Philly bibliophiles, are you ready to crawl?<\/p>\n
The Philly Bookstore Crawl<\/a> returns for its third year this Saturday, Aug. 23, with special events and the debut of new bookstores<\/a>. There\u2019s no set schedule or route \u2014 readers can spend the day roaming from South Philly to Ardmore, meeting authors, and snagging discounts.<\/p>\n Eric Smith, a local young adult author and literary agent<\/a>, is the mastermind behind the event. He launched this celebration of Philly-area bookstores in 2023 after being inspired by similar events when he was living in Richmond, Va., and in Ann Arbor, Mich. \u201cI couldn\u2019t shake how great one in Philadelphia would be should we ever move back,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n After returning to Philly, Smith launched the crawl to support indie bookshops still recovering from the pandemic. He hopes to \u201cremind our community to pay these places a visit should we want them to stay here \u2014 and we certainly do.\u201d<\/p>\n How does the Philly Bookstore Crawl work?<\/p>\n Smith likens the crawl to Philly\u2019s First Friday events<\/a>: There\u2019s no fixed schedule, just a map of participating shops and a list of activities. \u201cThe day is yours to plot and plan,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s additions include a breakfast special at Chestnut Hill cafes, a \u201cFreedom to Read\u201d postcard-writing party at Harriett\u2019s Bookshop, and a Philadelphia Stories tour bus visiting five participating stores. The day wraps with an after-party at Main Point Books in Wayne, where local author Jeff Bogle will launch his debut.<\/p>\n For Smith, the event is an opportunity to encourage readers and empower writers to stay connected to their bookstores. \u201cPhiladelphia is one of the greatest cities to be a book nerd in,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd if we want it to keep being that way, we have to keep visiting our indie bookstores, all year long.\u201d<\/p>\n And these bookstores offer plenty of titles, including cookbooks featuring Indian American recipes, horror comic books, fictional family sagas, and collections of essays on collective power and righting wrongs, that\u2019ll keep you coming back for more.<\/p>\n Below, we complied the best books of 2025 (so far) from participating bookstore owners to help you find the perfect read at this year\u2019s Philly Bookstore Crawl \u2014 or any day of the year.<\/p>\n Best books of 2025 (so far), according to Philly bookstore owners<\/p>\n American Grammar: \u2018Strangers in the Land\u2019 by Michael Lou<\/p>\n For co-owner of American Grammar in Kensington Terrance Wiley, Michael Lou\u2019s Strangers in the Land meticulously documents the history of Chinese Americans. With each page introducing readers to new worlds, the book is \u201ca demanding and ambitious tome,\u201d Wiley said. \u201cBy the end one will better understand the present political landscape and hopefully be better positioned to contribute to efforts to combat xenophobia and political repression.\u201d The book is available in-store for $35 \u2014 score 5% off on the book crawl.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd2046 N. Front St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19122, \ud83c\udf10 american-grammar.com<\/a><\/p>\n Binding Agents: \u2018Third Culture Cooking\u2019 by Zaynab Issa<\/p>\n As the owner of Philly\u2019s new cookbook bookshop, Catie Gainor knows a good cookbook when she sees one. And Zaynab Issa\u2019s Third Culture Cooking was the Binding Agents July Cookbook Club pick, resulting in one of the most delicious and exciting potluck spreads so far. \u201cIssa deftly reflects her upbringing, her personal taste, and her skills as a seasoned recipe developer in this gorgeous book, which strikes a perfect balance of honoring traditional dishes (Tomato Saag, Biryani) and celebrating modern twists (French Onion Ramen, Tandoori Tacos).\u201d The book will be available at the shop and on Bookshop.org<\/a> for $35.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd908 Christian St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19147, \ud83c\udf10 instagram.com\/BindingAgents<\/a><\/p>\n A Novel Idea: \u2018The Library at Hellebore\u2019 by Cassandra Khaw<\/p>\n Owners Christina Rosso-Schneider and Alex Schneider are leaning into spooky season with this mix of dark academia, fantasy, and horror. In The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw, a woman with a treacherous past is kidnapped and brought to an institute for the gifted with a faculty that may or may not have sinister intentions. \u201c[The book] blends dark academia with fantasy and horror to create a funny, disturbing, and fast-paced story of survival and friendship,\u201d Rosso-Schneider said. Buy it at the store for $29.99, and read the September adult fiction book club pick. Book club discussion Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd1726 E. Passyunk Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19148, \ud83d\udcde 267-764-1202, \ud83c\udf10 anovelideaphilly.com<\/a><\/p>\n Uncle Bobbie\u2019s Coffee & Books: \u2018Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson\u2019 by Tourmaline <\/p>\n Operations manager Van Brooks highlights Tourmaline\u2019s biography of the trans icon as \u201can immeasurable gift\u201d that taps into Johnson\u2019s bold energy to fight for justice and take up space. The first definitive biography of the trailblazing performer, revolutionary trans icon Marsha P. Johnson, Brooks said Tourmaline offers readers an opportunity to connect \u201cone of our most precious and transformative transcestors.\u201d Purchase the book at the shop for $30.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd5445 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19144, \ud83d\udcde 215-403-7058, \ud83c\udf10 unclebobbies.com<\/a><\/p>\n Capricorn Books: \u2018Sky Daddy\u2019 by Kate Folk<\/p>\n Sky Daddy by Kate Folk caught Jackie Q. Botto, owner of Capricorn Books in Jenkintown, completely off guard. The novel follows Linda, a woman who wants to marry an airplane \u2014 a love that, in her mind, can only be consummated by a fatal crash that unites their souls for eternity. As she struggles to balance her work as a content moderator with the demands of maintaining a conventional relationship, Linda is forced to choose between conforming to societal expectations or pursuing her non-normative obsession. \u201cBeyond its seemingly absurd premise, it\u2019s filled with humor and a lot of heart,\u201d Botto said. \u201cIt explores concepts of fate, obsession, and our yearning for human connection.\u201d The book is available in hardcover at Capricorn for $29. <\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd605 West Ave., Jenkintown, Pa. 19046, \ud83d\udcde 215-681-2221, \ud83c\udf10 capricornbookshop.com<\/a><\/p>\n Multiverse: \u2018Esperance\u2019 by Adam Oyebanji<\/p>\n Owners Sara Zia Ebrahimi of Multiverse in Chestnut Hill recommends Esperance by Adam Oyebanji. This sci-fi thriller is \u201cgreat for fans of Neal Stephenson and Blake Crouch,\u201d Ebrahimi said. \u201cIt is my pick because of its unique premise and blend of genres as a creative way to explore the legacy of the Atlantic slave trade across continents and time.\u201d The book, in hardback only, is available in the store for $29 . <\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd8026 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. 19118, \ud83d\udcde 215-896-1073, \ud83c\udf10 multiversephilly.com<\/a><\/p>\n More book recs<\/p>\n If you\u2019re still looking to stack your TBR (\u201cto be read\u201d) pile, here are more titles Philly readers are buzzing about \u2014 from book clubs<\/a> to beach chairs<\/a>.<\/p>\n