"The independent bookstores, their superpower is that they can make the store whatever they want, they can stock whatever they want. And when you think about the market as a whole, that creates incredible diversity in stock and books and displays and experiences in bookstores. When we homogenize it, what we have instead is something that looks really sterile....

"Bookstores are currently building their capacity to be centers that activate their communities and keep their communities informed about issues like the freedom to read, like the banks skimming off the top of transactions, and so much more. What we're doing right now is building this network of independent bookstores into a political force that I know can have a clear voice and stand up for the issues that impact them."

Love & Legends Books, a fantasy- and romance-focused bookstore, opens tomorrow, November 22, in Brooklyn, N.Y., News12Brooklyn reported.

Love & Legends in progress.

Located at 667 Washington Ave. in Prospect Heights, Love & Legends spans 850 square feet and sells fantasy and romance titles for all ages, along with tabletop role-playing games, dice sets, stickers, enamel pins, cards, and other nonbook items. The store's event plans include book clubs, Dungeons & Dragons events, and author signings; the grand opening tomorrow will feature a ribbon cutting, author signings, flash tattoos, giveaways, and more.

Co-owners and married couple Savanna Sturkie and Jack Peeples founded Love & Legends as a pop-up store in April. The store's pop-up appearances went so well that they decided to accelerate their plans to open a bricks-and-mortar location. They found an ideal space, complete with its own backyard, only about 10 minutes from their apartment; they signed a lease in September. 

That same month, they launched a Kickstarter campaign with a goal of $55,000; by the campaign's closure they raised $58,623 from 514 backers.

Brave Seeker Books hosted a ribbon-cutting last week at 19 E. Main St., Rexburg, Idaho, inside Mrs. Powell's Bakery. The BYU-Idaho Scroll reported that owner Cortney Teeples "knew that 2025 was the year she'd open a bookstore. The plan had been in place for almost 20 years for Teeples; she wouldn't wait even another minute."

Beginning in January, Teeples and her husband began putting together funding for the venture. She also spent time at Winnie and Mo's Bookstore in Idaho Falls, where co-owner Whitney Holmes allowed Teeples to shadow her. "[Whitney] knew exactly what I needed to know and let me ask her tons of questions," said Teeples.

Her next challenge was finding a location. Initially concerned she wouldn't be able to afford rent in town, she eventually connected with Joe and Necia Cooper, owners of Mrs. Powell's Bakery. They negotiated a deal for Teeples to create a hybrid bookshop/bakery storefront. "I think people really like the combination of books and cinnamon rolls," she noted.

The Rexburg Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the recent ribbon cutting, noting that Teeples has "created a fun, cozy, and inviting space for all ages to explore, connect, and discover their next favorite story. Cortney's passion for books and community shines through, welcoming everyone to browse the shelves and experience the joy of reading.... We're thrilled to welcome Brave Seeker Books to our business community--be sure to stop by and support this wonderful local bookstore!"

Earlier this month, Cohen's Bagel Company hosted the grand opening and ribbon-cutting for its new location inside Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore in Middletown, Conn. The Wesleyan Argus reported that the space had been vacant since the university terminated its contract with former tenant Story and Soil Coffee at the end of last semester.

Rob and Christine Cohen founded Cohen's Bagel Company in June 2003 in Madison, Conn., where RJ Julia's flagship bookstore is located.

"We've always seen Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore as more than just a bookstore--it's a gathering place for students, neighbors, and friends," store manager Kate Mosquera wrote in a message on the RJ Julia's website. "Adding Cohen's Bagel Company to our space brings even more of what people love: fresh, handmade food, a welcoming café atmosphere, and a community-centric vibe."

Books-A-Million has opened a new, 15,006-square-foot bookstore in the Fairfield Town Center at 28640 US-290, Cypress, Tex., and will host a grand opening celebration tomorrow, Saturday, November 22, My Neighborhood News reported. BAM operates more than 220 stores nationwide.

"The Fairfield Town Center is situated snugly at the intersection of major highways, providing the only bookstore in the local vicinity," said Clarence Antill, Texas and Louisiana district manager for BAM. "The easy access appeals to those who crave that local charm and convenience."

