Who doesn’t love an indie bookstore? These thriving little reading spaces are the heartbeat of the book world and we love visiting every single one we can. But there is something particularly special about a bookstore owned by an author. If you are in any of these areas, make sure to swing by one of these unforgettable retailers.
Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN, co-owned by Ann Patchett
Parnassus Books was opened in 2011 by Ann Patchett and Karen Hayes, with Patchett taking over as the sole owner in 2022. The store is named after Mount Parnassus; in Greek mythology, this mountain range represents literature, learning, and music. Patchett is a #1 New York Times bestseller, her latest novel, Tom Lake, was also a Reese’s Book Club pick.
Visit their website: https://parnassusbooks.net
Birchbark Books in Minneapolis, MN, owned by Louise Erdrich
Louise Erdrich founded Birchbark Books in 2001 as a small “general-interest” shop with a focus on Indigenous writings and art. Erdrich won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2021 for her novel The Night Watchman. Her most recent novel, The Mighty Red, is available at Birchbark Books in person and online; each book written by Erdrich comes with a signed bookplate.
Visit their website: https://birchbarkbooks.com
Beastly Books in Santa Fe, NM, owned by George R.R. Martin
Beastly Books was founded by George R.R. Martin in 2019, located next to the Jean Cocteau Cinema, an indie movie theater also owned by Martin. Beastly Books specializes in speculative fiction, offering rare books and signed copies of Martin’s works. Martin is the author of the wildly popular fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, colloquially known as the Game of Thrones series.
Visit their website: https://www.beastlybooks.com
Books & Books @ The Studios of Key West in Key West, FL, co-owned by Judy Blume
Originally founded by Mitchell Kaplan in 1982, Books & Books is an independent bookstore that has expanded to eight locations. The location at The Studios of Key West was co-founded in 2016 by Judy Blume and her husband, George Cooper. Judy Blume has written beloved children’s, young adult, and adult fiction; most recently, her 1975 young adult novel, Forever, has been adapted into a Netflix TV show and her timeless classic, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret celebrates 55 years this year.
Visit their website: https://booksandbookskw.com
Books Are Magic in Brooklyn, NY, co-owned by Emma Straub
Books Are Magic was first founded in 2017 by author Emma Straub and her husband, Michael Fusco-Straub. A second Books Are Magic location was opened in Brooklyn Heights in 2022. Straub is a New York Times bestseller whose work includes favorites like This Time Tomorrow and The Vacationers.
Visit their website: https://www.booksaremagic.net
Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books in Philadelphia, PA, owned by Marc Lamont Hill
Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books was founded in 2017 by Marc Lamont Hill with a mission to provide books and safe spaces to underserved communities. They frequently host back-to-school drives and children’s story times. Hill is a New York Times bestselling nonfiction author, activist, and professor at the CUNY Graduate Center; his most recent book is titled Seen and Unseen: Technology, Social Media, and the Fight for Racial Justice, co-written by Todd Brewster.
Visit their website: https://www.unclebobbies.com
The Lynx Books in Gainesville, FL, owned by Lauren Groff
The Lynx Books was founded by author Lauren Groff in April 2024, created to combat book banning in Florida. The Lynx Books also emphasizes BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and Florida-based authors. Groff writes novels and short stories including her recent release, The Vaster Wilds and Fates and Furies, named a finalist in The National Book Award.
Visit their website: https://thelynxbooks.com
Book Moon Books in Easthampton, MA, owned by Kelly Link
Book Moon Books was founded in October 2019 by husband-and-wife team, Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant. The bookstore resides on land owned by the Pocomtuc people, and the two owners acknowledge them as Traditional Owners. The short story Pulitzer-Prize finalist released her first novel, The Book of Love, in 2024 receiving award recognition and becoming a bestseller.
Visit their website: https://www.bookmoonbooks.com
Loudmouth Books in Indianapolis, IN, owned by Leah Johnson
Loudmouth Books was founded in 2023 by Leah Johnson in response to book-banning policies that attack queer and BIPOC authors. They are committed to uplifting marginalized authors and emphasizing the importance of reading banned books. Johnson is a young adult and middle-grade author; her novel You Should See Me in a Crown was named a TIME Magazine Best YA Book of All Time!
Visit their website: https://loudmouthindy.com
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