More than books: Why independent bookstores are thriving on the North Fork and Shelter Island

To paraphrase Mark Twain, the death of the independent American bookstore has been greatly exaggerated — especially on the North Fork and Shelter Island, home to five uniquely independent shops.

It was not long ago that neighborhood bookstores were thought to be going the way of the dinosaur, crushed by overpowering online retailers offering low prices and free shipping.

Defying the trend nationally, membership in the trade group American Booksellers Association (ABA) has grown by more than 500 over the past year, to 3,417 retail locations — nearly triple what it was a decade ago and the highest level since the late 1990s.

Unlike travel agencies and photography shops, which also dotted nearly every town at one time, independent bookstores are making a comeback. In 2025, some 422 independent bookshops opened, marking a 31% increase and, more importantly, effectively closing the chapter on the demise of the category.

In May, more than 2,000 bookstores celebrated Independent Bookstore Day nationwide, breaking the previous record. What’s happened?

It turns out that, for many, buying a book is often about more than buying a book.

“We are always available to help shoppers find that next great read, in person,” emphasizes Scott Raulsome, proprietor of Burton’s Bookstore on Greenport’s Front Street.

‘Something for everyone’

At the same location for more than 50 years, Burton’s has provided everything from bestsellers to classics to children’s books as readers grow tired of technology-based “digital fatigue” and often want something more than a good read. “There are few things booksellers enjoy more than recommending a lesser-known book to someone they think may enjoy it,” Raulsome adds.

“Where you bought that book is a part of the experience,” says Serina Kaasik, manager of Shelter Island’s Black Cat Books, which has been buying and selling used books since 1996. “It’s something we talk about when discussing a book.”

Jenny Schlecht has managed The Southold Book Cottage for 35 years. The store, which operates in a separate building behind the Southold Library, sells only gently used, donated books and is open Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., “almost year-round,” from roughly mid-January to around Thanksgiving. The cozy yet lively store accepts only cash, which is not a problem since paperbacks sell for 50 cents while hardcovers regularly sell for a few dollars, often less.

“We’re strictly run by volunteers,” Schlecht says. “There’s something for everyone here.”

Similarly, the Yellow Barn, a gently used bookshop adjacent to the Riverhead Library, was originally the Perkins Family Carriage House, built circa 1873. It was granted landmark status in 2017. The Barn is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and one Saturday per month, depending on the library’s program schedule. Check the website for details. The unheated Barn is open from May through mid-October and is staffed by one librarian and several volunteers who unload boxes of donated books, arrange shelves and assist customers. It also features CDs, puzzles and games.

“People want a good read in the summer, and there are great finds to be found here,” says librarian Tom Arcuri. “Strangers discuss what they’ve read in the aisles.” Paperbacks sell for 25 cents, while hardcovers, including coffee-table books and picture books, sell for $2. Fiction is shelved alphabetically by author’s last name, while everything else is organized by category, including cookbooks, travel guides, history, health and mysteries.

Bookstores are about much more than selling books. Like The Southold Book Cottage, Yellow Barn patrons can find a great read while simultaneously supporting their library.

“It’s a treasure hunt here,” gushes volunteer Theresa Cioffi. “Parents come in with children after library programs and can buy four books for a dollar. It’s easy to say yes. Who doesn’t respond to kindness?”

Jocelyn Kaleita, proprietor of A Book Place in Riverhead, agrees.

“The bookstore offers a means of connection. A local bookstore gets to know its customers. When someone comes in, we can usually make a good recommendation based on that. Our collection reflects our community. We appreciate them, and they appreciate us.”

This summer’s hottest books

What is drawing North Fork readers into its bookshops this summer?

“So-called beach reads tend to be light romances,” says Kaasik. “In times like these, we each need some fiction and fantasy.” Reliable children’s standbys include the “Where’s Waldo?” series as well as Dr. Seuss books. “Men are buying more golf biographies, perhaps because of the U.S. Open being nearby, and local history is popular.”

“‘The Summer I Found You,’ by Jennifer O’Brien, has the bonus of being set on the North Fork,” notes Raulsome, who’s also keen on the prospects of “Contrapposto,” by Dave Eggers, and “The Devotion of Suspect X,” by Keigo Higashino. “While some people’s idea of a beach read is a hefty classic like ‘War and Peace’ or a thick historical biography, every summer there is a handful of books that we just can’t seem to keep in stock.”

Other predicted summer hits are “Land,” by Maggie O’Farrell, “Whistler,” by Ann Patchett, and “The Things We Never Say,” by Elizabeth Strout.

“Summer is time for romantasy,” says Kaleita. The sub-genre mixes complex fantasy worlds with fast-paced romance plots. She adds that thrillers written by women are “big” this summer. In the nonfiction category, memoirs, biographies and books with a wellness focus are popular, as are books by local writers and on local topics. “Anything local always piques interest.”

A sleeper hit this summer may be “I See You’ve Called in Dead,” by John Kenney, in which a down-on-his-luck obituary writer accidentally publishes his own fake obituary and begins attending the wakes and funerals of strangers in an attempt to turn his life around.

“Publishers know what they are doing, and there’s a reason certain books are released during the summer months,” says Raulsome.

Like the resurgence of independent bookstores, publishers may not have all the answers when it comes to determining what will sell. Sidestepping the traditionally byzantine publishing process, a self-published standout this year is “Songbird,” by Rebecca Wright. The surprise hit is a dystopian, enemies-to-lovers romance that gives readers what they always want — lots of twists and turns and memorable characters. The same could be said for the self-published “Theo of Golden,” by Allen Levi. This story of a generous and kindly gentleman living quietly in a fictitious Southern city has sold more than 2.5 million copies. An appearance on the Oprah Winfrey podcast is scheduled for later this summer. It has since been acquired by a major publisher, and rights have been sold in 42 countries.

Joseph J. Finora is the author of Red Like Wine, the North Fork Harbor Vineyard Murders. He is at work on a new novel.