Independent bookstores are the heartbeats of their communities. They provide culture and community, generate local jobs and sales tax revenue, promote literacy and education, champion and center diverse and new authors, connect readers to books in a personal and authentic way and actively support the right to read and access to books in their communities.
Each week we profile an independent bookstore, sharing what makes each one special and getting their expert and unique book recommendations.
This week we have Back Cove Books in Portland, ME.
What’s your store’s story?
Back Cove Books was founded in the fall of 2022 and is Portland’s newest indie bookstore. We are women-owned and community focused with a layout and atmosphere that invites you to come in and stay awhile.
What makes your independent bookstore unique?
Our mission is deeply rooted in being a community hub. We offer diverse inventory across genres and ages and have cultivated an atmosphere centered around the feeling of belonging. Visitors will find many opportunities to settle into the space: a couch and chairs in our central fiction area, a reading nook in the kids’ corner, an old bank vault that is now home to bookshelves and a reading chair and more.
Back Cove Books also focuses on partnering with local authors, artists and businesses. Our walls feature permanent murals from Rachel Gloria Adams and Bevin Holmberg, and we frequently offer our space to local artists to display their work to patrons. Our events offer a wide range of opportunities to gather.
We are a proud Little League sponsor, and donor to many local and national organizations including but not limited to Portland Maine Public Schools, Mechanics’ Hall, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation.
One percent of all annual sales from our children’s section are donated to the Center for Grieving Children, a local nonprofit that provides a safe space, loving peer support, outreach and education to grieving children, teens, young adults, families and the community.
What’s your favorite section in your store?
The star of our store is our kids’ corner, featuring ample space to get comfy, explore the stacks and read alongside your little ones.
Board books and picture books are located on the lowest shelves, so our youngest readers can access them independently. Murals from local artists adorn the walls, creating an atmosphere of bright, enveloping whimsy. Diversity of character, experience and author are paramount in our children’s inventory so that every visitor has an opportunity to see themself in a story.
What book do you love to recommend to customers and why?
The absolute beauty of bookselling is that it is so individualistic based on what the customer is looking for in terms of atmosphere, emotion, humor, depth and genre – the list goes on. With that said, one of our favorite books of 2024 was “Beautyland” by Marie-Helene Bertino.
Bertino’s writing is unforgivingly emotive, effective, and moving. Somehow she turns a story of a girl who sends missives to her alien world on an old fax machine into one of the most human stories I have ever read.
What book do you think deserves more attention and why?
“Rootless” by Krystle Zara Appiah is one of those books that you start with one school of thought and by the end you have developed an entirely new way of thinking.
In a world where people are so quick to categorize one another into “good” and “bad,” this novel forces us to recognize that the truth about human nature is always more nuanced. Heroes and villains often overlap more than we’d like to admit. This story is the perfect example of being thrown headfirst into a story and watching the narrative’s complexities unfold before your eyes.
Especially in a world where mothers and partners – especially those of color – bear so much emotional and mental labor, this book forces us to consider the toll it takes, on not only the individuals, but also women as a whole in our society.
Why is shopping at local, independent bookstores important?
Shopping indie first is the best way to keep your local communities thriving with jobs, community events, downtowns, places to gather and more. We recognize you when you visit and are thrilled when your kiddo finds a book or series that they can’t put down. In a world that continues to be divisive and with social media changing the ways in which we connect, we provide a place to gather in person and be among community. We encourage you to spend time with us whether or not you are purchasing something this visit. Our staff are your neighbors (not homogenized algorithms) with personalized recommendations for you and your loved ones.
When supporting local businesses (not just local bookstores) you ensure that nearly 70% of the money you spend stays within your local community, compared to 43% when you shop at a chain.
What are some of your store’s events, programs or partnerships coming up this quarter that you would like to share?
Not only do we partner with authors for traditional author events, we also host story times, book clubs, knitting nights with Work in Progress Art Studio, an annual poetry festival, writing nights, holiday events and more.
We are scheming up plans for local artists and illustrators to decorate our windows in real time on Indie Bookstore Day, Saturday, April 26.
We’re also welcoming back Lynn Steger Strong for her release of “The Float Test” in May. She will be in conversation with her dear friend, Rebecca Traister, author of “Good and Mad.”
Check out these books recommended by Back Cove Books:
- “Stag Dance” by Torrey Peters
- “Cranky Makes a Friend” by Phuc Tran
- “Black Flame” by Gretchen Felker-Martin
- Tracey Deonn’s “Legendborn” series
