If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent many happy hours perusing the shelves at your local brick-and-mortar bookstore. And in spite of the age of ordering everything online, bookstores continue to thrive.
How do they do it?
Well, local independent bookstores build community and offer personalized recommendations. They hold author events and host bookclubs to keep on top of all the new reads. It’s so much more fun to pick up books, flip through them, and ask booksellers for advice than it is to order online and hope you’ll like whatever arrives.
We’re fortunate to be home to more than one independent bookstore in the Petoskey Area. Add to that a used bookstore in downtown Petoskey, a book festival in Harbor Springs, public library sales, and tons of gift book offerings, and the Petoskey Area is a spot for a literary vacation.
Between the Covers is a beloved Harbor Springs institution, and the owner contributes to the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book each year. Stop in for Pie Fridays! Photo Credit: Between the Covers
Local indies: Between the Covers
Between the Covers has been around as a “mainstay on Main Street” since 1983. Current owner Katie Boeckl has been selling books and gifts in the 1,000 sq. ft. Harbor Springs shop since 2013.
“We pride ourselves on the fact that our small footprint makes us highly selective about what we put on our shelves,” Boeckl said.
Boeckl has been a bookseller for many years and has also worked in publishing. When she got the call that Between the Covers was for sale and would soon shut down without a buyer, she took a gamble on the business. Now, she’s transformed the storefront into a full-time endeavor.
Between the Covers is a bright, colorful general bookstore carrying all genres. While they stock commercial fiction, the store tends more towards literary fiction, including foreign lit, and they have a robust nonfiction section. Their children’s book section, encompassing babies through teens, is one of the most popular areas of the store. Boeckl said she’s seen a resurgence of interest in beautifully-packaged anthologies of folktales and myths in recent times.
Bibiophiles also visit the bookstore for their unique specials, such as Pie Fridays, a monthly event where everyone who makes a purchase over $25 gets a free slice of homemade pie. Between the Covers promotes Jólabókaflóðið (pronounced yola-boca-flod), the Icelandic tradition of gifting and reading books on Christmas Eve, enjoyed alongside a mug of hot chocolate.
Harbor Springs Festival of the Book, held for three days each fall and featuring dozens of incredible authors, is a huge draw to the region, with tickets selling out within hours. Between the Covers is the official festival bookstore, and Boeckl works hard to help bring the event to life each year.
“If you want to go to the festival, get their newsletter and sign up early,” she suggested.
Jólabókaflóðið books with hot chocolate, art supplies, puzzles, gift certificates, and autographed first editions are some of Between the Covers’ suggestions for gift givers seeking the perfect present. Sign up for the newsletter on their website for their annual gift-giving guide.
Local indies: Dust & Blush COMING SOON
Slated to launch in spring 2026 in Boyne City, Dust & Blush will feature romance novels in all their glory. Store owner Rachael Hilliard explained that today’s novels aren’t just classic tales with Fabio on the cover. Romance includes subgenres like romantasy, paranormal romance, dark romance, sports romance, and romantic comedy titles.
Hilliard was born in Petoskey and went to school in Pellston. After a career in the Air Force, she’s excited to return to her northern Michigan community and share her love of romance. She’s also worked for the past few years as a book influencer with publishing companies and writers’ content teams, and she’ll be bringing those authorly connections with her.
Dust & Blush will feature a mocktail lounge serving non-alcoholic beverages, a drip-coffee bar, author events and signings, dinner and movie parties, and midnight releases. And, of course, lots of books and merch.
Hilliard has dreamed of opening a bookstore since she was eight years old. She recently decided to manifest her dream as a safe space where people can celebrate books and cultivate community.
“Dust & Blush will be a space for readers to celebrate stories they love, find new friendships, and gain a feeling of belonging,” Hilliard said. “I want it to feel like a home away from home.”
McLean & Eakin children’s section is a beloved section of the store, and there are two stories of fiction, nonfiction, games, and gifts to explore. Photo Credit: McLean & Eakin
Local Indies: McLean & Eakin
Petoskey’s McLean & Eakin has been a downtown staple since 1992. The cozy, two-story location carries all genres and hosts a colorful and robust kids section, shelves of expertly-curated staff picks, a wall of literary fiction, an awesome YA section, tons of games and nonfiction books downstairs, and a really delightful staff.
