Reader Mailbag: How Often Did You Visit A Bookstore Last Year?

In the January 2026 newsletter I asked readers how often they visited a bookstore in the last year.

Here were the responses:

Christine: Well, I can only recall 4 times entering a bookstore in 2025. I know, hard to imagine since I LOVE reading. However, I hit the library at least once a week.

Mark: I probably only go to a new bookstore a few times a year; most of my interest is *not* in what was just published. On the other hand, whenever my wife and I go anywhere, we always go to whatever used bookstores are in the city in which we find ourselves! And, I have a list of desired books with me!

Brenda: DID I visit a bookstore in 2025??? That gave me serious pause, and I was shocked to admit to myself that no, I did not. All purchases were from Amazon or other book publishers online. Mostly I read Kindle Unlimited books (preferably read-and-listen-for-free so I can listen while I work then continue reading after work). Also, I borrowed a lot of LIBBY library books/audio books online.

Judith: not enough! i can afford to go to bookstores.

Chris: Sad to say that I didn’t go to a single brick and mortar book store in 2025. One favorite book store that was near where I live closed the year before because of skyrocketing rents. I still miss that place! While I have some paperbacks and hardbacks at home on my bookshelf, I now mostly read on my Kindle. I’ve found that eBooks are the easiest way to read when on vacation.

Rosemary: : I never go into a bookstore anymore. Majority of my reading in listening or on an eReader. However, I belong to a bookclub, The DeBary Divas, one member of which finds a bookstore in every single town she visits – usually some small boutique, family run store with an eclectic offering.

Phillip: I visited only one bookstore last year. But I live in a small town that’s kind of remote and we don’t have a bookstore. We used to have a used bookstore, but not anymore. Unfortunately it closed when Covid 19 hit and never came back. The closest actual bookstore to me now is a Barnes & Noble in a mall about 65 miles away.

Hollins: Unfortunately, it is a rare event these days. I may have visited Barnes and Noble about 3 times, and I even have 2 gift cards to use up. Otherwise, I go to the library or read eBooks. The only thing I bought at Barnes and Noble last year was a jigsaw puzzle for a Christmas present. I do look at books in other stores when I visit – BJs, Costco, Harris Teeter, etc., but never buy anything there. Other than Barnes and Noble there are no other convenient bookstores where I live.

Pat: Yes, I was in Indigo a few times, both in my hometown and the large one on Bay Street in Toronto. I don’t enjoy it as much as I used to. There is so much other merchandise. A couple of years ago, I went to the children’s section looking for a gift. It seemed to be mostly “franchise “ books and series that looked idiotic. Frankly, it seemed like a toy store with a few books thrown in.

I do most of my book shopping in thrift shops, second hand stores and online for new books.

I long for the magical bookstores that used to exist. I suppose some are still around, I just need to find them.

sven: The only bookstore in the town where I live is a used one which I haven’t been to in years. The recycle and the churches thrift places also have books.With my library card I get the books from the library. They also sell donated books and books that no one takes out anymore. Indigo is two and half hours away from where I live. I do go online there to check on new releases as well as your sites. Keep up the good work!

kat: i didnt go to a bookstore in 2025, i rarely leave my house. i get all my ebooks free from amazon or the library

Pat: Sadly in this town there are no book stores. There was a reused book store called books revisited but it has been closed. The books are still there and they have books on rolling carts and some shelves in the mall walkway but the main collection of books are locked by a sliding gate. It was supposed to be run by a charity with people from the board as clerks.. But no idea when or if it ever is going to reopen.

Joy: I go about every 3 weeks to see what is new resulting in more and more books- eek!!

Veronique: I mostly shop online for my kindle but every year on vacation I spend an afternoon at Snowbound Books in Marquette, Michigan .
Wonderful place: new and old books, children’s books and many books on Michigan.

Sue: I don’t go to bookstores on a regular basis (they are harder to find than they used to be). I rely on the library for my reading materials. I read 3-5 books a month and as a retired person, it would be too costly to keep buying books. That being said, if I am anywhere where they are selling books, I will always spend time looking to get ideas for new books. I do get most of my suggestions from Book Notifications. 🙂 If it appeals to me, it does not matter if it is a new book, or an older one. I do sometimes buy books at the library book sales, then return it to the library when I’m done so they can resell it.

Barbara: I never go to bookstores anymore because our small town doesn’t have one anymore. Also we were without a public library for about five years because vandals burned it down and we lost a lot of local history. The wheels of government turn slowly and we have a small temporary replacement but the city is trying to locate a better piece of property to rebuild a permanent building. The old building was located downtown and was too small to rebuild on with all the new programs they want to add.

I don’t want to drive 35 miles to the nearest bookstore so I haunt Amazon. I usually buy used books so I don’t get them until they have been out for a while. It’s the only way I can afford enough books to keep me reading all year.

My daughter tells me I have enough books already, but she is not a reader so she just doesn’t understand. I’m 80 years old and it is important to me to always have a new book to read. And Amazon is easy to order from. With free shipping on a lot of books, I can afford more books.

Jim: Ha! Good question. I haven’t been in a Book Store or a library in over 20 years. Not since I got my first Kindle.

