18 Local Bookstores to Leaf Through

Paper Nautilus 

Providence

With more than 25,000 volumes, Paper Nautilus has become a bookworm’s paradise since opening in 1996. Transporting visitors through time with its vintage charm, the store houses a diverse collection of new and used books. The inventory includes hardcovers and paperbacks as well as antiquarian volumes and modern first editions. Explore literary, historical and foreign language works alongside antique trinkets, potted plants, prints and artwork.
Staff Favorites: Middlemarch, Voyage of the Sable Venus and When We Cease to Understand the World.
Don’t Miss: The art displays, showcasing pieces from local emerging artists as well as the owner. 19 South Angell St., Providence, 521-5533, papernautilusbooks.com

 

Books on the Square 

Providence

Every neighborhood needs a dependable local bookstore where you can stock up on new releases, browse staff picks and more. On the East Side of Providence, this is it. Open since 1992, Books on the Square is a one-stop shop for bookworms of all palates, from that spine-chilling thriller you’ve been dying to pick up to a birthday gift for your romance-loving best friend. Discover your new favorite Rhody writer tucked among the bestsellers and line up for one of the many author events planned throughout the year.
Shop For: Fresh fiction, political tell-alls, moving memoirs and anything else topping the charts.
Don’t Miss: The extensive children’s section, home to story time for the little ones every Wednesday and Friday morning. 471 Angell St., Providence, 331-9097, booksq.com

 

Heartleaf Books 

Providence

Federal Hill’s only bookstore, Heartleaf Books debuted in September 2022 with an eclectic selection of inclusive lit. Sisters and librarians Caroline and Mads Vericker stock their shelves with genres from mental health and LGBTQA+ to feminism, race and politics and more, hosting author events and book clubs along the way. Formerly a pop-up, the brick-and-mortar operates on a co-op model with a board of directors and members who support the business while scoring discounts and bookshop swag. Dreamers and rebels will find no shortage of fresh reads in the cozy space (check out the astrology section!), where treasures lie tucked into every corner.
Shop for: New and used volumes in fiction, politics, LGBTQA+ and more, along with tarot cards and fun stationery and gifts.
Don’t Miss: Penny the bookshop kitty, who can usually be found catching a snooze from her perch overlooking Atwells Avenue. 374 Atwells Ave., Providence, 477-2294, heartleafbooks.com

 

Symposium Books 

Providence

After relocating from New York to Rhode Island in January 2003, Scott McCullough and his wife, Anne Marie Keohane, initially started Symposium as a wholesale business before it found a home on Westminster Street the following year. Today, the cozy shop lives up to the name, offering a relaxed space well-stocked with bestsellers and highbrow titles alike. “Our collection is very curated; that’s what we’re known for. Everybody knows we’re going to have the essentials in all the sections, plus all the new stuff that’s coming out,” says McCullough, who studied philosophy in college. “One of the great things about studying philosophy is it puts you in the mindset to look at everything. Art, poetry, academic presses, fiction, independent publishers — it all grabs my attention. It’s killer that I can’t read them all myself — I have to work!”
Fun Fact: You can catch glimpses of early aughts-era Symposium in the Showtime series “Brotherhood,” which was set and filmed in Providence.
Stay Tuned: For a special event in celebration of the store’s twentieth anniversary this year. 240 Westminster St., Providence, 273-7900, symposiumbooks.com

 

Commonwealth Books 

Newport

Since 2019, Commonwealth Books has been Newport’s most extensive vintage bookstore, carrying everything from medieval manuscripts to paperback mysteries, history books covering the past 500 years, literature and poetry. Old maps are tucked in bins throughout, while engravings and historic prints hang prominently. Owner Joe Phillips buys, sells and trades regularly, from single books to large sets. In addition to the store’s collections, its building is appealing, too. It’s located on Touro Street in the 1750 Buliod-Perry House, which housed Newport’s War of 1812 hero Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry — whose statue stands just outside the front door — and Moses Seixas, a founding member of the nation’s oldest Jewish Masonic lodge. Commonwealth Books also has locations in New Orleans and Boston.

