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How 2024 became the year of the niche bookstore boom in Boston
Plus: Friendsgiving at Trident, a new Porter Square Books opening, and "The Third Gilmore Girl" event.
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Hello, and welcome to Book Club.
Happy (early) Thanksgiving to those of you who celebrate. I will be heading back home to Ohio to visit my family and indulge in some much-needed relaxation — plus, the comforts of my grandma’s famous turkey and gravy. My stomach is already grumbling! In the same vein, I highly encourage you to subscribe to my colleague Katelyn Umholtz’s wonderful newsletter, The Dish, for all things food news.
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If you’re traveling, I wish you Godspeed. For those staying in Boston, I’ve got some ideas about how you can spend your holiday. Read on for a deep dive into Boston’s niche bookstore scene and find great indie bookstores near you with our guide.
Boston’s niche bookstore boom
A new, exciting era of independent bookstores is taking Boston by storm – and shows no signs of slowing down.
What makes these indie bookstores unique? Well, they’re what I call “niche” indie bookstores. Each has a particular focus, whether that be a certain genre, a demographic they highlight, or a type of book they sell. At least seven of them have sprung up around the city in the past few years, and more are on the way.
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They’re sprinkled across the region, from Brockton to Somerville, and largely owned and operated by women – many of them queer women and women of color. These new bookshops are quickly becoming essential hubs for those seeking intentional community.
Here’s a running list, in alphabetical order:
- All She Wrote Books (Somerville): A queer and intersectional feminist bookstore.
- Dr. Ellie Paris Social Bookstore & Ice Cream Cafe (Brockton): A social bookstore with an ice cream cafe in Brockton.
- JustBook-ish (Dorchester): A literary gathering space co-founded by Boston’s poet laureate.
- Lovestruck Books (Harvard Square): A romance-only bookstore, coming soon this winter.
- Narrative (Somerville): A bookstore emphasizing BIPOC and marginalized authors.
- Over the Tunnel Books (East Boston): A speakeasy-style underground bookstore selling cookbooks.
- Read My Lips Boston (Malden-based): An inclusive romance pop-up bookstore.
- Side Quest Books and Games (Somerville): A fantasy bookshop with role-playing games from underrepresented or marginalized creators.
Boston’s indie bookstore boom doesn’t just exist in a vacuum. More than 300 new independent bookstores have emerged nationwide in the past couple of years, according to the New York Times. Booksellers credit the surge to the pandemic and a renewed understanding that bookstores are more than just places to shop – they are lifelines for community and connection.
To learn more about Boston’s niche bookstore boom and to find a list of indie bookstores near you, check out our ultimate guide to indie bookstores in Greater Boston and beyond.
✏️ Pencil these in
Take a break from the news at these joyful literary events happening near you:
- Trident Books & Cafe’s Friendsgiving Get-Together (Nov. 27): Gather in the upstairs dining room to play board games and watch the Thanksgiving episodes of “Friends.” Special Thanksgiving meals will be added to the menu.
- Porter Square Books’ New Location Grand Opening (Nov. 30): Celebrate the opening of this new Cambridge space at 1815 Mass Ave. Festivities include book recommendations from local authors.
- Read My Lips Boston inclusive romance pop-up (Dec. 8): Find your next great read at the Hoppy Holidays Pop-Up Market at Aeronaut Brewing Co. in Somerville, MA.
- The Third Gilmore Girl: Kelly Bishop reflects on a life on stage and screen (Dec. 13): Kelly Bishop, the matriarchal character Emily Gilmore in the television series “The Gilmore Girls,” recently penned “The Third Gilmore Girl,” a memoir about her life in Hollywood and Broadway. Join WBUR assistant managing editor Meagan McGinnes-Bessey for an evening with Bishop to discuss the book.
📚 What we’re reading
“Intermezzo” by Sally Rooney
“Anyone with the ability to consume literature in any way, shape, or form should do themselves a favor and read ‘Intermezzo.’” – Jessika Landon, audience engagement co-op
We want to know: What are you reading? Tell us the last book you loved and we’ll feature it in next month’s Book Club newsletter.
💬 Wise words
I’m almost finished with “A Court of Silver Flames,” the last book in Sarah J. Maas’s “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series. I have always felt bittersweet when ending a book. It can be hard to leave behind the characters and world I’ve grown so fond of – particularly so with a series. So, I offer the plain but powerful quote below, spoken by our bookworm, Nesta, as a tribute to this deep affection for reading.
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“I cannot survive without reading.” ― Sarah J. Maas, “A Court of Silver Flames”
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