"A welcome surprise has been how naturally books create connection. We regularly see complete strangers begin talking while browsing the shelves, exchanging recommendations, or discovering they've both loved the same novel. It's not uncommon to see someone settle into a chair with a glass of wine and leave having made a new friend. We hoped Lit would feel like a gathering place, but watching that happen organically has been incredibly rewarding.

"On a practical level, we've also developed a whole new appreciation for the complexity of bookselling--from forecasting demand across thousands of titles to managing inventory and supplier relationships. As with all small businesses, there's an enormous amount happening behind the scenes."

Happy Medium Books Café, which opened in 2023 at 2724 Park St. in Jacksonville, Fla., is relocating about 50 yards down the street to a roughly 3,150-square-foot space at 2756 Park St. The last day of service at the original space is this coming Sunday, September 20. The Jacksonville Business Journal reported that for owner Dana Shutters, a retired teacher, "the short move represents a significant expansion for the Riverside bookstore and coffee shop, which has outgrown its home after nearly three years at Whiteway Corners."

Happy Medium will move to a larger location next month.

"The store won't change," Shutters said. "We will carry over the same vibe and events. We've expanded our offerings, though, and we need more space." 

She and her husband, Billy Shutters, purchased the new property and are planning to reopen in early October. The additional room "will allow Happy Medium to expand the mix of books, coffee, art and programming that Shutters says has turned the business into a gathering place in the Park and King district," the Business Journal noted. Renovations are currently under way, including pressure washing, new paint, foundation work, and construction of retail, cafe, and performance areas.

About 1,600 square feet in the back of the building will be devoted to a stage and event space for author appearances, small performances, and other programming. It will also give Happy Medium considerably more room for one of its fastest-growing attractions: mahjong.

Shutters said she introduced mahjong lessons and open-play sessions in recent months and the store has already developed a following of at least 150 players: "It's just exploded. And it's been huge for business." At the new space, Happy Medium will dedicate six tables to mahjong four days a week, with morning and afternoon sessions Tuesday through Friday.

The growth in programming has prompted Shutters to begin searching for a part-time event coordinator, the Business Journal noted. The store also hosts genre-focused book gatherings, family programming, game clubs, and a book club for pregnant mothers. "All of those pieces are what makes Happy Medium a third space. Without one of those pieces, the store would be struggling," she said.

The Whispering Page, a bookstore, bar, and cafe, opened September 3 in Worthington, Ohio, WCMH reported.

A general-interest, all-ages bookstore, the Whispering Page occupies two floors of a historic building at 661 N. High St. Alongside books, the store sells candles, greeting cards, and gifts, and the cafe serves coffee and a variety of baked goods. The bar serves beer, wines, and prosecco. Event plans include trivia nights, book-bedazzling workshops, author signings, and more. Customers can also book the space for private events.

Co-owners and sisters-in-law Ashley McCoy and Devin McCoy were inspired to open a business together after losing two family members last year. "We were having these thoughts of 'tomorrow's never guaranteed,' " Ashley McCoy told WCMH. "We were all spending time together over a glass of wine and said, 'well, what about if we had like a bookstore that had a bar?' And I think we all kind of thought like, 'oh yeah, that sounds fun.' "

When the pair started looking for suitable locations, they were open to several  communities in central Ohio. They honed in on Worthington after noticing that when searching for bookstores on Google Maps, there was a "very obvious gap" in the area, and upon touring the building at N. High St., they "immediately fell in love." 

"A huge part of what we're trying to do is give back to the Worthington community," McCoy added. "So a lot of the products that are not books you see on our shelves are from more than 10 local businesses, and we're collaborating with local businesses as much as possible."

Since the opening on September 3, the store has been well-received, with McCoy saying it has already been "better than we could have expected."

WCMH noted that the Whispering Page is the second bookstore to open in Worthington this year; the romance- and fantasy-focused Celestielle Bookstore opened there in May.

Spindle & Spine Bookstore, an indie that will also sell gifts and small, locally sourced furniture pieces, will debut in mid-October at 504 N. Main St., in High Point, N.C., with a grand opening set for later in the month. Owner Amanda Anderson, "an avid book lover, had this great idea for an independent bookstore in High Point. She just needed someone to take up her dream and write the final chapter," the High Point Enterprise reported. 

Amanda Foster Anderson

"I was originally trying to find someone else to do it, but I couldn't find anyone," she said. "This is a passion project for me to bring something back to the community that's been missing," referring to the void created when Sunrise Books closed during the summer of 2023.

Anderson said the idea occurred to her about a year ago. The more she researched and shared her thoughts with others, the more excited she became. Since announcing her plans in April, on World Book Day, she has maintained an active presence on social media.

