lol 'legally obligated'! I've never been to Spoonbill. I gotta check that out. Williamsburg has a lot of cool bookstores these days that I've been meaning to visit. There's also a McNally, of course, but also Black Spring. Have you been there?
Here's the link to Spoonbill if folks want to look: https://spoonbillbooks.com/
Munroes and Russell’s in Victoria BC
Thanks, Susan! These places look great!
Here are the links in case folks want to check them out: https://www.russellbooks.com/ and https://www.munrobooks.com/
i have to shoutout some of the queens shops -- astoria bookshop https://www.astoriabookshop.com/ and kew & willow https://www.kewandwillow.com/home
i visited the montclair book center once https://www.montclairbookcenter.com/ and i love it!
and recently visited farley's book shop https://www.farleysbookshop.com/home in new hope, PA and also loved it
Hello friend! Thanks for the recs! I have long admired Astoria books and Kew & Willow from afar, but haven't made it to those places yet. Now that the G train doesn't go to Queens, I'll probably have to wait till the fall to finally get up there. Farley's looks great! And so does Montclair. If I remember correctly, someone was recently posting photos of it on Insta and it looked cool.
I love Three Lives and Co in NYC! Also a lil self promo for the bookstore I own in the Catskills: The Lost Bookshop in Delhi.
Your shop looks great, Emily! Here's a link for folks to check it out: https://thelostbookshop.com/
I also love Three Lives. It's got a great selection and vibe, and the perfect location. I can't walk out of there empty handed! http://threelives.com/
Fabled in Waco is pretty magical and has a cafe inside with book-themed drinks (like frobscottle!) https://fabledbookshop.com/
Probably my favorite overall is Borderlands in San Francisco, which is SF & F-themed and has employees who give great recs. It moved locations a few years ago but is still great https://www.borderlands-books.com/v2/index.html
Thanks, KB! Fabled looks really great! The last time I was in the Bay Area, I tried to hit as many bookstores as possible, but there are so many! I'll add Borderlands to my list for next time. Employee recs are so vital for finding unexpected gems. I've made so many purchases based off them!
If you’re interested in sci-fi or fantasy at all, Borderlands really is a must! But agreed, there’s a ton in San Francisco and it’s hard to see them all!
Nice! The sci-fi place we visited near there was Dark Carnival, which is awesome! http://www.darkcarnival.com/
Okay first it's not super close to were I live now but Northshire Books in Manchester is where a bookseller named Ginger recommended Bunnicula to me as a child and got me into reading also it's massive and incredible.
My actual local bookshop is the Vermont Bookshop in Middlebury and it's right on the waterfall so there's a beautiful view in the back and they have a massive selection and pretty great events and everyone in there is just lovely.
Also shout-out my two favorite local used bookstores, Monroe St Books which is definitely the largest used book store in the state and is incredible and Otter Creek Books which also has a bunch of hidden gems.
Both of these look like places were I would lose several hours browsing and come out with a huge haul! Thanks! https://www.monroestreetbooks.com/ + https://ottercreekusedbooks.com/
Thanks, AI! I've been to the Northshire location in Saratoga and enjoyed it, but that was a few years ago. Looks like it changed hands since. That's awesome that a bookseller got you into books with one perfect rec. Also, a bookstore next to a waterfall sounds amazing!
https://www.northshire.com/ + https://www.vermontbookshop.com/
Every year in the Spring, I meet up with many bookish friends to attend Booktopia at the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Vermont. It is an amazing store and an amazing weekend. Closer to home, in Larchmont New York there is J Anderson’s which has author signings and I stop in if I need something to read 😂😂. When my kid was away at college, I frequented Newtonville Books in Newton, MA, Inkfish Books in Warren, RI and then in DC, Politics and Prose and East City Books. All different, but all amazing!
