Holiday Gift Guide
Ainsley Shaw • November 24, 2025

Find the perfect read for every book lover on your list with our curated Holiday Gift Guide! We have taken the time to highlight some show stopping presents to make your shopping a breeze. Shop small and support your local bookstore this holiday season by purchasing gifts through our Bookshop and Libro sites. View our entire selection of December book recommendations in physical and E-book format here and audiobooks here. From all of us at Lioness Books, thank you for supporting small businesses and Happy Holidays!


For the Romance Devotee

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny

Kiran Desai


When Sonia and Sunny first glimpse each other on an overnight train, they are immediately captivated yet also embarrassed by the fact that their grandparents had once tried to matchmake them, a clumsy meddling that served only to drive Sonia and Sunny apart.


Sonia, an aspiring novelist who recently completed her studies in the snowy mountains of Vermont, has returned to her family in India. She fears that she is haunted by a dark spell cast by an artist to whom she had once turned for intimacy and inspiration. Sunny, a struggling journalist resettled in New York City, is attempting to flee his imperious mother and the violence of his warring clan.

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny

Kiran Desai


When Sonia and Sunny first glimpse each other on an overnight train, they are immediately captivated yet also embarrassed by the fact that their grandparents had once tried to matchmake them, a clumsy meddling that served only to drive Sonia and Sunny apart.


Sonia, an aspiring novelist who recently completed her studies in the snowy mountains of Vermont, has returned to her family in India. She fears that she is haunted by a dark spell cast by an artist to whom she had once turned for intimacy and inspiration. Sunny, a struggling journalist resettled in New York City, is attempting to flee his imperious mother and the violence of his warring clan.

Uncertain of their future, Sonia and Sunny embark on a search for happiness together as they confront the many alienations of our modern world.


The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny is the sweeping tale of two young people navigating the many forces that shape their lives: country, class, race, history, and the complicated bonds that link one generation to the next. A love story, a family saga, and a rich novel of ideas, it is the most ambitious and accomplished work yet by one of our greatest novelists.


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The Autumn Leaf Bookshop

Kay Michaels


Raene Hart doesn't do fall.


Give her beaches, sun-soaked pages, and barefoot days under thunderstorm skies and she's golden. But when her beloved grandmother needs care, Raene trades her coastal condo and bestselling romance career for six weeks in Everly Hollow, a cozy town full of enchantment, magic and where not all beings are human.


Sylas Ashvale is everything she doesn't need right now. He's tall, too handsome for his own good, and the owner of The Autumn Leaf Bookshop.

The Autumn Leaf Bookshop

Kay Michaels


Raene Hart doesn't do fall.


Give her beaches, sun-soaked pages, and barefoot days under thunderstorm skies and she's golden. But when her beloved grandmother needs care, Raene trades her coastal condo and bestselling romance career for six weeks in Everly Hollow, a cozy town full of enchantment, magic and where not all beings are human.


Sylas Ashvale is everything she doesn't need right now. He's tall, too handsome for his own good, and the owner of The Autumn Leaf Bookshop.

The Autumn Leaf Bookshop

Kay Michaels


Raene Hart doesn't do fall.


Give her beaches, sun-soaked pages, and barefoot days under thunderstorm skies and she's golden. But when her beloved grandmother needs care, Raene trades her coastal condo and bestselling romance career for six weeks in Everly Hollow, a cozy town full of enchantment, magic and where not all beings are human.


Sylas Ashvale is everything she doesn't need right now. He's tall, too handsome for his own good, and the owner of The Autumn Leaf Bookshop.

He's the literal embodiment of fall with his cozy sweaters, fall magic, and cinnamon-scented charm. Oh, and did I mention he's Fae with a bonded miniature dragon?


Raene is a summer-loving author. Sylas is autumn incarnate.


But sometimes, the season you hate... becomes the one that changes everything. Will Raene survive pumpkin season without losing her mind or her heart?