Shop For: Vintage books, maps, prints and history.
Don’t Miss: A well-edited collection of antique, leatherbound editions as well as historic novels. 29 Touro St., Newport, 487-0128, cwbnewport.blackwidowpress.com

 

Charter Books 

Newport

Founded by Tiverton native Steve Iwanski in 2021, Charter Books is a tribute to the Newporters who wrote the Rhode Island Royal Charter of 1663 — which became the foundation of our state’s democracy — and “who put faith in words to enact change and secure liberties,” Iwanski says. Now a cornerstone of downtown Newport’s literary scene celebrating the exchange of ideas, Charter Books lives up to its name. Offering a selection of the latest fiction and nonfiction, plus a variety of children’s and young adult books, the store engages its active readership with year-round author lectures and events, plus monthly book clubs for adults and kids that include curated staff picks of signed first editions mailed straight to their door.
Shop For: An unrivaled selection of signed books; some even include drawings for kids.
Don’t Miss: Children’s reading nooks with painted wall murals and couches for reading comfort. 8 Broadway, Newport, 236-8678, charterbookstore.com

Island Books 

Middletown

Reading devotees have shopped at Island Books for thirty years. From tried-and-true fiction, to nonfiction, debut novels, local interest, Indigenous authors and cooking and travel selections, this indie bookstore has it all. Sprinkled throughout are fun items like soaps, socks, notecards and calendars, which make great hostess gifts or stocking stuffers. “The people that shop here like mainstream fiction, and we pay attention to political books that pay tribute to our nation’s climate,” says owner Laurie Sutherland. “It’s fun being in front of new books and talking to people about them. Our customers want good books, and we honor that.”
Look For: Fun new fiction, local authors and book signings.
Don’t Miss: A cozy kids’ corner in the back has Lego bricks, puzzles and stuffed animal friends. 575 E. Main Rd., Middletown, 849-2665, islandbooksri.indielite.org

 

Barrington Books 

Barrington

Established as the Little Professor in 1986, Barrington Books has transformed into a welcoming community hub. This locally owned independent bookstore carries an extensive selection of books, audiobooks, games, puzzles, crafts, greeting cards and gifts for all ages. With a focus on customer satisfaction, recent renovations aim to help enhance the overall shopping experience. The store offers year-round complimentary gift wrapping and live music during the holiday season. Join a book club meeting, attend community events or just wander through the stacks to find your new favorite read.
Staff Favorites: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Martian, The Midnight Library, To Kill a Mockingbird and other top-rated books.
Don’t Miss: Children’s story time every Thursday at 10 a.m., featuring singing, coloring and a new book each week. 184 County Rd., Barrington, 245-7925, barringtonbooks.com

 

Arc{hive} Book and Snackery 

Warren

Skim novels while noshing and sipping at Arc{hive} Book and Snackery, a bookstore that serves small bites and cocktails. The shop is run by Uriah Donnelly and Janet Moscarello, book lovers who stock the shelves full of rare and unusual books. Donnelly is also the founder and co-director of the Collaborative, a nonprofit arts organization in Warren that’s connected to Arc{hive}, and Moscarello is a local photographer. Paintings and artwork spill over into the bookshop, which doubles as an art gallery.
Shop for: Books acquired through donations, inheritance and the owners’ purchases, including valuable first editions and rare and unusual books.
Don’t Miss: On the first Tuesday of each month, Arc{hive} hosts a special session of local and touring musicians, and local food makers take over the kitchen on the second Sunday. 4 Market St., Warren, archivebooksnackery.com