Thanks, Kate! A second vote for Northshire! I need to get to Vermont! I had no idea there was a bookstore in Larchmont. Growing up in Westchester, I don't remember there being any bookstores besides Barnes and Noble. We had a couple of those in WP. One in the mall, another in a strip mall. Oh and a Walden Books, I think, also in the mall. But no indies. I'm glad to know lower Westchester has at least one now.
In a strange coincidence, I was recently in Newton with my mother and we were going to Johnny's Luncheonette to eat and she points and says look, a bookstore, and it was Newtonville. I don't think I've ever been in there, but I remembered it from when I went to school up there. So many amazing bookstores in and around Boston, I could go on and on! And when I was in DC earlier this year I hit a few, but missed East City. Next time!
https://www.jandersonsbooks.com/
https://www.newtonvillebooks.com/
https://www.inkfishbooks.com/
https://www.politics-prose.com/
https://eastcitybookshop.com/
East City Bookshop is essentially my home away from home. It's been closed due to construction after flooding earlier this month and I've seen just how much it's the center of my life.
Oh no! That's terrible that the place closed due to flooding! I hope it reopens soon! I'll have to visit it the next time I'm in DC.
Yessss!!! I’m a Stand girlie through and through but ALSO love Codex on Bleecker Street. & Three Lives for sure. So many good ones.
Outside of NYC: In Charlottesville, Virginia my favorite is New Dominion and I love Book Hampton in East Hampton too!
Eve! I love Codex, too! Sometimes after work I take a walk down from Midtown to the Broadway-Lafayette subway station and I almost always pop into the Strand and, if it's still open, Codex. And Three Lives is amazing, of course. I've heard good things about Book Hampton, but have never been. When we make our annual trip to Montauk, I usually hit the used bookstore in the library there. Some gems there!
https://codexbooks.info/
https://www.bookhampton.com/
https://ndbookshop.com/
East City Bookshop on Capitol Hill in your nation’s capital. Great selection of books, knowledgeable staff, committed to our neighborhood (lots of book clubs, author events). Taffy Brodesser-Akner was scheduled last week to be “in conversation” with Jake Tapper, but things being what they are in Dc these days, he had to bail so Taffy interviewed herself. Hilarious and illuminating! Right Now the shop is suffering from water damage caused by a major leak from their upstairs neighbor so store is closed for browsing temporarily as they repair and recover. But you can support them by ordering books for pickup. A real asset to our neighborhood.
Thanks, Gina! Another vote for East City! That's crazy that Taffy had to interview herself. I'm glad she was able to save the event and that it was funny and interesting. Too bad about the leak damage to the store. I hope it gets repaired soon!
I find it physically impossible to exit McNally Jackson without spending $100 but I also love Athena Books in Greenwich, CT!
Oh man, I hear that, Leigh! There is always something interesting whenever I go in there. Just this week, I was browsing, minding my own business, when I saw this book from a brand new imprint that focuses on reissuing books from 'women and weirdos' of the 19th century. They've got two of these out so far and I just could not leave without one. My wallet was not happy lol! And I'm glad to know there's an interesting bookstore in Greenwich! https://www.athenabooksog.com/
Book Garden Athens, Greece: https://www.facebook.com/bookgardenathens
This is a small, second-hand bookstore that uses its profit to support organisations in Athens which offer help to women who are survivors of abuse. It also has a great selection of english language books. Very cozy!
Thanks, Andriana! Book Garden looks great! I've always wanted to visit Athens, and now I know where to go!
I love the Hush Hour! How great that you visited The Book Stop. My favorite is across the street: Antigone Books. It has a feel good story. When the original owners put it up for sale, three employees crowdfunded and the community kicked in so they could buy it.
Thanks, Abra! The Hush Hour is a lot of fun. I'm so looking forward to the next one. I love the story about Antigone Books! I'll have to stop in next time I'm in Tucson, if I don't melt crossing the street!
https://www.antigonebooks.com/
Bookmarx in Springfield, MO is a small independent bookstore that also happens to be the home of last year's Captain Springfield...Googey the Cat! The owners have hosted poetry slams, banned book events, and sponsored the local "Wild Bob's Musical Book Club" where participants read the chosen book then write and perform a song based on that book. It's a delightful little hole in the wall in downtown Springfield and we love it. https://www.bookmarxbookshop.com/
Oh wow, that place sounds delightful and amazing, Kim! And I LOVE GOOGEY!
