Edited by Lauren Clem | Photography by Wolf Matthewson
By Edelinda Baptista, Marissa Barrett, Jamie Coelho,
Dana Laverty, Kaitlyn Murray and Annie Sherman
There’s something about a new book. From that first moment the spine crackles open and the smell of printer’s ink rises from a smooth page, there’s nothing quite like the pull of a new world spun in someone else’s words. Luckily for us, the Ocean State is full of shops trading in these small delicacies — in shiny new fashion or the well-worn variety — not to mention the small gifts and knickknacks that book lovers crave. We’ve rounded up our favorite bookstores in Rhode Island and beyond and checked in with the owners for the latest news from the field. Plus, we went in-depth with bestselling author Vanessa Lillie, whose newest work shines light on the disappearance of Indigenous women in the Midwest. Grab a hot drink and your favorite reading chair, and get ready to be transported to the state’s literary havens — no judgment here if you pick up a few new titles along the way.
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