"I get messages probably 400 times a week: 'Where's your physical location?' 'Where's your physical location?' So it's definitely something that's needed," she said. "The response has been so amazing and wonderful."

The store's primary focus will be on books, but Anderson worked in the furniture industry after college and is also excited about the furniture aspect of Spindle & Spine. "We have so many people who are very talented, whether it's taking old whiskey barrels and making something out of them, or maybe taking a tree that's fallen in the backyard and using it to make an end table," she said. "That's the kind of furniture we're going to have. It will be very curated with local artisans."

She also hopes the store will become a popular community space: "It's going to be more than just a bookstore. I want it to be something everybody wants to come to."

Bewitched Romance Books, Tacoma, Wash., will host a grand opening weekend celebration September 26-27 at 1625 E 7nd St., #700-127, in the Waterfront Market at Ruston. The festivities will feature author signings, raffles, and giveaways, along with goodie bags for the first 50 people in line each day, the News Tribune reported.

"I can't believe that next month this spot will be all mine!" owner Jo McCall posted on Instagram recently. "Just as I always dreamed of being an author, I've always wanted to own my own bookstore. And just like my author dream, I had no idea it would end up being romance!"

Bewitched Romance, which has been an online operation with pop-ups at local markets, will offer a variety of romance titles (including Special Edition Blind Dates with a Book), book accessories, clothes, and other gifts in its new storefront.

"This isn't just a pop-up! This is our store! It may not be 1,000 square feet but it will sure as heck have heart!" McCall noted, adding: "It's all coming together! From pop-up to soon having a permanent spot. Just waiting on our move in day!!"

Eagle Eye Books, Decatur, Ga., hosted a sold-out event with Matt Dinniman, author of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series (Penguin). He was in conversation with Rachel Rener (Amethysts and Alchemy series;‎ Lightning Conjurer Books), just ahead of Dinniman's appearances at Dragon*Con in Atlanta.

Beginning Monday, September 14, a Seat at the Table Books in Elk Grove, Calif., is hosting a "Week of Gratitude for Shopping Local," a creative response to the Wednesday opening of new Barnes & Noble store nearby.  

"We're celebrating YOU, the magic of third spaces, and the community connections made possible in family-owned spots like ours with a Week of Gratitude for Shopping Local!" the bookstore posted. "Get a free sticker OR float upgrade all week, and look out for a DAILY scavenger hunt with high-value prizes gifted to us by many of our partners who also know how much indie bookstores matter.

"This is the week of Sept. 14-20, for No Particular Reason. We just adore everyone who values small businesses and third spaces. You make all the difference to our community. Fine print: Stickers are available while supplies last. One scavenger hunt prize per person. Say no to corporations and yes to local roots."

Little Blue Pigeon Bookstore in Denver, Colo., posted "a day in the life of a bookstore owner" video, noting: "The days start early (and tend to go late), but this community makes every moment worth it. Bookstore owner--what do your days typically look like?"

"Books are just dead, tattooed trees, which is pretty hardcore if you think about it." That was the sidewalk chalkboard message in front of Daisy Chain Book Co. in Edmonton, Alb., Canada, which noted: "Nothing beats 'em. The smell, the feel, the look of them in your shelves. Sharing them with friends, making notes in the margins. Holding them close to your chest, carrying stacks in your arms, getting a book shaped wrapped gift. They are an old idea that never gets old. Magical."

Today:
Good Morning America: Ke Huy Quan, author of Never Say Die: A Memoir (Grand Central, $32.50, 9781538776995).

Drew Barrymore Show: Jaclyn Smith, author of I Once Knew a Guy Named Charlie: A Memoir (Gallery, $30, 9781982116644).

Fresh Air: Colin Kaepernick, author of The Perilous Fight (Legacy Lit, $32.50, 9781538777879). He is also on the View today.

Tonight Show: Andrew Huberman, author of Protocols: An Operating Manual for the Human Body (Simon Element, $35, 9781668032145).

Tomorrow:
Good Morning America: Shefali Tsabary, author of Raising Conscious Sons: Cultivating Purpose, Connection, and Inner Power in a Chaotic World (HarperOne, $29.99, 9780063499515).

Today Show: Benny Blanco, author of F*ck Failure (Simon & Schuster, $28, 9781668205242). 

Also on Today: Tanya Sichynsky, author of Veg Everything: Recipes for Weeknights, Parties and the Bites in Between (Ten Speed Press, $38, 9780593836620), and Courtney LaCorte, author of Oversharing: Anytime Snacks, Everyday Dinners, and Cooking for Company (Union Square & Co., $35, 9781454962342).

