~ Spotlight ~
Midnight Moon Books & Boutique
Written by Jen Sinclair
Photographed by Chloee Blair
Summer is in full swing for us locals. School is out, and the daily storms have fallen back into their familiar pattern.
While summer is exciting with beach time and family trips, all the outside time and peopling can take a toll on even the most extroverted among us. One of the best ways to combat summer burnout is by setting aside time to disengage and swap out our phones for a good old-fashioned book.
We’re fortunate in St. Augustine to have some really cool indie bookstores. Four such gems have combined forces to offer readers an opportunity to discover new books and authors.
Kicking off June 4th and continuing through July 31st, the event is designed to drive customers into indie bookstores by offering fun incentives.
Midnight Moon Books & Boutique co-owner Allison Bender says the crawl is meant to bring the book community together and highlight indie bookstores around town.
“We’re all female-owned businesses. It allows us to collaborate with other women and not make it competitive thing. We want to help each other grow,” Bender says.
To take part, pick any store and buy a fun canvas tote for $10 - this will serve as your crawl map. Bring with you as you shop hop, make a purchase and you’ll receive a special-themed can cooler.
Midnight Moon Books & Boutique
111 King St, in the heart of the historic district
The shop is female-owned and operated, and stocks an array of genres, written mostly by women and BIPOC authors. They host a monthly book club, so if you want to gather with readers to share insights into the pick of the month, be sure to check it out.
9A Anastasia Blvd, just across the Bridge of Lions
Quaint and cozy, here you can peruse an assortment of offerings, from popular fiction to old classics. Gazing up beyond the shelves, you’ll find beautiful local art depicting the Ancient City and its coastline, adding to the rich, boutique-style feel.
701 Market St, Suite 104A, near Palencia
It’s warm and inviting, with a plush couch at the center, giving the entire place a definite relax-and-put-your-feet-up vibe. This veteran and female-owned business brings diversity to the 4,000 books they stock, including some gently used options.
520 West Twincourt Trail, Suite 3, International Golf Parkway area
Not far from where I live, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting this shop quite a few times since it opened, and I love perusing the shelves for new-to-me authors. The store is charming and carries some fun merch, like book-themed puzzles, shirts and stickers, among so many others. They often host local author events, so definitely plan on attending to find your next must-read.
Feel free to take your time and explore the unique offerings of each. By filling your bag with books, you’ll be gifting yourself an escape from the chaos and stress of a long summer.
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