Here are some of our favorite bookstores to visit in Massachusetts.
There’s no better feeling than stepping into your favorite bookstore and feeling right at home among the stories.
As an independent publisher, we love supporting and spotlighting independent bookstores! Here are some must see stores located in Massachusetts that we love.
1. Lit for Black Kids
Online and soon-to-be mobile bookstore
This online bookstore based in Roxbury, MA was started by an educator who believes “representation matters always, all ways.” Brianna started an Instagram page in the summer of 2020 that features books by Black authors with Black protagonists. As the page gained popularity, she decided to open an online bookstore in an extra room in her house. Her goal is to create a LIT Mobile that will travel to different neighborhoods in Boston to bring books to underserved communities.
Photo credit: @litforblackkids
2. Trident Booksellers & Cafe
338 Newbury St. Boston, MA
What’s better than a bookstore? A bookstore with a restaurant inside! Located in the Back Bay neighborhood, Trident opened in Boston in 1984. Readers can stop by until 10pm every day to shop two floors of books and gifts, and then dine in to eat or grab something on their way out. Some people go to Trident just for the food, which is understandable because their brunch is fantastic!
Photo credit: @tridentbooks
3. The Silver Unicorn Bookstore
12 Spruce St. Acton, MA
If you drive 45 minutes west of Boston, you’ll stumble across The Silver Unicorn Bookstore in Acton. This cozy spot has books for people of all ages, but their children’s section is especially impressive! The store is located just 10 minutes from our office, so we visited a couple of months ago and got to see their children’s section for ourselves!
Photo credit: @silverunicornbooks
4. Porter Square Books
25 White St. Cambridge, MA
This “fiercely independent” bookstore in Porter Square is so colorful and has a wide selection of books. Like Trident, they also have a cafe in the store called Cafe Zing which is known for its Vietnamese Fresh Rolls. Last year, Porter Square Books opened a second location in Boston’s Seaport District in the new Grubstreet building to benefit the nonprofit.
Photo credit: @porter_square_books
5. Papercuts J.P.
60 South St. Jamaica Plain, MA
This award-winning, woman-owned bookstore was founded in 2014 by a former publishing professional. They believe “books are vital and stories are what make us human.” You can spot this bookstore by its bright green exterior and beautiful signage.
Photo credit: @papercutsjp
6. Little Bee Bookshop
40 Main St. Ayer, MA
Sometimes bringing kids to a bookstore can be stressful in fear of disrupting the adult customers. Not at Little Bee Bookshop because this store is mainly targeted towards kids ages 0-18! They say, “we encourage browsing and lingering in one of our reading spots, and we promise we’ll always be happy to see you walk through our door!” They also have some adult books and gifts from local artisans and small businesses for the parents who visit. What’s unique about Little Bee Bookshop is they carry a selection of both gently used and new books.
Photo credit: @thelittlebeebookshop
This is just a taste of some of the wonderful independent bookstores in Massachusetts. Of course there are so many more that we love and can’t wait to visit in the future!