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For the Contemporary Fiction Fan

The Correspondent

Virginia Evans


“Imagine, the letters one has sent out into the world, the letters received back in turn, are like the pieces of a magnificent puzzle. . . . Isn’t there something wonderful in that, to think that a story of one’s life is preserved in some way, that this very letter may one day mean something, even if it is a very small thing, to someone?”


Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime.


The Correspondent

Virginia Evans


“Imagine, the letters one has sent out into the world, the letters received back in turn, are like the pieces of a magnificent puzzle. . . . Isn’t there something wonderful in that, to think that a story of one’s life is preserved in some way, that this very letter may one day mean something, even if it is a very small thing, to someone?”


Filled with knowledge that only comes from a life fully lived, The Correspondent is a gem of a novel about the power of finding solace in literature and connection with people we might never meet in person. It is about the hubris of youth and the wisdom of old age, and the mistakes and acts of kindness that occur during a lifetime.


Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it.


Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters—to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter.


Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has—a mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, distinguished lawyer, she has lived a very full life. But when letters from someone in her past force her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life, she realizes that the letter she has been writing over the years needs to be read and that she cannot move forward until she finds it in her heart to offer forgiveness.


Sybil Van Antwerp’s life of letters might be “a very small thing,” but she also might be one of the most memorable characters you will ever read.


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Sybil Van Antwerp has throughout her life used letters to make sense of the world and her place in it.


Most mornings, around half past ten, Sybil sits down to write letters—to her brother, to her best friend, to the president of the university who will not allow her to audit a class she desperately wants to take, to Joan Didion and Larry McMurtry to tell them what she thinks of their latest books, and to one person to whom she writes often yet never sends the letter.


Sybil expects her world to go on as it always has—a mother, grandmother, wife, divorcee, distinguished lawyer, she has lived a very full life. But when letters from someone in her past force her to examine one of the most painful periods of her life, she realizes that the letter she has been writing over the years needs to be read and that she cannot move forward until she finds it in her heart to offer forgiveness.


Sybil Van Antwerp’s life of letters might be “a very small thing,” but she also might be one of the most memorable characters you will ever read.


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We Do Not Part

Han Kang


One winter morning in Seoul, Kyungha receives an urgent message from her friend Inseon to visit her at the hospital. Inseon has injured herself in an accident, and she begs Kyungha to return to Jeju Island, where she lives, to save her beloved pet—a white bird called Ama. A snowstorm hits the island when Kyungha arrives. She must reach Inseon’s house at all costs, but the icy wind and squalls slow her down as night begins to fall. She wonders if she will arrive in time to save the animal—or even survive the terrible cold that envelops her with every step. Lost in a world of snow, she doesn’t yet suspect the vertiginous plunge into darkness that awaits her at her friend’s house.

We Do Not Part

Han Kang


One winter morning in Seoul, Kyungha receives an urgent message from her friend Inseon to visit her at the hospital. Inseon has injured herself in an accident, and she begs Kyungha to return to Jeju Island, where she lives, to save her beloved pet—a white bird called Ama. A snowstorm hits the island when Kyungha arrives. She must reach Inseon’s house at all costs, but the icy wind and squalls slow her down as night begins to fall. She wonders if she will arrive in time to save the animal—or even survive the terrible cold that envelops her with every step. Lost in a world of snow, she doesn’t yet suspect the vertiginous plunge into darkness that awaits her at her friend’s house.

We Do Not Part

Han Kang


One winter morning in Seoul, Kyungha receives an urgent message from her friend Inseon to visit her at the hospital. Inseon has injured herself in an accident, and she begs Kyungha to return to Jeju Island, where she lives, to save her beloved pet—a white bird called Ama. A snowstorm hits the island when Kyungha arrives. She must reach Inseon’s house at all costs, but the icy wind and squalls slow her down as night begins to fall. She wonders if she will arrive in time to save the animal—or even survive the terrible cold that envelops her with every step. Lost in a world of snow, she doesn’t yet suspect the vertiginous plunge into darkness that awaits her at her friend’s house.

Blurring the boundaries between dream and reality, We Do Not Part powerfully brings to light the lost voices of the past to save them from oblivion. Both a hymn to an enduring friendship and an argument for remembering, it is the story of profound love in the face of unspeakable pain—and a celebration of life, however fragile it might be.


