Independent Bookstore Day 2025

Independent bookstore day is a favorite holiday of mine! I love the excuse to go to my favorite local shops! I am spoiled...I can walk to Storyline Books and Subtext from my dreamy St Paul apartment. The twin cities is full of great local bookshops!

Yes, I do have a generous stack of books. However my little secret is this: the majority of the books that I have purchased are used.

Otherskies is a horror lover's dream with a casket full of rare books and an organ that is in great shape. I am a sucker for vintage mass market paperbacks.  However if they are rare, they can be spendy. I generally don't let myself buy a book there that costs more than $20.

Irreverant Bookworm is a community bookshop with a very liberal bent that sells new and used books. Dreamhaven has a collection of science fiction, fantasy and horror novels that are new, used and collectable. If you focus on only purchasing  used books or a single new book they are very affordable alternatives to Amazon if you have the means to have books in your budget. 

The reason I am bringing the pricing up is because of how people often find Amazon to be a more "affordable" option for purchasing books. However, if you are looking for a book that is not just released and you want to own a physical copy used bookstores are the perfect way to go.

Also, there can be other great reasons to shop for used books. Irreverent Bookworm has a wonderful display about not supporting Rowling by buying her books used:

  On quieter days I've been able to talk to people who work in bookshops.I was still able to have a few great bookish talks despite the indie bookstore day rush! 

I didn't go into Tropes and Trifles because there was a line to get inside.  I will NEVER complain about an indie bookstore being too busy, because good business means they will stay in business. I want to do my part to make sure my bookshops stay around!