Ink Fish Books

Warren 

This sunny space on Main Street holds all the books you could ever want — think the hottest in new fiction, cookbooks, timely nonfiction titles and a generous smattering of children’s
offerings. But it also serves as something more: a community hub filled with titles from local authors and handcrafted goods like candles, jewelry and snacks made by area artisans. Since opening the store five years ago, owner Lisa Valentino has turned it into the place to go for events like book signings and author talks, which you can find listed on the website.
Don’t Miss: The Rhody Reader Box features a signed copy of Blood Sisters by Providence author Vanessa Lillie (see interview on page 48) along with handcrafted jewelry, soap, a candle and more. Proceeds support the Tomaquag Museum in Exeter.
Owner’s PickS: Valentino adores Blood Sisters and is looking forward to titles The Women by Kristin Hannah and Table for Two by Amor Towles. 488 Main St., 368-6827, inkfishbooks.com

 

Curiosity & Co.

Jamestown

Is it a bookstore? A wine bar? A performance space? Art gallery? Supper club? Curiosity & Co. happens to be all these things and more while defying attempts to categorize it on a continual basis. Settle into a seat near the fireplace while checking out a brand-new bestseller or take in a cutting-edge art show in the second-floor gallery. Or stop in for delightful Flight Club Fridays, where you can sample four different wines while listening to chill tunes and engaging in insightful conversations. Creative Director Jonathan Pitts-Wiley curates a lively list of happenings each month sure to satisfy anyone’s curiosity.
Shop for: Bestsellers and signed copies from local authors.
Don’t Miss: The charming outdoor patio turns into a riot of greenery during the warm-weather months. 14 Narragansett Ave., curiosity.store

Wakefield Books 

Wakefield

When national book retailer Waldenbooks went under in 2011 and news broke that its location inside the Wakefield Mall would be no longer, South County residents were, understandably, alarmed. Where would they get the new Steve Jobs biography or a copy of The Hunger Games? Enter Robert Ryan. “A lot of people here were Waldenbooks employees and the mall owner worked with us to reopen it as an independent bookstore,” he says. “We just felt that it was a really good community with a great customer base.” Ryan was able to broaden the store’s appeal by beefing up the local section, adding more gift items like games and puzzles, and inviting authors big and small for Q-and-As.
Shop For: Mysteries, thrillers and the like (the store has a whole wall devoted to them).
Don’t Miss: Authors Sandra A. Miller and Luanne Rice visit next month. See website for registration information. 160 Old Tower Hill Rd., Wakefield, 792-0000, wakefieldbooks.com

 

Stillwater Books 

West Warwick

Formerly located in downtown Pawtucket, Stillwater Books is the brainchild of authors and publishers Steven and Dawn Porter, who run their publishing company, Stillwater River Publications, out of the back of the store. The new West Warwick location stocks an extensive selection of new and used volumes, from hardcover releases to $1 bargain books. Their foothold in the publishing world ensures local authors find ample space on the shelves, making Stillwater Books
a treasure trove of sometimes hard-to-find Rhode Island gems.
Shop For: New and used titles in fiction, nonfiction, children’s and YA, and bargain-priced, like-new finds.
Don’t Miss: The extensive local interest section, featuring must-read volumes on Rhody history, politics and more. 1745 Main St., Unit 15, West Warwick, 475-1979, stillwaterbooksri.com

 

Stages of Freedom*

Though not a bookstore in the traditional sense, Stages of Freedom’s downtown Providence’s headquarters is not to be missed by book lovers near and far. The nonprofit organization stocks books from all genres and eras, including by seminal Black authors, with the proceeds supporting its mission of providing free swim lessons to youth of color. While you’re there, catch the historical exhibits on prominent African American Rhode Islanders, like opera singer Sissieretta Jones (who performed for four presidents and the British royal family) and Harlem Renaissance author Rudolph Fisher. Co-founders Ray Rickman and Robb Dimmick previously owned Providence’s Cornerstone Books, which specialized in rare African American texts and brought authors, including Maya Angelou and James Baldwin, to speak in Rhode Island. 10 Westminster St., Providence, 421-0606, stagesoffreedom.org

 

Worth the Trip

Explore these editors’ picks across the border.