The View: Neil deGrasse Tyson, co-author of Lost in Space: 5,000 Facts for Navigating the Universe (National Geographic, $40, 9781426224386). He will also appear on Live with Kelly and Mark.

Miramax is developing a movie adaptation of Everything We Never Said, based on Sloan Harlow's 2024 YA novel, with Amy Andelson and Emily Meyer adapting the screenplay. Deadline reported that the novel "was developed by Alloy Entertainment's New York-based book division, then licensed to G.P. Putnam's Sons for publishing, with Alloy retaining film & TV rights."

Everything We Never Said "follows Ella Graham, who, in the wake of her best friend Hayley's death, finds herself falling for Hayley's boyfriend, Sawyer. But when Ella sorts through her late friend's belongings and uncovers her diary, she's rattled by the secrets Hayley kept and learns she might be walking into something much darker than she realized," Deadline added.

Leslie Morgenstein, Alloy's president and CCO, and Elysa Koplovitz Dutton, executive v-p of theatrical film production, will produce the film. Arianna D'Andrea is overseeing the project for Miramax.

Forest Xiao won the £5,000 (about $6,765) Klaus Flugge Prize, which recognizes a published picture book by a debut illustrator, for Seven Babies. "It is an absolute honor, and it feels deeply rewarding to be receiving the Klaus Flugge Prize," Xiao said. "Thank you, Klaus Flugge, for such encouragement and recognition. It reminds me to stay authentic, to trust my own experiences, and never to underestimate the power of ordinary, everyday moments that may seem trivial, but are often the most significant of all."

Judge and 2025 winner Emma Farrarons said: "As judges we were unanimous. It was love at first read of Seven Babies, and love all over again on the reread." Judge Rob Biddulph added: "From the moment I saw the cover, Seven Babies made me smile. Forest's illustrations are fresh, vibrant and brimming with personality, while every spread is packed with delightful details that reward repeat visits."

Chair of judges Julia Eccleshare commented: "We are delighted to be celebrating Forest Xiao together with this year's Klaus Flugge Prize shortlisted picture book illustrators Becky Colvin, Laila Ekboir, Thekla Priebst, Justin Worsley and Circle Yuen."

By the time she sat down to pen Free Love: Adventures in Marriage and Polyamory, Michelle Tea had indeed lived an adventurous life, "from straight to bi to lesbian to dyke to bi again and now and forevermore the one-stop shop of queer," among other journeys in identity and lifestyle, sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll. In this work's opening present day, she is a wife ("a relationship that took root in the landscape of my divorce"), a mother, and--not for the first time--grappling with the concept of monogamy. She is easing into the idea of "nonmonogamy as a real orientation within [her]," and in these pages, explores its various forms, in history, in her personal life and preferences, and through interviews with friends and acquaintances as well as cultural figures. Always open and nonjudgmental about a range of ways of nonmonogamous life, Free Love is a fascinating and candid analysis.

Tea (Against Memoir; Valencia) merges her own past with external sources, in the context of interviews and conversations, so that her voice remains present throughout. For example, she talks with scholar-historian-archivist Jeanne Vaccaro, writer/musician Brontez Purnell, and an artist she calls simply Z because "I'm charged with protecting her anonymity, so crucial for her exciting, global sex life." Tea describes her own fantasies in the context of the 1989 film Last Exit to Brooklyn, adapted from Hubert Selby Jr.'s 1964 novel. She shares joys and heartbreaks, ecstasies and pains, in anecdotes of relationships and every part of her life. Through storytelling, she introduces less-familiar readers to terms like "metamour" (the partners of one's partner) and "compersion" (the opposite of jealousy; "a feeling of shared happiness or fine-fellow-feeling at my partner's extracurricular dalliances"). With friends, historians, researchers, scholars, and cultural icons, she discusses sex, desire, shame, free love communes, government control of women's bodies, risk aversion, the "relationship escalator," plural marriages, motherhood, aging, and jealousy, always through a lens of queerness. Tea reports that it is an ongoing struggle to both love and deepen bonds with one or several individuals, and to remain open to a wider world: "It's so hard to strike the balance of held, beloved security, and raw, autonomous adventure." The challenges of polyamory are real, she acknowledges, but in refrain, she also argues, it is worth those challenges.

Free Love demystifies, educates, explores the margins, and questions received wisdom. To that end, Tea hopes her reader finds in these pages "inspiration... revelation, permission," and, perhaps most simply, more love. --Julia Kastner, blogger at pagesofjulia

Shelf Talker: Through the context of the author's own adventures in marriage and polyamory, and interviews and research, this thoughtful study explores various means of living "many loves."