The Booksellers Association of the U.K. & Ireland, in collaboration with Bookselling Scotland as well as many of the country's bookshop owners and teams, has released a new research report, The Cultural and Community Role of Scotland's Bookshops, to coincide with Scottish Book Trust's annual Book Week Scotland (November 17-23). The report draws on survey data from 53% of Scottish independent bookshops and interviews with 22 booksellers, including Waterstones. Among the key results: 

Noting that Scottish bookshops "are community anchors, bringing people together and supporting them, fostering literacy and reading for pleasure, and promoting cultural and linguistic heritage," the report calls for various actions to remove barriers to sustaining vital services and provide the bookshops with tools needed to continue to offer even greater community and culture value, including:

• Introduce £250 (about $325) culture vouchers for 16-year-olds
• Fund school author visits, including for authors of Gaelic and Scots-language titles
• Reform non-domestic tax rates to strengthen high streets
• Provide dedicated grant funding for bookshop events, including Creative Scotland establishing a dedicated budget to enable bookshops to hold writer events
• Strengthen arts and language partnerships across Scotland to improve flow of Gaelic and Scots-language titles, for example between Creative Scotland and the Gaelic Books Council
• Develop regional literary tours to boost tourism
• Encourage publishers to support bookshop events more
• Boost collaboration between libraries and bookshops to enhance cultural enrichment and community literacy

"At a time when bringing communities together and celebrating national culture is more important than ever, it is vital that we support and protect those who work tirelessly in facilitating this," said BA managing director Meryl Halls. "Scottish bookshops are unsung heroes, going above and beyond to deliver far more than selling books. This unprecedented and far-reaching report proves that bookshops are not just retail spaces; they are an essential part of Scotland's  cultural fabric and deeply deserving of wider recognition, tangible support, and ongoing investment to allow them to deliver for years to come."

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In Iceland, a new survey found that the country's citizens "are spending noticeably less time reading than they did just two years ago," according to RÚV (via Iceland News), which reported that "people now devote an average of 59 minutes a day to reading or listening to books," a decline of 10 minutes since 2022. The study was commissioned by the Icelandic Literature Center in partnership with institutions including the Reykjavík City Library.

The results also showed that 19% of respondents said they never read books, up from 14%-15% in previous surveys. Overall, 51% read for less than half an hour a day or not at all. In addition, "the proportion of men who report no daily reading has risen sharply--from 18% to 24% in two years, while daily reading among women increased from 10% to 15%.

Traditional book reading dropped from 80% to 72% year-on-year, the study noted, adding that while audiobook listening and e-book reading also declined, 49% of respondents said they still subscribe to an audiobook service. An annual reading goal was set by only 10%, primarily women and younger adults.

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Anne Diderich

There was better news coming from Luxembourg, however, where booksellers told the Luxembourg Times that reading is back in fashion, with young people reading more English-language books thanks to the influence of BookTok and Bookstagram communities. 

Anne Diderich, owner of the Librairie Diderich in Esch-Alzette and president of the federation of Luxembourg booksellers (Fédération Luxembourgeoise des Libraires), said English is the language in which young people predominantly read, adding that it is mainly young women driving the trend: "The nice thing is that they usually come to the bookshop in groups. As if they were organizing a get-together here."

Regarding BookTok and Bookstagram, Elmira Najafi, owner of Librairie Alinéa, said, "Books presented there are in high demand. Many people come in and ask if we have a particular book they have seen on Instagram. We don't stock every viral book, only those that fit in with the Alinéa concept. We don't want to switch completely to BookTok because that simply doesn't fit in with our identity.... It inspires people. Especially those who don't know what they want to read and are too shy to ask for advice in a bookshop."

Last night, Battenkill Books in Cambridge, N.Y., hosted a reading and launch party for The Woodcutter's Christmas by Brad Kessler, with photography by Dona Ann McAdams. The book is the first release from Galpón Press, the independent book publishing imprint of Filmore Projects, a management and literary advisory firm that was founded by Michael Jacobs, long-time trade publishing executive; and Sheridan Hay, editor, novelist, and teacher.

Pictured: (l.-r.) Jacobs, Battenkill Books owner Connie Brooks, Kessler, McAdams, and Hay.

Sheraton Hotels has teamed up with HarperCollins, publishers of the beloved children’s book Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd, to re-create the book's iconic bedroom in a suite at the newly renovated Sheraton Boston Hotel. 

