5 Best Used Book Stores on the East Coast (Abridged)

On every single family vacation I’ve ever been on in my entire life (hyperbole), my father and I always carve out a day to go used book shopping. I distinctly remember being 10 years old at Disney World and, while my mother and brother packed up and away for a day at the water park, I stayed behind on the promise of a new (old) book in my future. The obsession level is just that deep.

However, admittedly, my memory is something of a fuzzy beast, so this may be part one to a multiple part list. Nevertheless, here are my top 5:

1. Book Barn (Niantic, CT): I’ve written about this place before, but it bears repeating: this is paradise. Three different shops scattered throughout this tiny town, but the main attraction is the original barn. Or barns, I should say. It’s got cats, coffee, and hundreds of thousands of used books. There are cheeky names for the various books stands and barns like “Ellis Island” for unsorted newcomers and “the Last Page” for miscellaneous categories that necessitate a bit of jumbling together. And just when you think you’ve hit every room, there’s one more below the main barn that so many tend to forget. Also, the staff is incredibly passionate and knowledgeable, and can lead you straight to a new-to-you author or series that you otherwise might not have found.
2. Monroe Street Books (Middlebury, VT): Every summer we spend a week in Vermont. It’s my own special happy place: days by the lake, hot coffee on the porch, nights by the fire. Every year, we dedicate one day to book shopping. And last year, Monroe Street Books was mistakenly one of our last stops (when we were tired and hungry, eyes glazing over as we read title after title), so this year we’re making it our first. It is like stepping into a mad professor’s treasure trove. Sky-high bookcases of dubious construction, stacked with titles you’ve been looking for for years.
3. Bryn Mawr Bookstore (Cambridge, MA): Many in Boston prefer Brattle or Trident books. But the Bryn Mawr Bookstore remains my favorite. Tiny, carefully curated, and wonderfully priced. Sales support scholarships for students from New England attending Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania.
4. Sandman Book Co. (Punta Gorda, FL): Another shop we mistakenly left for the end of our trip. These shop owners have passion about what they do. Their selection is fantastic, with oddities and titles from your favorite authors that you didn’t realize existed. They seem to be the only bookstore supporting the local literary scene, single-handedly fueling its fire. And while the shop may seem a bit “in the middle of nowhere,” it is alone worth the drive. Plus, having a cat to help run the shop always helps!
5. Hope Chest Shop (Fort Myers, FL): It’s a charity shop with a fantastic book section. I have never left here without purchasing at least half a dozen books (and a vintage suitcase at one time).

Special Mentions:

• Traveler Restaurant (Union, CT): Food and books, books and food. Every diner gets to choose a free used book, plus there’s a bookstore beneath the restaurant. Heaven.
• Ferguson Library Book Shop (Stamford, CT): Just steps from our gallery, the Ferguson has become a formidable pillar in public libraries. My favorite part, however, is their tiny bookshop, carrying an ever-rotating collection of used books. Most titles run between $1 and $5, and their dedicated legion of donors ensures that you’ll find even some of the newest titles on the shelves.
• Crow Bookshop (Burlington, VT): Burlington has a warm place in my heart and this is largely due to the Crow Bookshop. It’s a perfect part of this college-y, crunchy, coffee-and-brewery-laden city. I love Crow, I only wish I had the time to visit more often.