As the so-called cultural capital of the world, it is no surprise that New York City is home to many bookstores since books are an essential vessel of culture. While many independent bookstores are spread across the city (as well as many New York Public Library locations), four stand out in terms of popularity, uniqueness and overall vibe.
To begin my bookstore reviews, I hopped on the four train to visit the place that famously houses 18 miles of books: the Strand Book Store. Open since 1927, this independent bookstore chain has every book you could want, going back decades, including rare, collectibles and signed editions. One of the first tables, upon entering, has options for a blind date with a book, with the covers not only featuring vague descriptions of the plots, but also quirky hand-drawn designs to match. There are several tables in the center area, all of which have a theme attached to them (most of which are genre-specific). However, along the sides, there are also shelves of books, they are alphabetically organized in rows, which gives a classic library feel.
In addition to books, this store also sells their own merchandise in the form of tote bags and clothing, and has a ton of knick-knacks available for purchase, including, but not limited to, NYC-specific hair clips, bookmarks, stickers and even kitchen accessories! Overall, the Strand has a lot to offer consumer-wise, but it is important for visitors to know just how busy it is. It is almost impossible to move freely within the store due to the sheer number of people and volume of books contained within this block of 12th Street. I would still recommend a visit, but going on a weekday trip would be advised.
Continuing my book journey in Manhattan, I headed up to Times Square to pay a visit to a bookstore I didn’t even know existed before starting my research for this article: The Drama Book Shop. This bookstore, as the name suggests, houses only written copies of plays and musicals. It also has a lovely, quiet spot for reading and studying located all the way in the back, as well as a beautiful art display of books traveling in a line throughout the shop. For those who chose their college based on the variety of live drama entertainment that the city provides, this bookstore is not only a must because of its contents, but also its history.
The Drama Book Shop was founded in 1917 and then became an independent bookstore in 1923. When the store moved to its current location in 2001, Black House Productions became the resident theater company. The theater troupe actually rehearsed “In the Heights” in the basement, and the store went on to win a Tony Award Honor for Excellence in the Theatre in 2011. One of the founders of the troupe and the director of “In the Heights,” Thomas Kail, alongside writer Lin-Manuel Miranda, bought the store in 2020. The impact of this cultural institution is evident through its history, making it a worthwhile trip for any theatre fanatic.
From there, I ventured into Brooklyn. My first stop was The Ripped Bodice, a romance-specific independent bookstore that opened in 2023 and was founded by sisters Bea and Lea Koch. The Brooklyn location is the second of two; the first bookstore opened in Los Angeles, California, driven by their goal to bring their dream to life. As per their website, “the store is proudly Woman and Queer Owned.”
Even if you don’t enjoy romance novels (and who doesn’t every once in a while?), this store is still worth a visit. The Ripped Bodice is picturesque: it features an almost entirely pink interior, complete with a checkered floor and bookcases with their own sliding ladders. The store not only features a diverse selection of romance novels but also has series-specific merchandise, such as scented candles based on specific characters. It feels like the dream version of a home library, and despite its small size, I could wander around browsing forever.
The last bookstore I visited has the perfect name to describe how books make me feel. Books Are Magic, owned by author Emma Straub and her husband, Michael Fusco-Straub, has two locations in Brooklyn and features a section dedicated to Straub’s books, including multiple signed copies of her bestsellers. The bookstore is entirely family-friendly and has that perfect classic indie bookstore vibe: not flashy but incredibly homey.
This shop has a smaller range of books when compared to the other general bookstores on this list, but it is infinitely more comfortable to roam around since there are fewer numbers of people. The Montague Street location not only features merchandise with the Books Are Magic logo (which of course I had to buy), but also a Mini Print Vending Machine, complete with several bookish prints for only a dollar each. If you’re looking to spend a day in Brooklyn, this bookstore should definitely be on your list.
These stores are all unique, beautiful and worth a visit for different reasons. However, the one aspect that brings them together is arguably the most important: they are all independent bookstores. In a place as big as New York City, with incredible independent options such as these, make use of your location to discover as much of the world as you can through one of the best resources and pastimes we have available to us: reading books.
