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Do Good, Shop Small! Support Your Local Indie Bookshop

Make your gift-shopping a little more meaningful this season

Bookstores are a labor of love – they’re small businesses run by people who care about great storytelling and sharing books with their community.

They’re always there for us when we need them. Now they need us.

When you shop this holiday, and all year round, help support independent bookstores in your community by ordering your books early or safely planning an in-store visit.

When you decide to shop indie, you’re supporting author readings, adorable story-time events for kids, and the conversations that sustain us all as book lovers. When you shop indie you support your community.

Just ask John Grisham, who shared what makes indie shops so special to him:

“Independent booksellers view their stores as far more than retail outlets.  They welcome debut authors on the road for the first time, and they welcome the literary stars for unforgettable readings. They host book clubs and story time for kids. They recommend the books they’ve read and loved, and they know the ones to keep away from certain customers. They host wine tastings, cooking classes, small concerts, recitals, and art fairs. Some have cafes, bars, and coffee shops. And the music – every store has its own sound and its own play list.

In many communities, the bookstore is the life of the town, the hub of commercial activity. To booksellers, their stores are institutions that cannot fail.“

There’s nothing like a bookseller who genuinely knows and loves books and wants to find you that perfect read. We’ll be featuring some of the best independent bookstores across the country, so stay tuned to get up and personal with booksellers and the shops they love.

In the meantime, if you’re missing the personal touch of an expert recommendation, we’ve collected some of the most-loved indie selections of the season below. Click on each cover to find out more.