Available through February 2026, the suite is designed for guests of all ages, who "can actually step inside the book's whimsical world," House Beautiful reported, adding that the life-size re-creation of Hurd's illustrations features "Kelly-green walls, red-and-yellow accents, the cozy fireplace, and even the bowl full of mush."

"Goodnight Moon Suite at Sheraton Boston was dreamed up with the hope of creating a universal moment of comfort," said Peggy Roe, executive v-p & chief customer officer at Marriott International. "For so many of us, Goodnight Moon is just that. It's more than a book; it's a beloved memory, and one I have created time after time with my own children. We wanted to capture that sense of home and tranquility and deliver it to the often busy and bustling world of travel."

Heartleaf Books, Providence, R.I., shared a video featuring bookstore cat Penny on Instagram, cautioning: "do not displease THE MANAGER with your transph0bia. TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS."

Posted on Instagram by Birdie Books in Westerville, Ohio: "This must be the place."

Diana Schmidt has been promoted to marketing associate for Casablanca and Bloom Books at Sourcebooks.

Lionsgate has released a surprise teaser trailer and first look images for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, a film adaptation of the prequel novel by Suzanne Collins. Deadline described the trailer as "a good-looking first glimpse at the latest installment in the hit franchise, which will be released on November 20, 2026."

The cast includes Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Ralph Fiennes, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Jesse Plemons, Billy Porter, and Lili Taylor, alongside Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, and Ben Wang. Francis Lawrence directs from a screenplay adaptation by Billy Ray. Color Force's Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson produce, with Cameron MacConomy exec producing.

Shortlists have been selected in four categories for the 2025 Nero Book Awards, honoring the books judges "would most want to press into the hands of friends and family for their quality and readability," and sponsored by Caffè Nero in partnership with the Booksellers Association of the U.K. and Ireland and Brunel University of London. The Gold Prize overall winner will receive £30,000 (about $39,185), and category winners will receive £5,000 (about $6,530) each. The Gold Prize will be announced March 4, 2026. See the shortlists here.

photo: Gavin Green

Robyn Green was born and raised in Suffolk, England. After falling in love with theater at a young age, she spent time performing on stage before moving her focus behind the scenes where she now specializes in costume design and curation. Green's passion for the arts is the main source of inspiration for her writing. The Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose (Harper Perennial, November 11, 2025) is her debut novel and her love letter to the theater in which a fake dating publicity stunt between rival co-stars results in romantic sparks neither of them expected.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

A dramatic and poignant romance set in the heart of London's dazzling West End.

On your nightstand now:

I'm currently making my way through Taylor Jenkins Reid's books. I just finished Malibu Rising and am now on to Carrie Soto Is Back. I adore her writing and the dynamics she creates between her characters. I also love how, now I've read quite a lot of her work, I can pick up on the little Easter eggs she leaves in her books. I really enjoy it when authors can add subtle references to their past work, and Reid does that so well.

Favorite book when you were a child:

This one is really hard because when I think back to being a child, a lot of my memories come from reading with my grandad, but I can't remember a particular book he used to read to me. I do remember when I was far enough in my reading at school that I was allowed to go and choose a book from any shelf in the library (trust me, this was a big deal!) and I picked up The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White, which was probably a little bit above my comprehension level, but I kept checking that book out for weeks until I finished it. I'm pretty sure it was the first chapter book I read alone, and for that reason I would have to say it was my favourite (apart from the Mog the Forgetful Cat books--they will forever have a place in my heart!).

Your top five authors:

As I said before, I am loving Taylor Jenkins Reid at the moment, so she would definitely have to be in there. An auto-read author for me now is also Kalynn Bayron; I fell in love with Cinderella Is Dead and have been fully invested in the worlds she creates ever since. Another I will always read is Mona Awad; Bunny was my first book of hers and I couldn't put it down. I then went on a slight "Awad mission" and read everything by her and am in awe of how she crafts her stories. Casey McQuiston is another author whose work I simply can't get enough of--I have always been an advocate for having more queer representation in books, so to have someone such as McQuiston putting out work with such richly diverse characters is a breath of fresh air. I am also a huge fan of Madeline Miller, and have far too many special editions of her books; she weaves such stunning tales, I always feel fully immersed in her work, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Book you've faked reading:

A lot of my friends used to talk about George Orwell's 1984, and a couple of times when asked if I'd read it, I said no and got very sceptical looks! So, for years I just said I'd read it to avoid the literary judgement! I am, however, pleased to say I listened to the audiobook last year and really enjoyed it. It was one of those books where I felt on the edge of my seat. I really should have read it earlier, but at least I can truthfully say I've read it now.