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For the Memoir Obsessed

The Anthony Bourdain Reader

Anthony Bourdain


The definitive, career-spanning collection of writing from Anthony Bourdain, assembled for the first time in book form.


Anthony Bourdain represented many things to many people—and he had many sides. But no part of his identity was more important to him, and more long-lasting, than that of a writer. The Anthony Bourdain Reader is a collection of his best and most fascinating writing, and touches on his many pursuits and passions, from restaurant life to family life to the “low life,” from TV to travel through places like Vietnam, Buenos Aires, Paris, and Shanghai.

The Anthony Bourdain Reader

Anthony Bourdain


The definitive, career-spanning collection of writing from Anthony Bourdain, assembled for the first time in book form.


Anthony Bourdain represented many things to many people—and he had many sides. But no part of his identity was more important to him, and more long-lasting, than that of a writer. The Anthony Bourdain Reader is a collection of his best and most fascinating writing, and touches on his many pursuits and passions, from restaurant life to family life to the “low life,” from TV to travel through places like Vietnam, Buenos Aires, Paris, and Shanghai.

The Anthony Bourdain Reader is also a showcase for new and never-before-seen material, like diary entries from Bourdain’s first trip to France as a teenager and “It’s Cruel and Unforgiving Terrain,” a piece on the New York restaurant scene, as well as unpublished short fiction like “I Quit My Job Yesterday” and chapters from No New Messages, his unfinished novel. These newly discovered pieces all contribute to give the fullest picture of the man behind the books.


The Anthony Bourdain Reader is a testament to the enduring and singular voice Bourdain crafted, with eclectic and curated chapters that encapsulate the unique brilliance of his restless mind. Edited by Bourdain’s longtime agent and friend Kimberly Witherspoon and with a foreword by Patrick Radden Keefe, this is an essential reader for any Bourdain fan as well as a vivid and moving recollection of the life and legacy of one of our most distinctive writers.


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The Uncool

Cameron Crowe


Cameron Crowe was an unlikely rock and roll insider. Born in 1957 to parents who strictly banned the genre from their house, he dove headfirst into the world of music. By the time he graduated high school at fifteen, Crowe was contributing to Rolling Stone. His parents became believers, uneasily allowing him to interview and tour with legends like Led Zeppelin; Lynyrd Skynyrd; Bob Dylan; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and Fleetwood Mac.


The Uncool offers a front-row ticket to the 1970s, a golden era for music and art when rock was young. There’s no such thing as a media junket—just the rare chance a young writer might be invited along for an adventure. Crowe spends his teens politely turning down the drugs and turning on his tape recorder.

The Uncool

Cameron Crowe


Cameron Crowe was an unlikely rock and roll insider. Born in 1957 to parents who strictly banned the genre from their house, he dove headfirst into the world of music. By the time he graduated high school at fifteen, Crowe was contributing to Rolling Stone. His parents became believers, uneasily allowing him to interview and tour with legends like Led Zeppelin; Lynyrd Skynyrd; Bob Dylan; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and Fleetwood Mac.


The Uncool offers a front-row ticket to the 1970s, a golden era for music and art when rock was young. There’s no such thing as a media junket—just the rare chance a young writer might be invited along for an adventure. Crowe spends his teens politely turning down the drugs and turning on his tape recorder.

The Uncool

Cameron Crowe


Cameron Crowe was an unlikely rock and roll insider. Born in 1957 to parents who strictly banned the genre from their house, he dove headfirst into the world of music. By the time he graduated high school at fifteen, Crowe was contributing to Rolling Stone. His parents became believers, uneasily allowing him to interview and tour with legends like Led Zeppelin; Lynyrd Skynyrd; Bob Dylan; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and Fleetwood Mac.


The Uncool offers a front-row ticket to the 1970s, a golden era for music and art when rock was young. There’s no such thing as a media junket—just the rare chance a young writer might be invited along for an adventure. Crowe spends his teens politely turning down the drugs and turning on his tape recorder.