McLean and & Eakin has been family owned for its entire existence. Julie Norcross established the bookstore, and her son, Matt Norcross, and his wife, Jessilyn, eventually took over.
The booksellers are all about giving customers recommendations for books and games. Event coordinator Kelsie King-Duff said it’s one of their favorite things to do.
“Everyone who works here is an avid reader,” she said. “Staff members are very open about their reading tastes, so there’s always someone around to find that perfect fit.”
Looking for a gift? Aside from gift cards, McLean & Eakin carries award-winning games, new vinyl records, puzzles, book-themed apparel, fun gift books, calendars and journals, and branded accoutrements.
“There’s a big focus on strategy games and those you might not encounter at a big box store,” King-Duff said.
Grandparents are fond of dropping off lists of grandkids’ names with their ages, popping out for shopping or lunch, and coming back to stacks of books to choose from, each carefully selected by McLean & Eakin staff.
The bookshop boasts multiple book clubs, with dedicated shelf space near the register for their selections. And well-known authors and publishers visit the store regularly to share new releases. Sign up for their newsletter for more information about events, news, and book reviews.
Petoskey’s newest used bookstore lives downtown, just a few stores down from its parent shop, McLean & Eakin. Photo Credit: McLean & Eakin
Used books: The Archives
It’s been a minute since Petoskey had a used book store. McLean & Eakin changed that by opening The Archives just down the street from their original location in downtown Petoskey in 2025. The bookstore carries a thoughtfully-curated selection of used books of all genres, from YA fiction to mystery, adult fiction, fantasy, nonfiction, and younger children’s books.
The Archives periodically accepts used books, and offers gift cards for a portion of their resale value in return. Check out their website for more information.
Used books: Local libraries
Libraries are a source of hidden treasure. Not only do you get to check books out for free and attend awesome classes and cultural events, they often sell used books for cheap. I’ve gotten new releases of books for just a few dollars, and I visit at least one of the Petoskey District Library’s big sales every year. Proceeds go to support library programming, so it’s a great way to give back to this community. Visit the downtown Petoskey Library, the Harbor Springs Library, Crooked Tree District Library, or the Boyne District Library to browse.
Happymess in Alanson stocks loads of vintage and antique books, as you can see from this stack of Hemingway masterpieces. Photo Credit: Happymess
Gifts and specialty books
Alanson:
Happymess, an antique store in downtown Alanson (ooh, just around the corner from The Dutch Oven Bakery) carries a wide selection of vintage and antique books.
Boyne City:
Fibershed Yarn and Fiber Arts carries knitting and fiber-based books in downtown Boyne City.
Inspired Living has a large selection of nonfiction metaphysical, inspirational, and self-help books. They also carry fiction books that have commonly been banned.
Harbor Springs
Rocking Horse Toy Company sells board books for babies and toddlers, as well as activity, sticker, and coloring books.
Pellston:
Spare Room Antiques stocks mostly historical and contemporary nonfiction, with a focus on Michigan and Great Lakes history.
Petoskey:
American Spoon carries a small collection of gorgeous food-related tomes, plus their delectable sweet and savory concoctions.
Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts stocks humorous gift books, like small tomes full of Dad jokes.
NorthGoods is a great spot to pick up local flair: books on Petoskey stones, morel hunting, waterfalls guides, northern history, and weird Michigan.
Rocking Horse Toy Company sells board books for babies and toddlers, as well as activity, sticker, and coloring books.
If you’re the kind of person who stays up into the wee hours of the night reading juicy novels and harrowing nonfiction by a flashlight when you should be sleeping, I can relate. Lucky for us all, the Petoskey area is unusually rich in bookstores and gift shops. Stop by one of our fabulous purveyors of fine literature, and make sure to tell them you heard about them here!
About the Author: Jen DeMoss is a newcomer to the Petoskey area and loves northern Michigan. You can catch her paddling a canoe, hiking a trail, or swimming in Lake Michigan as often as the weather cooperates. She’d love to help you make the most of your time in this paradise she now calls home.