Independent Bookstore Day is basically a holiday in my world—and this year, I went all out. I spent the day hopping from one charming bookstore to the next, discovering hidden gems, snagging irresistible deals, and (of course) adding way too many books to my TBR pile. Here’s a round-up of everything I picked up during my bookish tour through the suburbs of Atlanta. Every title is linked through Bookshop.org, so you can support indie bookstores too, even from your couch!
The Artful Rabbit – Downtown Kennesaw
This cozy spot has both new and used books, and I was thrilled to dig through their $1 section. My finds included:
- Three Cheers for Kid McGear! (new)
- Smiley Shark
- The Relatives Came
- Pete the Cat: Pete’s Big Lunch
- On Top of Spaghetti
…plus a few more $1 treasures for my kids’ shelf!
FoxTale Book Shoppe – Downtown Woodstock
This store has the best employees with the best recommendations. I swear, everyone in there had read every book. I picked up a trio of contemporary fiction favorites:
The Sweet Read – Downtown Woodstock
Part used bookstore, part bakery—yes, it’s as dreamy as it sounds. I grabbed a slice of their London Fog lavender bundt cake (heavenly!) and a mystery four-pack of romance novels. Because who doesn’t love a little surprise?
Poe & Company – Milton
A modern, stylish shop with great new releases. My finds:
Sincerely Yours – Smyrna
Romance readers, you must check out this adorable shop with an equally lovable Instagram presence. I walked out with the entire Rebel Blue Ranch series, which has been on my TBR for awhile. If you’re going to commit to a series, might as well do it on Indpendent Bookstore day, right?
Birch Tree Bookstore – Dallas
They are about to celebrate their one-year anniversary! This is a great store with a mix of new and used books. I picked up:
The Crazy Book Lady – Acworth
I have never seen so many books in one place at one time. She had great specials and free Advanced Reader Copies. Plus I found one of the autographed special editions of Lightlark that were sent out of Independent Bookstore Day. This time I left with:
- Lightlark
- Early Thirties
- How to Stop Time
- Luckiest Girl Alive
- What You Are Looking for Is in the Library
The TBR Book Bus
Last but not least—bookish dreams on wheels. I love the TBR Book Bus girls. I’m actually in their book club as well. I grabbed:
Independent Bookstore Day 2025 was everything I hoped for—community, coffee, cake, and of course, so many books. If you’re inspired to check out these titles, I hope you’ll consider ordering through Bookshop.org, where your purchase helps support the kinds of bookstores that make days like this so special.
What did you pick up for #IndieBookstoreDay this year?