Book you're an evangelist for:

I would probably say Circe by Madeline Miller. However, I am one of those people who takes personal offence if someone doesn't like one of my favourite books, so I will shout about any of them all day if I have to just to encourage others to read and love them.

Book you've bought for the cover:

In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens--that cover is simply gorgeous. I am drawn to beautiful character art anyway, so to see a cover featuring such stunning work made me pick it up straight away. I think they can work really well especially in the fantasy genre.

Book you hid from your parents:

Honestly, I don't think I ever hid a book from my parents. They were great and encouraged me to read, read, read and never really questioned what it was I was reading. Saying that, I do have an apology to them in my acknowledgements for The Dramatic Life of Jonah Penrose for the swearing in it!

Book that changed your life:

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart. That book broke my heart, and I still find my mind drifting off to that book; it really stuck with me, and not in some kind of profound way, but in a heart-wrenching way. I read a lot so to have a book stick with me for so long means it impacted me somehow. I don't know if I would say it changed my life. That title would have to go to Hamlet by Shakespeare, but it's the first book that came to mind for this question. I love books that make you think, even after finishing the last page.

Favorite line from a book:

Although a very difficult read given the themes, my favourite line from a book is: "And so I try to be kind in everything I see, and in everything I see, I see him." From A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. That line made me sob.

Five books you'll never part with:

Circe, The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, Bunny, The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck.

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

Circe or Shuggie Bain, both for very different reasons! Circe was magical, such a gorgeous story, and Shuggie Bain broke my heart, and I am definitely one of those readers who loves to have a good cry.

Olivia Muenter's Little One chills and entertains with the story of a young woman whose fresh start is interrupted.

Since leaving the intentional community run by her father in rural Florida, Catharine West has built herself a life from scratch in New York City. She has a successful copywriting career, visits the public library at least once a week, runs daily, and enjoys a snarky friendship over drinks with the disarming Stella, who says of Catharine's library habit, "You do realize this isn't actually a Nora Ephron film." She doesn't date much, which Stella attributes to a bad breakup or fear of change. Catharine holds people at arm's length, privately enforcing upon herself some of the same obsessive standards she learned back at the farm, including extreme fasting and self-deprivation. She has shared her past with no one, which is why it's so alarming when a journalist e-mails out of the blue with questions about "a little-known, now-defunct cult in central Florida." Catharine's carefully crafted, tightly controlled existence is threatened. But in balance with that risk hangs the chance that she might recover the one part of her past that she never meant to lose: her sister.

Little One, Muenter's second novel (following Such a Bad Influence), follows Catharine in alternating chapters marked "Then" and "Now." Catharine's remembered Florida begins as idyllic, sunny, verdant, a childhood spent "chasing the coolest parts of the day, picking tomatoes at dawn, bringing each to my nose and marveling at the smell, all at once familiar and astounding." But what began as a close-knit community with back-to-the-land ethics gradually became something sinister, sticky, and alligator-ridden in the oppressive heat.

In the present-day timeline, Catharine becomes increasingly involved with the journalist, Reese, whom she finds both attractive and off-putting. As she strings him along, giving him just enough to get back the information she needs from his unnamed source, it may be that she's met her match. Meanwhile, readers recognize past Catharine (in her father's steely grip) in the present one (wielding an ironclad control over her own life). Fasting becomes exercise compulsion and an obsession with willpower; the concept of hunger, in its various meanings, is central to the plot. Muenter's expertly moody, creepy-crawly narrative is precisely paced. Secrets as off-balance as Catharine herself are released at a tantalizing rate that might just keep the reader up all night, as the novel accelerates toward a satisfyingly surprising conclusion. --Julia Kastner, blogger at pagesofjulia

Shelf Talker: A young woman's troubled past resurfaces in this novel of psychological suspense and secrets.