To walk into Literati Bookstore is to step into a space where curiosity still feels sacred. It’s a place built not on algorithms or trends, but on the quiet belief that “finding the right book can change your life,” as owner Hilary Gustafson says.
When Hilary and her husband, Mike, opened Literati in 2013, many thought they were taking on the impossible. “People said, you know, you’re crazy, bookstores are dying,” Gustafson says. “We had a couple landlords we met with when we were trying to rent a space who said, ‘Well, if Borders can’t make it, how do you think you can?’”
But they saw something others didn’t—a model for what an independent bookstore could be. “I saw the ones that were thriving,” Gustafson says. “They curate their inventory specifically to the people in their community, have lots of events, and become a true third place.”
That philosophy transformed Literati into one of Ann Arbor’s most beloved gathering spots, hosting nearly 300 events each year and serving as a home for readers who believe in the serendipity of a bookstore. “When you come to our store,” she says, “you’re not just going to see the bestseller list. You’re going to see authors and publishers you don’t usually see featured—books that are really under the radar.”
Now, that same spirit of discovery is taking flight with Literati Tours, an adventure travel company that invites guests to experience the literary culture of the places they visit. Rooted in the concept of literary travel—exploring the world through the lens of books and writers—each journey invites travelers to visit the places that inspired great works, trace the footsteps of beloved authors, and immerse themselves in the culture that shaped their stories.
The inaugural, six-day journey took place in Paris in October, with Gustafson as its guide. Travelers explored bookshops along the Seine; met rare book dealers and local authors; dined at Drouant, the historic restaurant where France’s top literary prize, the Prix Goncourt, is decided; took a private cooking class at Le Cordon Bleu; and much more.
Literati Tours returns to Paris in April 2026 (why not gift your bookish loved one the trip of a lifetime this holiday season?) and plans to add tours to Ireland next year as well. But wherever literary wanderlust takes them next, the heart of Literati Tours remains the same—an invitation to see the world through the eyes of those who write it.
Learn more at literatitours.com.
“Finding the right book can change your life.”
Literati Tours in 2026
Literati Tours returns to Paris in spring and fall of 2026. These unique, informative travel experiences are designed to help broaden your appreciation of literature and culture all over the world.
Paris April 2026
Dates: April 20-27, 2026
Price: From $6,000 per person
Soak in the iconic romance of Paris in the spring, through a once-in-a-lifetime literary lens. Paris has long been a city of writers, from Romantic-era icons like Victor Hugo to the Lost Generation expatriates, including Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein.
Paris October 2026
Dates: October 19-26, 2026
Price: From $6,000 per person
Paris has nurtured a vibrant literary culture for centuries, and there’s no better time to experience it than autumn on Seine. Stroll the bouquinistes along the river’s banks before learning about the Prix Goncourt, France’s most prestigious literary prize.