He talks his journalism teacher into giving him class credit for his road trip covering Led Zeppelin’s 1975 tour, which lands him—and the band—on the cover of Rolling Stone. He embeds with David Bowie as the sequestered genius transforms himself into a new persona: the Thin White Duke. Why did Bowie give Crowe such unprecedented access? “Because you’re young enough to be honest,” Bowie tells him.


Youth and humility are Crowe’s ticket into the Eagles’ dressing room in 1972, where Glenn Frey vows to keep the band together forever; to his first major interview with Kris Kristofferson; to earning the trust of icons like Gregg Allman and Joni Mitchell, who had sworn to never again speak to Rolling Stone. It’s a magical odyssey, the journey of a teenage writer waved through the door to find his fellow dreamers, music geeks, and lifelong community. It’s a path that leads him to writing and directing some of the most beloved films of the past forty years, from Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Say Anything... to Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous. His movies often resonate with the music of the artists he first met as a journalist, including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the Who, and Pearl Jam.


The Uncool is also a surprisingly intimate family drama. If you’ve seen Almost Famous, you may think you know this story—but you don’t. For the first time, Crowe opens up about his formative years in Palm Springs and pays tribute to his father, a decorated Army officer who taught him the irreplaceable value of the human voice. Crowe also offers a full portrait of his mother, whose singular spirit helped shape him into an unconventional visionary.


With its vivid snapshots of a bygone era and a celebration of creativity and connection, this memoir is an essential read for music lovers or anyone chasing their wildest dreams. At the end of that roller-coaster journey, you might just find what you were looking for: your place in the world.


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For the Fantasy Fanatic

The Hymn to Dionysus

Natasha Pulley


A timely reimagining of the story of Dionysus-Greek god of ecstasy, revelry, and ruin-and a captivating queer love story for readers of The Song of Achilles and Elektra.


Raised in a Greek legion, Phaidros has been taught to follow his commander's orders at all costs. But when Phaidros rescues a baby from a fire at Thebes's palace, his commander's orders cease to make sense: Phaidros is forced to abandon the blue-eyed boy at a temple, and to keep the baby's existence a total secret.


Years later, struggling with panic attacks and flashbacks, Phaidros is enlisted by the Queen to find her son, Thebes' young crown prince, who has vanished to escape an arranged marriage.

The Hymn to Dionysus

Natasha Pulley


A timely reimagining of the story of Dionysus-Greek god of ecstasy, revelry, and ruin-and a captivating queer love story for readers of The Song of Achilles and Elektra.


Raised in a Greek legion, Phaidros has been taught to follow his commander's orders at all costs. But when Phaidros rescues a baby from a fire at Thebes's palace, his commander's orders cease to make sense: Phaidros is forced to abandon the blue-eyed boy at a temple, and to keep the baby's existence a total secret.


Years later, struggling with panic attacks and flashbacks, Phaidros is enlisted by the Queen to find her son, Thebes' young crown prince, who has vanished to escape an arranged marriage.

The search leads him to a blue-eyed witch named Dionysus, whose guidance is as wise as the events that surround him are strange. In Dionysus's company, Phaidros witnesses sudden outbursts of riots and unrest, and everywhere Dionysus goes, rumors follow about a new god, one sired by Zeus but lost in a fire.


In The Hymn to Dionysus, bestselling author Natasha Pulley transports us to an ancient empire on the edge of ruin to tell an utterly captivating queer love story about a man needing a god to remind him how to be a human.


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Assassin’s Apprentice

Robin Hobb


Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father’s gruff stableman. He is treated as an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz’s blood runs the magic Skill—and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family.

 

As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.


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Assassin’s Apprentice

Robin Hobb


Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father’s gruff stableman. He is treated as an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz’s blood runs the magic Skill—and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family.

 

As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.


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Assassin’s Apprentice

Robin Hobb


Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father’s gruff stableman. He is treated as an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz’s blood runs the magic Skill—and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family.

 

As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.


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For the History Buff

Black Moses

Caleb Gayle


The remarkable story of Edward McCabe, a Black man who tried to establish a Black state within the United States.


