You’ll Love These Noteworthy Indie Bookstores

Everywhere I’ve lived (a total of five places!), I’ve had a library card. My mom took me to the library once a week (click here to catch me doing some first grade reading!), and one of my favorite memories is checking out songbooks. Once home, my mom would play the piano, and I’d dance around the room singing (thank goodness there were no cell phone cameras back then!).

These days, I spend a lot of time checking out books at the library when getting ready to attend a book festival. I try to read all the books by each author to decide which ones to purchase in advance. Libraries make books and other resources accessible to all – I sure hope you’re a card-carrying patron of your local library!

I also love bookstores. But it took a pandemic for me to fully appreciate the importance of indie bookstores. Indie bookstores connect us to the book community. Whether it’s a book recommendation, a chat about a shared love of a particular book, or the chance to hear the author read, you can’t get that connection from a big box store.

Here are a few of my favorite indie bookstores that have kept me reading! As I discover more bookstores, I’ll be updating the list! And feel free to make suggestions!

CALIFORNIA:

Once Upon a Time, Montrose, CA.

Linden Tree Books, Los Altos, CA

Copperfield Books, Sebastopol, CA

Inkspell Books, Half Moon Bay, CA

COLORADO:

Second Star to the Right Books, Denver CO

CONNETICUTT:

The Curious Cat Bookshop, Winsted, CT

GEORGIA:

Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA

Brave + Kind Books, Decatur, GA