That's Novel Books

Description: Used bookstore at Camp North End with bright floors, tall shelves of gently loved paperbacks and hardcovers, and a small selection of new titles from local authors. The space is connected to a coworking hub and set up as a gathering spot, with cozy seating, spots to read or work on a laptop, and coffee available. Regular author events, book clubs, and community gatherings make it an easy place to drop in, browse for a while, and then wander out into the rest of Camp North End’s food stalls, art, and outdoor seating.

Comments: A friend of mine mentioned she attends a Silent Book Club here. I'd never heard of that concept, and now that I have, I love it. You meet up with a group of people, you all bring a book, you read in silence for a set amount of time, and after you've all read, you then socialize. It's a beautiful concept and now I want to try it. Our attention spans are lower than ever with digital devices pulling us away from reading all the time. Having a community to just sit and read with, that's just wonderful man.

This spot is in Camp North End, a third place in and of itself, which makes the whole area worth visiting. On warm days, the seating area right outside the shop is great. It's in a sort of enclave section that makes it feel snug. And back behind the building there's a great spot with those swing bench things that's perfect for reading in seclusion. When they host events, they expand into nearby Hygge Coworking, so while the shop is small, they end up with plenty of space to host large groups.