In this paradigm-shattering work of American history, Caleb Gayle recounts the extraordinary tale of Edward McCabe, a Black man who championed the audacious idea to create a state within the Union governed by and for Black people — and the racism, politics, and greed that thwarted him.


As the sweeping changes and brief glimpses of hope brought by the Civil War and Reconstruction began to wither, anger at the opportunities available to newly freed Black people were on the rise. As a result, both Blacks and whites searched for new places to settle.

Black Moses

Caleb Gayle


The remarkable story of Edward McCabe, a Black man who tried to establish a Black state within the United States.


In this paradigm-shattering work of American history, Caleb Gayle recounts the extraordinary tale of Edward McCabe, a Black man who championed the audacious idea to create a state within the Union governed by and for Black people — and the racism, politics, and greed that thwarted him.


As the sweeping changes and brief glimpses of hope brought by the Civil War and Reconstruction began to wither, anger at the opportunities available to newly freed Black people were on the rise. As a result, both Blacks and whites searched for new places to settle.

That was when Edward McCabe, a Black businessman and a rising political star in the American West, set in motion his plans to found a state within the Union for Black people to live in and govern. His chosen site: Oklahoma, a place that the U.S. government had deeded to Indigenous people in the 1830s when it forced thousands of them to leave their homes under Indian Removal, which became known as the Trail of Tears.


McCabe lobbied politicians in Washington, D.C., Kansas, and elsewhere as he exhorted Black people to move to Oklahoma to achieve their dreams of self-determination and land ownership. His rising profile as a leader and spokesman for Black people as well as his willingness to confront white politicians led him to become known as Black Moses. And like his biblical counterpart, McCabe nearly made it to the promised land but was ultimately foiled by politics, business interests, and the growing ambitions of white settlers who also wanted the land.


In Black Moses, Gayle brings to vivid life the world of Edward McCabe: the Black people who believed in his dream of a Black state, the white politicians who didn't, and the larger challenges of confronting the racism and exclusion that bedeviled Black people's attempts to carve a place in America for themselves. Gayle draws from extraordinary research and reporting to reveal an America that almost was.


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We The People: A History of the U.S. Constitution

Jill Lepore


The U.S. Constitution is among the oldest constitutions in the world but also one of the most difficult to amend. Jill Lepore, Harvard professor of history and law, explains why in We the People, the most original history of the Constitution in decades--and an essential companion to her landmark history of the United States, These Truths.


Published on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding--the anniversary, too, of the first state constitutions--We the People offers a wholly new history of the Constitution. "One of the Constitution's founding purposes was to prevent change," Lepore writes. "Another was to allow for change without violence."

We The People: A History of the U.S. Constitution

Jill Lepore


The U.S. Constitution is among the oldest constitutions in the world but also one of the most difficult to amend. Jill Lepore, Harvard professor of history and law, explains why in We the People, the most original history of the Constitution in decades--and an essential companion to her landmark history of the United States, These Truths.


Published on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding--the anniversary, too, of the first state constitutions--We the People offers a wholly new history of the Constitution. "One of the Constitution's founding purposes was to prevent change," Lepore writes. "Another was to allow for change without violence."

We The People: A History of the U.S. Constitution

Jill Lepore


The U.S. Constitution is among the oldest constitutions in the world but also one of the most difficult to amend. Jill Lepore, Harvard professor of history and law, explains why in We the People, the most original history of the Constitution in decades--and an essential companion to her landmark history of the United States, These Truths.


Published on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding--the anniversary, too, of the first state constitutions--We the People offers a wholly new history of the Constitution. "One of the Constitution's founding purposes was to prevent change," Lepore writes. "Another was to allow for change without violence."

Relying on the extraordinary database she has assembled at the Amendments Project, Lepore recounts centuries of attempts, mostly by ordinary Americans, to realize the promise of the Constitution. Yet nearly all those efforts have failed. Although nearly twelve thousand amendments have been introduced in Congress since 1789, and thousands more have been proposed outside its doors, only twenty-seven have ever been ratified.