 

The Book Barn 

Niantic, Conn.

If heaven were a bookshop, it would look like this. Just past New London off Route 95 lies a used bookstore so large, the biggest dilemma facing visitors is where to look first. Books line every crevice of the sprawling compound, from the main barn where cats roam the stacks and lounge on sofas, to the garden with its new arrivals and resident goats, and even inside the converted outhouse. Can’t find what you seek? The store has two other locations within a square mile, because one just isn’t enough. Each site stocks different genres, so you might as well make a day of it and explore them all. Did you really need an excuse to devote an entire day to browsing books?
Fun Fact: At last count, the Book Barn’s collection — established in 1988 — includes more than 500,000 books.
Don’t Miss: Niantic’s charming downtown, lined with bakeries, restaurants, a waterside boardwalk and even an old-fashioned record store. 41 West Main St., Niantic, Connecticut (main barn), bookbarnniantic.com

 

Bank Square Books 

Mystic, Conn.

While many are still mourning the loss of Savoy Bookshop and Cafe, which shuttered its doors in Westerly last July, there is solace to be found in its sister shop, Bank Square Books, just across the border in Mystic. Operated by the same owner as the Savoy, this “fiercely independent” bookstore is especially well-versed in the Indie Bestsellers and Indie Next lists. It also hosts author talks, entertains two different book clubs, sells signed bookplates and even offers a monthly audiobook membership.
Pay it Forward: Bank Square Books’ Bookstore Community Fund allows customers to purchase and donate gift cards to help offset costs for those who may not be able to purchase new books on their own.
Don’t Miss: Whether you devour memoirs, love curling up with a steamy romance or are looking for an entryway into a brand-new genre, Bank Square Books’ staff picks are guaranteed to match you up with your next must-read. 53 W. Main St., Mystic, Connecticut, 860-536-3795, banksquarebooks.com

 

Brattle Book Shop 

Boston, Mass.

If you’re a book lover who’s found yourself in Boston, run — don’t walk — to this beloved jewel box of a bookstore, which is stocked with 250,000 used and antiquarian titles, ephemera, postcards and more all on three glorious levels. Just steps away from Boston Common, it claims to be one of the largest and oldest used bookstores in the country, with roots going back to 1825. Make sure to glance at the walls as you make your way up the staircase; posters there show how much rare and first-edition books have fetched over the years. And don’t miss the outdoor sale lot packed with marked-down volumes.
Shop for: Need a guidebook to go along with your Boston explorations? You’ll find new titles on the city’s landmarks, history and more — along with classics like Make Way for Ducklings — right inside the entrance.
Don’t Miss: The rare book room. Need we say more? 9 West St., Boston, Mass., 617-542-0210, brattlebookshop.com

An Unlikely Story 

Plainville, Mass.

Opened in 2015 by Plainville resident and children’s book author Jeff Kinney — famous for his Diary of a Wimpy Kid series — and his wife, Julie, this bookstore’s name pays tribute to its past. The Kinneys purchased the lot, previously home to a general store, in 2012 before learning the dilapidated building would have to be torn down. Today, the newly rebuilt structure is a hub in the community, with a first-floor bookstore and cafe that invites readers to select a book and get lost
in its pages over a cup of hot cocoa. The bookstore is a favorite stop of touring authors, and the young and young at heart will appreciate the whimsical flock of flying books — complete with Harry Potter’s Firebolt broomstick — that adorns the ceiling.
Fun Fact: Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series has sold more than 275 million copies in sixty-nine languages worldwide.
Don’t Miss: Second Story, the second-floor event space that hosts author signings, holiday pop-ups, yoga classes, trivia nights and more. 111 South St., Plainville, Mass., 508-699-0244, anunlikelystory.com