Notes from a bookseller

7/25/26: Today, I thought I’d tell you a story I wrote. Comment what book it makes you want to read.

A place where reality becomes gentler for an hour.

You walk out the door with treasure, adventure, pride, and entertainment for hours. You begin to read and find you can’t put it down and it’s 2:30am. Your new D&D dice (aka sparkly math rocks) glitter on your nightstand.

Tomorrow or maybe later, in winter’s grasp, you tuck in with a sock knitting book, needles, and yarn, a blanket on your lap. You think back to how you felt: accepted, celebrated, proud, and relaxed at Bruyere. You crack open the pattern book and the scent that wafts past your nose brings those feelings rushing back.

You smile, pet the dog/cat/miniature goat/snake, and begin to plan your next trip to Bruyere Books & Tea, as you’ve been informed on social media that the tea cafe is open and loose leaf tea is for sale.

Maybe you can’t make the trip anytime soon, which is when you remember you can support Bruyere by shopping on bookshop.org.

Some time later, the books you ordered are sitting on your counter. Your bookish journey has come full circle. You pick as your first read the book with the most appealing cover, or the one your friend recommended. You smile, satisfied with your purchase and the pride you feel for supporting a brand new indie bookstore.

7/7/26: Today was supposed to be my day off. I left the door unlocked for a delivery, and one customer wandered in. Then another. Judy, a 77-year-old woman with rose tattoos, settled into the reading corner for a chat while Sir Wigglesworth decided she was worthy of an introduction. Another customer told me he'd be back because his wife would love the store. Someone else wants to bring his daughters... And all on a day I wasn't supposed to be open!