More troubling, the Constitution has not been meaningfully amended since 1971. Without recourse to amendment, she argues, the risk of political violence rises. So does the risk of constitutional change by presidential or judicial fiat.


Challenging both the Supreme Court's monopoly on constitutional interpretation and the flawed theory of "originalism," Lepore contends in this "gripping and unfamiliar story of our own past" that the philosophy of amendment is foundational to American constitutionalism. The framers never intended for the Constitution to be preserved, like a butterfly, under glass, Lepore argues, but expected that future generations would be forever tinkering with it, hoping to mend America by amending its Constitution through an orderly deliberative and democratic process.


Lepore's remarkable history seeks, too, to rekindle a sense of constitutional possibility. Congressman Jamie Raskin writes that Lepore "has thrown us a lifeline, a way of seeing the Constitution neither as an authoritarian straitjacket nor a foolproof magic amulet but as the arena of fierce, logical, passionate, and often deadly struggle for a more perfect union." At a time when the Constitution's vulnerability is all too evident, and the risk of political violence all too real, We the People, with its shimmering prose and pioneering research, hints at the prospects for a better constitutional future, an amended America.


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Don’t see what you’re looking for? View our entire Holiday Gift Guide on our Bookshop and Libro sites. Happy Holidays!

Man signing a book; woman smiles. Three books on a table, brick wall background.

Lioness Spotlights Local: Tanya Athar-Jogee

By Ainsley Shaw • February 20, 2026
Local author Tanya Athar-Jogee talks with us about her and her father, Aqueel "Al" Athar’s debut novel, Tiny Glimmers of Light.
Man holding a book titled

Lioness Spotlights Local: Kevin Hwang

By Ainsley Shaw • February 16, 2026
Local author Kevin Hwang talks with us about the inspiration for and favorite parts of writing his medical thriller, The Regression Strain.
A person signing a book at a table in a bookstore. Shelves of books in the background.

