Independent Bookstore Day arrives this Saturday, April 25. Are you ready? We’ve put together a list of a few of our local favorites and a map to help you find them. The truly adventurous will strike out on the Metro Boston Indie Bookstore Crawl across the Greater Boston area. Or just keep it closer to home with these Cambridge and Somerville spots. You can’t go wrong when good books are waiting. Show your local indie bookstore that you love them.

In alphabetical order:

All She Wrote Books
75 Washington St., Somerville

Bryn Mawr Book Store
373 Huron Ave., Cambridge

Comicazi
407 Highland Ave., Davis Square, Somerville

A quirky comic bookstore (is there another kind?) with a friendly and knowledgeable staff that will help you navigate an expertly curated stock. Patrons will appreciate the depth and breadth of the inventory, which fields classic superheroes from “the big 2” imprints DC and Marvel alongside stories from the best of the alternative presses such as Dark Horse and Image. There are plenty of graphic novels to explore as well. And if you paid them a visit purely to peruse their vast collection of vintage toys (I see you M.U.S.C.L.E Men), who would blame you?

The Coop
1400 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge
80 Broadway, Kendall Square, Cambridge

No, The Coop is not an independent bookstore. It’s managed by the corporate retailer Barnes & Noble, so it doesn’t technically belong on this list. The cooperative aspect, though, means it’s not your cookie-cutter corporate chain. Members of the extended Harvard community, from current students to alumni, faculty and staff can buy $1 yearly memberships for discounts and get elected to the governing board. The rest of us won’t enjoy these private perks, but there is still a sprawling labyrinth of books to get lost in.

Harvard Book Store
1256 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge 

It’s a tale of two bookstores. Upstairs patrons are greeted by stacks that dazzle with the commercial sheen of new releases and top sellers across every category from fiction to local history. But don’t sleep on the sleepier used-book section in the basement. While the inventory down below might lack some of the gloss, all the true pleasures of antiquarian book hunting are to be found here. And if you’re just a tourist in search of branded university merchandise or a Boston-themed gewgaw, Harvard Book Store has got you covered there too.

Hub Comics
19 Bow St., Somerville 

Grolier Poetry Book Shop
6 Plympton St., Harvard Square, Cambridge

Founded in 1927, the shop claims to be the “oldest continuously operated book shop dedicated solely to the sale of poetry books.” Literary luminaries from T.S. Eliot to Anaïs Nin to Robert Pinsky have made the trip, so why not you? The inventory is meticulously curated, categorized by country of origin, alphabetized by the author’s last name. An event calendar stocked with talks and readings makes this a required destination for more than mere browsing.

Katherine Small Gallery
108 Beacon St., Somerville

Is it a gallery? Is it a bookstore? It’s both and more. This unique destination opened in 2018 “to encourage affordable collecting as a way for graphic designers and students of design to learn about the history of their field.” Rotating exhibitions always give you something interesting to look forward to. The business hours are limited, but the owners are happy to open by appointment.

Lovestruck Books
44 Brattle St., Harvard Square, Cambridge

Get out of the friend zone and into this Harvard Square gem. The bookstore’s specialty is written loud and clear in its name: romance, of all subvarieties. Sports romance, romantasy, contemporary romance, historical romance. Sure, there are more middle-of-the-road options such as mainstream fiction, mysteries and westerns. Once you’ve wet your whistle with the paranormal romance of Ann Aguirre’s “I Think I’m In Love With an Alien,” though, there’s no going back. A cafe and patio make this a great spot for meetups or solo reading sessions.

The MIT Press Bookstore
314 Main St., Cambridge

Narrative
387 Highland Ave., Davis Square, Somerville

Narrative cultivates a cozy vibe with funky furnishings that invite snuggle sessions with your latest read. The Bangladeshi American owner Mila Hossain is the life force that keeps the store glowing with personal touches galore and a firm belief in the power of books to enact positive change in the world. The collection focuses on stories that platform marginalized identities. A sign within the store indicates that the “existential dread” of categories has resulted in a slightly nonstandard organizational scheme. This reporter navigated the stacks with ease.

Pandemonium Books & Games
4 Pleasant St., Cambridge

Porter Square Books
1815 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge

The Cambridge location (there’s a Boston location too) is a hub of energy and excitement. Glossy-backed bestsellers mingle with more niche selections across a wide variety of genres and categories. The adult section is complemented by a fun children section. An assortment of colorful tchotchkes for sale makes this a good stop for wildcard gift items as well. Last but not least, the bookstore has one of the most packed event calendars in the Boston area. If your favorite author is coming through town, they might be passing through Porter Square Books.

Rodney’s Bookstore
23 Church St., Harvard Square, Cambridge

Rodney is the owner’s dog, not the owner. This bookstore is everything a used-book lover looks for. Tall stacks tower overhead, blossoming with the redolent aroma of wood shelving and gently aged paper stock. All the classic categories of interest are represented, including the classics. But it’s the niche subcategories where Rodney’s separates itself from the pack, rewarding deep divers with the arcanum they crave. Shout out to the “nautical” section: old books about old boats.

Side Quest Books & Games
1 Bow Mkt Way, Suite 32, Somerville

Seven Stars
731 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge

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Michael Gutierrez

Michael Gutierrez is a writer, editor, media creative and founder of Hump Day News.

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