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Best Bookstores in Boston for Small Business Saturday

Saturday, November 30th is Small Business Saturday, an initiative that encourages consumers to shop local for the holiday season. This year, hundreds of authors will be bookselling for a day on Small Business Saturday, thanks to Indies First, the brainchild of beloved writer Sherman Alexie. Simon & Schuster, a CBS company, and its authors recommend you start your local shopping November 30th in a bookstore, where might just see some of your favorite authors hand-selling their favorite novels!

Here are a few wonderful bookstores in the Boston area to support on Small Business Saturday!

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(photo credit: tridentbookscafe.com)

Trident Booksellers & Cafe
338 Newbury St
Boston, MA 02115
tridentbookscafe.com

When you get tired of hunting for designer goods on Newberry Street, pop into Trident for a book and a treat. Their breakfast sandwiches are a must and the extensive tea selection makes it a perfect choice for a delightfully bookish afternoon. Browse the shelves while you wait for your meal and you might just find a new series to dive into!

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(photo credit: harvard.com)

Harvard Book Store
1256 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138
harvard.com

Shop like an Ivy Leaguer at Harvard Book Store. Their enormous selection of new, remainder, and used books means you're bound to score a deal. Friendly staff, frequent buyer's program, and a solid line up of author events make this one of Boston's best. Some authors expected to drop in for Small Business Saturday are: Katherine Powers, Clea Simon, Kim McLarin, and Steve Yarbrough.

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(photo credit: brooklinebooksmith-shop.com)

Brookline Booksmith
279 Harvard St
Brookline, MA 02446
brooklinebooksmith.com

With its impeccably curated bookshelves, large used book cellar, and gift room Brookline Booksmith makes shopping simple: whether a booklover on your list or a hostess you need a candle for, there is no limit to the gifts you can find her. Literature lovers can join book clubs like the Small Press Book Club or attend any of their popular reading series, like the Bash Reading Series.

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credit: Bruno Vincent/Getty Images

Porter Square Books
25 White Street
Cambridge, MA 02140
portersquarebooks.com

Porter Square is a cozy store with a solid selection, thoughtful staff, and delicious Vietnamese soft rolls in their café, Café Zing. Bestselling authors Jill Lepore and Anita Silvey will be working alongside the already terrific staff to support Indies First this year.

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(credit: store.thecoop.com)

Concord Bookshop
65 Main St
Concord, MA 01742
concordbookshop.com

First founded over sixty years ago as a lending library, the Concord Bookshop continues to serve the Concord community with a diverse selection of high quality books. Though the store has moved locations a handful of time in those decades, the store remains a tried and true destination for Concord's readers. Local authors in Concord include New York Times bestsellers Doris Kearns Goodwin and Gregory Maguire.

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(photo credit: commonwealthbooks.com)

Commonwealth Books – Two Locations
Commonwealth Books – Downtown Crossing
9 Spring Lane
Boston, MA 02109

Commonwealth Books - Old South
2 Milk Street
Boston, MA 02108
commonwealthbooks.com

Possibly Boston's most eclectic bookstore, a curious reader will be amazed by what they might be able to spot here. Commonwealth specializes in hard-to-find and out-of-print treasures. Whether you're a collector hunting for a specific first edition or someone who could spend hours sifting through the stacks looking for something unusual, this is the bookstore for you.

Watch Simon & Schuster authors talk about the importance of booksellers and independent bookstores in their lives and communities here.

These bookstore tips provided by Simon & Schsuter, a CBS company. For more information about Simon & Schuster's support of independent booksellers, click here.

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