Independent Bookstore Supports Local Authors & Community

February 12, 2026
An independent bookstore supports local authors and artists by featuring their work, hosting signings, and helping them connect with readers. We give artists space to showcase their creations and organize events that bring people together. This article explores how independent bookstores support local authors, artists, and communities, strengthen the economy, uplift new voices, and offer experiences that large retailers can't match. Why Independent Bookstores Are Vital to Local Communities Libro.fm's reported growth in 2025 points to a renewed interest in supporting community-rooted bookstores. Independent bookstores act as anchors for neighborhood connection, creativity, and learning. Unlike large retailers, we are locally owned and community-driven, often reflecting the values, voices, and interests of the people we serve. An independent bookstore supports local authors by creating direct pathways between creators and readers. Key local bookstore economic contributions include: Offering curated selections based on local readership Creating safe, inclusive spaces for dialogue and exploration Hosting events that foster education and cultural literacy Supporting local talent, ensuring an independent bookstore supports local authors and artists, is visible and impactful Platforms like Libro.fm further expand this independent bookstore community impact by offering audiobook options that directly support independent bookstores. Instead of defaulting to large corporate platforms, Libro.fm lets customers choose a local bookstore to support with every audiobook purchase . This partnership model helps preserve neighborhood bookstores' financial independence and gives readers a conscious alternative to support the voices and spaces we value. How Lioness Books Supports Local Authors and Creators Lioness Books was founded with a clear mission: to elevate local voices and make books more accessible across the community. As a mobile used bookseller , it meets readers where they are and makes space for authors whose work reflects regional experiences and diverse perspectives. Here’s how Lioness Books leads in independent bookstore supports local authors: Featuring self-published and small-press authors on mobile shelves Offering book placement without the barriers typical of large distributors Promoting local titles at pop-ups and markets across the region Collaborating directly with writers to understand and represent their work Local creators gain visibility, credibility, and sales opportunities they might not access through traditional outlets. Readers benefit from authentic, relevant stories they can’t find on algorithm-driven platforms. Top Events at Independent Bookstores That Boost Local Engagement Community events are a key part of how an independent bookstore supports local authors and deepens engagement. These gatherings offer more than marketing; we build relationships and foster shared learning. Common high-impact events include: Author Readings and Book Signings : Introduce new voices and connect readers with the people behind the stories Writing Workshops : Offer skill-building and peer feedback in a supportive environment Local Book Fairs : Showcase multiple authors and artists in one accessible space Themed Book Clubs : Encourage community discussion around local or underrepresented narratives Lioness Books curates events that match the interests of each neighborhood it serves. Whether through a weekend market or a library partnership, these experiences bring books to life. The Economic Impact of Independent Bookstores on Local Communities Every dollar spent at an independent bookstore stays in the local economy longer. Unlike large retailers, these businesses reinvest their revenue into their communities by hiring locally, sourcing from nearby vendors, and partnering with other small enterprises. Key economic benefits:  Job Creation : Supporting employment for local staff, authors, and artists Local Spending : Encouraging more money to circulate within the community Small Business Growth : Offering shelf space or collaboration to other local entrepreneurs When an independent bookstore supports local authors, it’s part of a broader system of economic empowerment. Mobile models like Lioness Books extend this impact by reaching communities that may not have access to brick-and-mortar literary spaces . How Independent Bookstores Create Unique Customer Experiences Independent bookstores stand out by making the book-buying experience personal, meaningful, and reflective of the local community. At Lioness Books, each pop-up shop is curated for the neighborhood, drawing on local interests and seasonal themes that show how an independent bookstore supports local authors through intentional selection. Elements of a unique experience include: Personalized Recommendations : Staff and owners often know their readers and can suggest titles that fit their interests Community-Centered Curation : Inventory reflects regional authors, issues, and artistic movements A Welcoming, Low-Pressure Environment : Visitors are encouraged to browse, ask questions, and linger This personalized approach builds long-term loyalty. It also supports discovery, introducing readers to local authors and artists they might never find through major online platforms. The Role of Independent Bookstores in Supporting Local Artists Beyond books, independent bookstores play a vital role in elevating local visual artists, illustrators, and makers. By offering space to display or sell creative work, we help artists gain exposure and connect with new audiences. How Lioness Books contributes: Partnering with visual artists for cover design, bookmarks, and promotional materials Featuring local artwork at pop-up events Creating collaborative storytelling opportunities between writers and visual artists This integrated support reinforces the cultural importance of independent bookstores that support local authors and creative communities alike. It turns each visit into a multidimensional experience. Why Supporting Independent Bookstores Matters for Your Community Supporting independent bookstores is an investment in your community’s cultural and economic future. These stores preserve access to diverse stories, encourage lifelong learning, and create spaces that reflect your neighborhood’s unique character. Why it matters: Literacy and Education : Offering affordable, relevant books for all ages Cultural Representation : Uplifting local voices and marginalized perspectives Community Resilience : Strengthening local economies and relationships When you choose an independent bookstore that supports local authors, you’re helping to shape a literary ecosystem rooted in authenticity, accessibility, and care. How Community Engagement at Lioness Books Drives Long-Term Success Lioness Books succeeds by building strong, local relationships through a community-first approach that shows how an independent bookstore supports local authors in real, measurable ways. Here’s how that community engagement with independent bookstores translates into long-term success: Consistent Local Presence: Lioness Books brings books directly to neighborhoods, schools, markets, and community events, meeting readers where they are while reinforcing how an independent bookstore supports local authors beyond a traditional storefront. Responsive Feedback Loops: Customer and author input directly shapes inventory, event programming, and partnership decisions, ensuring offerings stay relevant. Support for Local Talent: Through visible, accessible promotion and collaboration, Lioness strengthens the ecosystem of support for independent bookstores, local authors, and creators. Trust-Building Through Repetition: Familiarity builds loyalty. When readers see Lioness show up regularly with thoughtful recommendations and local titles, they return, and they tell others. Sustainable, Values-Driven Growth: Rather than chasing trends, Lioness focuses on steady, community-aligned growth. This creates a strong foundation for lasting impact. Lioness Books proves that when bookstores put people first, loyalty follows. With each pop-up, partnership, and conversation, it demonstrates what a meaningful independent bookstore supports local authors and achieves for readers and communities alike. Support Local Stories and Be Part of Your Community’s Literary Future Independent bookstores thrive when communities engage with them. By visiting Lioness Books, attending local events, sharing the work of regional authors, or simply spreading the word, you help strengthen a bookstore model built on trust, access, and local impact. Your involvement shows how an independent bookstore supports local authors, ensuring that meaningful stories continue to find their readers, right where they belong. See Where Lioness Books Is Popping Up Next Frequently Asked Questions 1. How do independent bookstores support local authors and artists? Independent bookstores support local authors and artists by featuring their books in-store and online, hosting readings and signings, and promoting their work through curated recommendations. We provide access to audiences that authors may not reach otherwise and help build long-term visibility within the community. 2. Why do Indie Bookstores' author events matter to the community? Indie bookstores' author events reflect the identity and needs of the neighborhoods they serve. They create spaces for connection, offer educational and cultural programming, and support the local economy by reinvesting revenue into nearby businesses, authors, and artists. 3. What events help bookstores engage local artists? Events such as art shows, collaborative exhibits, live painting sessions, and cross-disciplinary showcases (e.g., poetry readings paired with visual art) give artists visibility and create engaging experiences for visitors. These events strengthen connections between the creative community and the public. 4. How can bookstores drive community growth? Bookstores foster community growth by supporting literacy, promoting local talent, creating inclusive gathering spaces, and generating economic activity through local partnerships. Their presence contributes to a culturally vibrant, economically resilient community. Key Takeaways Independent bookstore support for local authors creates visibility, access, and long-term opportunity for emerging voices. Events and curated offerings help bookstores connect communities through shared stories and creative expression. Local economic impact grows when bookstores source from and collaborate with nearby writers, artists, and vendors. Platforms like Libro.fm extend support by giving audiobook listeners a way to support independent bookstores. Community-centered models, like Lioness Books, build trust, loyalty, and sustainable relationships. Supporting indie bookstores is an investment in education, culture, and local resilience.
Hands working on a damaged book, applying glue. Other damaged books are on the table.

