If April showers haven't yet led to May flowers, don't despair. Nashville's local independent bookstores offer stories aplenty to while away the time. Want to escape to a faraway shore or vicariously fall in love? Make a lifelong friend or scare the pants off yourself? These fine booksellers can offer personalized recommendations when you visit, so don't delay, buy a book today!
Parnassus:
"Parnassus Books is Nashville's independent bookstore for independent people. Our shop was opened in 2011 by author Ann Patchett and her business partner, Karen Hayes. Ann took over as the sole owner in the summer of 2022 following Karen's retirement. Parnassus stocks an extensive and exciting selection of books including fiction, non-fiction, children’s, young adult, and the arts. The store also boasts an extensive local author section. In Greek mythology, Mount Parnassus was the home of literature, learning, and music. We are Nashville's Parnassus, providing a refuge for Nashvillians of all ages who share in our love of the written word.
There's always something new to discover at Parnassus. Explore our carefully curated shelves for your next favorite read, and pet one of our shop dogs while you're at it! Our knowledgeable booksellers share their monthly recommendations over on our blog, Musing, where we also post author interviews and the ever-popular Shop Dog Diaries. We host 300+ events each year; you never know who might walk through our doors next. And these days, we’re actually more than just the one bookstore. We’re an airport bookshop, making sure travelers always have something to read via our Parnassus Books/Hudson Booksellers co-branded store in the Nashville airport." - Sarah Arnold, Marketing and Communications Director
parnassusbooks.net
Novelette:
"Novelette Booksellers is a vibey queer-owned indie bookstore in the heart of East Nashville. We carry a little bit of everything: fiction, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, children's to YA books, non-fiction, and graphic novels. Novelette is a community space dedicated to highlighting marginalized voices and providing a safe hate-free space for anyone in need. The bright aesthetics create a space for joy and silliness in a world that can sometimes feel heavy. Novelette believes in the power of the written word and how it can transform society, one page at a time." - Jordan Tromblee and Deezy Violet, owners
novelettebooksellers.com
The Bookshop:
"The Bookshop opened in East Nashville in 2016. Owner Joelle Herr—who worked as a book editor for nearly two decades before then—thoughtfully researches, considers, and chooses each and every title on the shelves: 'Yes, we have the popular, anticipated titles that readers are looking for, but we also offer unexpected, irresistible gems that most have never even heard of. In this day and age of online shopping, it's so important to offer browsers the delight of exploration and discovery.' Some of the genres in the 500-square-foot 'nook for people who love beautiful books' (our tagline) include cooking, memoir and biography, history, science and nature, music, children's, and fiction." - Joelle Herr, owner
thebookshopnashville.com