As a Michigan bookworm I have made it my goal to visit as many MI indie bookstores as I can! I love when I visit a new town in state and find an adorable little bookstore. Nothing beats walking through the doors of a new to you indie for the first time. The smell, the atmosphere and the lovely people that sleep and breathe that shop working behind the counter. It’s the absolute best experience!
First up, I am going to start out with an amazing bookshop, only 25 minutes away from my house! This is the ever lovely and always well stocked Schuler Books! This lovely bookstore has 2 locations, the one nearest me in Grand Rapids and the other in Okemos. A few of the highlights to this lovely indie are the sheer number of used and new books as well as the Chapbook Cafe, so after you get your new books you can sit and read!
Next up is my all time favorite, and a bit overwhelming, used bookstore! They do have new books, but Lowry’s really “specializes” is their used book selection. I have gone there for my birthday the past few years and I never leave empty handed. If you collect rare or older editions of books they have shelves crammed full and it is SO much fun to sift through them to find a treasure! This lovely store is located in Three Rivers and there is a fun waffle/breakfast spot you can hit up right around the corner after you shop!
The next two bring you to one of my all time favorite places in Michigan, Traverse City! First up in this lovely city is literally one of my favorite bookshops ever, Brilliant Books. I began going there in 2019, and was so sad I could not visit during the pandemic. I have become a huge online supporter of their’s since the pandemic happened, and their shipping is ridiculously quick! I get books via media mail and they usually arrive to me by the next day which is AMAZING!
Next up in Traverse City is Horizon Books! This lovely shop was introduced to me years ago and is a staple in the community at Traverse! They have a fantastic selection of books and a small cafe that make the atmosphere cozy. My favorite time to visit this store is during the fall, when there’s a bit of a crispness to the air and all you want to do is snuggle in with a good book!
Last but certainly not least is the smallest of the stores, but don’t let that deter you! This LOVELY bookstore in Leeland (right on the edge of Fishtown) is absolutely adorable with it’s white siding and sky blue door. The shelves are filled with books and the atmosphere is that of a cottage town. If you love quaint and unique shops this one is an absolute must!
Whether you live in Michigan or are on a vacation, I highly recommend you check out one of these amazing bookstores! If not, check them out online and give them some support!
Happy reading!
Joyfully Jacquie 