7 Must‑Read Books to Help You Understand & Appreciate Bookbinding & Book Restoration

January 16, 2026
Master the basics of bookbinding and restoration with these top 7 books. Build skills that last, browse our beginner-friendly picks now.
Open book with pages fanned out, illuminated by warm light.

Lioness Spotlights Local: Raven Vervain

By Ainsley Shaw • December 28, 2025
Local author and poet Raven Vervain talks with us about her debut writing collection, The Murder in my Garden and her upcoming book, Everyone has a Shotgun for a Spine (to be released on June 21, 2026) along with her zine-making process.
Steam train traveling, billowing gray smoke against a cloudy sky.

Book Review: Train Dreams by Dennis Johnson

By Biff Rushton • December 22, 2025
From the frontier to the screen; the enduring ache of Train Dreams.
Christmas tree made of books with a small tree on top, against a red background.

15 Classic Christmas Books of All Time You Should Be Reading Now

December 19, 2025
Celebrate the season with 15 classic Christmas books for kids, teens, and adults, featuring mystery, magic, and holiday favorites.
Black headphones resting on a fan of open books, top view.

12 Bedtime Audiobooks That Will Surely Help You Sleep

November 13, 2025
Find 12 soothing bedtime audiobooks for adults, kids, and toddlers with gentle stories and meditations to support better sleep and calm nights.
A hand holding an open, worn green book against a black background.

Local Author Spotlight: Kevin Ashton

By Ainsley Shaw • October 29, 2025
Local author Kevin Ashton talks with us about his upcoming book The Story of Stories , in which he outlines the history and development of human storytelling from night fires to the contemporary digital age. Look out for the release of Ashton’s book on March 3, 2026. Visit our Bookshop or Libro sites to pre-order The Story of Stories.
Close-up of rusty barbed wire against a blurred sepia background.

The Gulag Archipelago: A Voice of Necessity

By Biff Rushton • October 17, 2025
Book Review by Biff Rushton