Chrisse: I’m sorry to say I’ve not been in a bookstore for a long time. I’ve never been a browser so that was never my thing – if I needed a book, I knew which one it was and went and got it – but now that I’ve been e-reading for almost 10 years, I’ve gotten super lazy. And since I can use the Libby app on my phone, I’m never without a book! In fact, a very dear friend of decades has written a trilogy (Timothy F. Nugent – Hansi & Greyling; Leaving ThomasVille; & Inevitable – gay fiction) and, although I’ve purchased all three books (Amazon) I’ve only read one of them. Books are HEAVY, people!!!! ;0)

Toni: Happy New Year Graeme! First of all, I decided to keep track of all the books I have read or listened to this past year and that number was 112! I could not have done it without listening because I am usually doing something else, like driving, while I listen. I loved going into bookstores and picking out my next read. I could never say no to my boys when they wanted a book. I have not been in a bookstore in at least 2 years! I don’t buy books anymore as I have Kindle Unlimited, Everand, and of course I use the library. I will also say that the bookstores are not close to my house either so that is part of it. A new bookstore is opening up nearby-Books A Million- so I will definitely check it out this year! Thanks for Order of Books and Book Notification!

Richard: Hello, I read e-books on my Kobo Book Reader borrowed from the library. Usually 4-6 different books that I’ll jump between. A chapter here, a ld there.

I don’t know how you can read a book in a day. Even with a 21-day lending period I have to re-borrow. You must be speed-reading or skipping over sections.

I’m re-reading the Travis McGee novels by John D. MacDonald for the third time and the richness of language makes me go back and re-read some sentences over and over again.

Carleen: I love new bookshop adventures almost as much as I love discovering new authors! Every trip I’ve taken for many years includes a stop at a local bookstore, and tiny independents are much preferred. I’ve even started pre-shopping; checking out websites for special events while I’ll be in the area or just getting a list together of the most interesting looking establishments. I’m not so much interested in buying books as I am in shopping for books!

By far, my favorite is a tiny shop in Dixon, Illinois, called “Books on First” (of course they have the requisite coffee and pastries, too) which I frequent whenever I’m in the area to visit family. One of the larger stores I thoroughly enjoyed was Powell’s in Portland, Oregon – talk about getting lost in the stacks! I’ve discovered several in Chicago that will require another visit. But a very memorable tiny shop was Spazio Sette Libreria in Rome, Italy – I couldn’t read many of the titles, but the cozy space “smelled right”!!

Maureen: I probably only go into a real bookstore about 6 times a year. I usually go to the new releases to make sure I haven’t missed anything. I usually read on my kindle, although sometimes the books are so expensive and I borrow them from the library instead.

Mimi: You made me think about how many times I visited an actual book store this year and sadly maybe only six times. A couple were to hear an author talk. I did buy books each time. I’ve visited our local library many times over the year. I mostly read on my kindle App and do read every day. Did you know the Kindle App tracks the consecutive days and weeks you’ve read? I’ve read 2,107 days and 388 weeks in a row. I fear I’ve become obsessive about keeping this streak going. Thanks for your newsletter and all you’ve done for books.

Patrizia: When I was much younger (I’m 85 now), just before Christmas my mother would take me to Barnes & Noble. In those days they had only one store. I would ask her how much I could spend? She would say how much can you carry? My mother is long gone. But I cannot resist a bookstore. I am very lucky that I live in a place where there are lots of B&N and small independent bookstores. I go in about every two weeks, otherwise I would need a bigger house.

Judy: Not often enough! This past year we have moved and I had a major mystery so I think about three visits to a Barnes & Noble in 2025. Our new location has a small independent store that I plan on going to this month as well as a long-established used bookstore that is on my list.

As always, though, my first move wherever I am is to get my library card established and use the interlibrary loan system as needed. I am still geared toward reading an actual book and fortunately they are still being published.

Corinne: I visited a bookstore only once in 2025, to buy a Christmas gift. I would LOVE to go regularly, but I just cannot justify spending that kind of money on new books. So I rely on the library, used book sales from libraries and churches (there is a church an hour from me that has a HUGE book sale every year!) and sometimes I will browse the books at Goodwill. There is also a nice big used bookstore about 45 minutes away but I am rarely traveling in that direction. I do have an Audible subscription because I have a lot more time to listen while doing things than to just sit and read. I currently have about 180 books in there. Makes road trips so much easier to listen to a book than to the same old music I’ve been hearing for 30 years!

Thomas: Good afternoon… I think I visited a bookstore a handful of times in 2025. One local store has quite a collection of used books but none of it is computerized. Another bookstore I visited a few times is a bit farther way but they sell frozen pasties that are quite good and that was my reason for going. If I am on vacation and spot a bookstore, I will usually go take a look. I didn’t have a chance to do that in 2025.

Donna: I still have a huge TBR pile of books, so I worked very hard at not buying too many of them in 2025. However, in December, I ended up at Barnes and Noble twice, ending up with five books total. So, I kind of blew my goal out of the water in one fell swoop. LOL

Martha: Too many times as evidenced by the stack of books in my bedroom, living room, office, etc.

Linda: We are fortunate to have 6-7 independent bookstores in an around Pittsburgh Pa. my walk able village (15 min outside of Pgh) has “The Penguin Bookshop that was founded in 1929.
I can walk in the bookshop and just ask for book, and they have it, plus a dog or two to help, and wrapping. They also cater to the many book clubs in the area and are on the Tour of Independent Bookstores. When the bookstore moved to a new location across the street the community showed up to help, amazing turn out. In this day of Kindle, Amazon, and Libby our bookshop is thriving. Bravo.

Linda: We have a quaint little second hand bookstore in our little town. The owner carries a huge selection of used books, new puzzles, games and new books. She also has two white Persian cats, named after authors. Emerson is my favorite. The owner is Susan and she can find any book you want. She is also good and finding a title of a book if you only have a few clues for that book. It is always an adventure to visit. Probably went about 6 times this year. I buy most of my books on Thrift Books, but get great deals on used books at her store.