In Phoenix I love Nurture House which houses both Palabras Bilingual Bookstore (https://palabrasbookstore.com) AND Wasted Ink Zine Distro (https://www.wizd-az.com) -- so many books and zines, with a shared common space for workshops, art openings, and more.
Thanks, Devin! These places look great! I didn't get to spend time in Phoenix when I was in the Southwest a few weeks ago. Next time, I'll be sure to check them out. I love how Zines are having a comeback. I feel like Substack is basically Zines without the physical form.
The Poisoned Pen in Scottsdale is where I go to shop for mysteries. It's their specialty and they have their own small press too.
They have Victorian gas lamps outside, creaking floorboards inside.
That place sounds great, Jennifer! Creaky floorboards and all! Thanks for sharing!
https://poisonedpen.com
The Montana Book Company in Helena, Montana!
Sadly, I'll be moving away from this bookstore in the next week. Before I go, though, here's a love letter I wrote to the store yesterday:
When my wife Jean and I moved to Helena in January 2020, we landed in an apartment building just off the downtown Last Chance Gulch shopping area. This meant the neighborhood bookstore—now MY bookstore—was less than three blocks away. I have never been closer to a bookstore, in both physical proximity and spiritual alignment. Montana Book Co. not only has a rich, deep inventory of adult and children’s books, it’s an ad hoc community hub, an all-inclusive space where folks can gather in safety and camaraderie. The bookstore, a fierce champion of human rights, is a lamp post for western Montana, a beacon of “fuck-the-bastards-and-full-steam-ahead” strength. They’ve hosted Drag Queen Story Hour for years, despite literal death threats which got federal authorities involved; they’ve funded the rainbow-bright “You Are Loved” billboard on the interstate—nestled between the signs for anti-abortion legislation and 1-800 numbers to “Chat with Jesus”; they’ve hosted author events that sold out the 1,900-seat Civic Center; and they’re welcoming to all: they tolerate everyone except intolerant ignoramuses.
I’ve bought SO MANY books from owners Chelsia and Charlie over the past four years—a majority of the titles were personally handsold to me by these 2 beautiful human beings. I have come to love and admire these #booksellers in ways that go beyond cash register transactions. I’m far from the only #reader in Helena who feels that way; Chelsia and Charlie are warm, fierce and funny. I will carry their fire with me wherever I go.
Thanks so much for sharing the letter, David! https://mtbookco.com/ seems like a wonderful place! I've never been to Montana, but have always wanted to go. This would be a great reason to visit!
Two local faves where I live (between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara).
Timbre Books in Ventura. They opened during the pandemic and have so much beautiful community support. They have a DJ on Sunday afternoons, a regular bring your book, hang out & read together event and just added a Moth-style storytelling evening.
https://timbrebooks.com/
Bart’s Books in Ojai is a must visit and a great place to spend an afternoon.
https://bartsbooksojai.com/
Thanks, Alana! These shops look terrific! I love the DJ idea. I think it's great that so many bookstores are turning into these spaces with great vibes where people from the neighborhood can not only find good books but hang out and feel like they're part of a community.
As I live in Portugal my favorite indie bookstore is here! Essência do Livro - Livraria urbana. They have a great used book room and lots of books in English. I LOVE them so much!!! If you're ever in Porto: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FwQe6vA9orzdE3HK9
I’ve been to Porto! I loved it! I’ll have to go back now to visit this place. It looks great! Thanks for sharing!
Yay, you're welcome! There's also a new/ish expat English bookstore called Rosebud in Cedofeita! https://maps.app.goo.gl/rSoMf7RzcsUvZeDE8