It may be a slow burn but American’s love for small bookshops is intensifying, just like the tension in a one-bed-roadtrip-enemies-to-lovers plotline. The American Booksellers Association says more than 600 bookstores opened across the country last year, double the number of new shops from the year before, and membership in the association is the highest it's been since the 1990s.
These shops provide not only great reading material but community through events, knowledgeable staff, and general third-space-ness. Here are some of our favorites — by trope, of course.
The Reluctant Hero
- The Legendarium: The Legendarium is a fantasy and science fiction-focused bookstore, where every visit feels like stepping into another realm. Beyond shelves of epic fantasy, sci-fi, and horror, the shop hosts author events, book clubs, game nights, writing groups, and community gatherings that bring readers together. Grab a themed drink from the café, settle in with your next adventure, and discover why it's become a hub for Utah's fantasy-loving community.
- Poppy’s Books and Gifts: If you’re on a long journey south, take a side quest to Poppy’s Books in Spanish Fork. The store features genre-themed rooms, hidden miniature scenes, fairy gardens, and cozy reading nooks that could hold you captive all day if you aren’t careful. Unfortunately, it is not wheelchair-accessible. If you need wheelchair access and fairy gardens, you can come to my house.
- Dr. Volt’s Comics: The longest-running comic shop in Utah, Dr. Volt’s Comics & Games has been a Salt Lake City staple for comic book fans, gamers, and pop culture enthusiasts for decades. Browse new and vintage comics, graphic novels, manga, collectibles, tabletop games, and trading cards, then stick around for regular events like Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, Dungeons & Dragons, and board game nights.
Found Family
- Under the Umbrella Bookstore: Under the Umbrella Bookstore & Café is Utah's first LGBTQ+ bookstore. It offers a thoughtfully curated selection of books, coffee, and gifts in a welcoming, inclusive space. Beyond the shelves, it hosts author events, book clubs, workshops, and community gatherings.
For the Person Who Relates to Jo March
- The King’s English: An independent bookstore mainstay in Salt Lake for nearly 50 years, The King’s English has a story for everyone and an event for every type of reader, from book clubs, to author conversations, to storytime. This is the place you think of when you think of a quintessential, cozy, local bookstore.
- Lovebound Library: Hear me out on this one. Jo would have loved the expanse of different romance genres available today, and all of them are available at Lovebound. Queer romance, enemies to lovers, a strong, independent woman wooed by an equal partner … just don’t let Laurie near the friends-to-lovers section.
