GBH Staff Recommends These Indie Bookstores

For many people, one of the great joys of reading is the time spent in cozy bookshops, scanning shelves, leafing through pages, and then walking out with far more books than they originally intended to buy. For those readers in greater Boston, there is certainly no shortage of fascinating bookstores. The harder part is choosing. Since March is National Reading Month, we asked GBH staff members to suggest some of the ones they visit most often.

First, A Few Firsts
Residents of Boston know that the city’s list of “firsts” is long — first public school, first regularly issued newspaper, first publicly supported free municipal library, first underground metro system in North America … Did you know there are also a number of bookstores that have made their own history?

• Oldest poetry book shop: Grolier Poetry Book Shop, founded in 1927, is the nation’s oldest continually operating book shop dedicated to selling poetry books. (6 Plympton St., Cambridge)
• Oldest independent bookstore: Andover Bookstore has been located on Main Street in historic Andover since 1809. This quaint shop focuses on personal attention and providing a “third space” for gathering. Monthly “Stitch & Stories” events are popular. (74 Main St., Andover)
• One of the oldest/largest: Brattle Book Shop is one of the oldest and largest used book stores in the United States. It was founded in 1825 and has been in the same family for almost 80 years. ANTIQUES ROADSHOW viewers may recognize owner, Ken Gloss, from his past appearances. (9 West St., Boston)

Credit: Jeffrey Dunn Studios

Ten Indie Bookshops to Try in Greater Boston

• Beacon Hill Books & Café, 71 Charles St., Boston: This five-story, 19th century townhouse has been transformed into a truly unusual bookshop, with sunny rooms, fireplaces, and cozy reading nooks. The café is open all day and also offers afternoon tea.
• Brookline Booksmith, 279 Harvard St., Brookline: For more than 65 years, this shop has been a favorite in Coolidge Corner for new books, its well-stocked Used Book Cellar, and the more than 300 author talks, community events, and book club meetings held each year.
• Frugal Bookstore, 57 Warren St., Roxbury: This community bookstore in Roxbury’s Nubian Square was built with the mission of promoting literacy within the community, for children, teens, and adults, and celebrating the works of authors of color.
• Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass Ave., Cambridge: A landmark since 1932, this shop is known not only for its extensive collection of books but also its extraordinary calendar of author events.
• Hummingbird Books, 55 Boylston St., Ste 5510, Chestnut Hill: This female-owned and operated shop has become a community destination, showcasing local and more widely known authors. The whimsical Giant Oak Tree makes the kids’ corner memorable.
• I AM Books, 124 Salem St., Boston: In the heart of Boston’s North End, this shop specializes in fiction and nonfiction by Italian and Italian American authors, as well as cookbooks and other books, games, and toys. It’s a perfect place to browse before a yummy meal.
• justBook-Ish, 1463 Dorchester Ave., Boston: This literary gathering space is a cultural center and networking hub for creative communities in Dorchester’s Fields Corner neighborhood. Social-justice themed books are a specialty and the founders, including Boston’s former Poet Laureate Porsha Olayiwola, hope visitors stay awhile.
• Lovestruck Books & Café, 44 Brattle St., Cambridge: A one-of-a-kind destination for romance books or, as the owners describe it, “a love letter to the genre.” Enjoy a beverage at the café and wine bar, attend an author meetup or reading, and shop books and gift items.
• Porter Square Books, 1815 Mass. Ave, Cambridge and 50 Liberty Dr., Ste. 500, Boston: This longtime-favorite independent bookstore has recently moved to a new location around the corner in Cambridge’s Porter Square. There is also a second location in Boston’s Seaport neighborhood.
• Trident Booksellers & Café, 338 Newbury St., Boston: For more than 40 years, this bookstore-café has made its home on Newbury Street. Known for its extensive book collections across two stories and delicious food, visitors turn out for the wide range of events including comedy nights, author events, trivia nights, and “write nights.”
  

  

  Credit: Courtesy of Trident Booksellers & Café

Take a Ride for More to Read
These picks, slightly further afield, were recommended by GBH staff members as neighborhood favorites.

• Acton: The Silver Unicorn Bookstore, 12 Spruce St.
• Arlington: The Book Rack, 13 Medford St.
• Belmont: Belmont Books, 79 Leonard St.
• Concord: The Concord Bookshop, 65 Main St.
• Dedham: Blue Bunny Books, 577 Dedham Sq. (Owned by author Peter H. Reynolds, who has written and illustrated popular children’s books, such as The Dot and The Word Collector.)
• Melrose: Molly’s Bookstore, 667-669 Main St. (In December 2025, Molly’s opened a second location at 305 Western Ave., Allston.)
• Plainville: An Unlikely Story, 111 South St. (Owned by Jeff Kinney, the author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, and his wife.)
• Waltham: More Than Words, 56 Felton St. (Youth-run nonprofit)
  

  

  Credit: Margie Leonard

All-Day Adventures
For the true bibliophile, these are two shops that GBH staff say are worth a day trip!
Book Barn, Niantic, Conn.: There are three Book Barn locations in Niantic, but the most unique is at the “Main Barn” at 41 West Main St. Explore books in the three-story barn and then wander the property and its gardens as you continue shopping in the themed outbuildings including The Annex, Chuck’s CD Shack, The Haunted, Hades, and The Last Page.

The Montague Bookmill, Montague, Mass.: This used bookshop is located in an 1842 gristmill on the banks of the Sawmill River, just a few miles from Amherst. There are more than 40,000 books to choose from and most are half-price. Explore the quirky staircases, reading nooks, and river views. Visitors can also enjoy the popular Lady Killigrew Café, Sawmill River Arts, and Turn It Up! music.

Credit: Courtesy of Montague Bookmill