“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”
― Charles W. Eliot
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I have now been in bookselling for over fifteen years. In that time I’ve been to conferences, trade shows, and publisher dinners. I’ve written hundreds of staff picks, nominated dozens of books for the monthly IndieNext list, and given publishers bunches of pre-publication blurbs. As a bookseller, part of my job is connecting readers to books, but I think another part of it is being advocate for the books, authors, and publishers I think are doing great work, but that don’t have the same resources or exposure or publicity budgets as larger publishers, more famous authors, or more mainstream books. Honestly, some books don’t really need booksellers to sell well. But some absolutely rely on booksellers and I’ve chosen to focus my energy on them.
The thing is, when you are an advocate for the books you love and especially for books that would have very little exposure otherwise, publishers really like it. And they send you galleys. Lots of galleys. And not just random galleys. Galleys drawn from my relationship with them, that reflect my tastes, that I am 100% certain I would like if I could read them all. But I can’t read them all.
I don’t remember the galley itself (though I’m pretty sure about who the other bookseller was), but on August 7, 2019, I passed a galley on that looked really cool that I knew I would never get to. It was far from the first time I passed on a galley, but for some reason, something about that moment clicked in my mind and the phrase just appeared: “Galley Auntie.”
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What is a galley auntie? A galley auntie is a bookseller who gets more galleys than they can possibly read and passes some of them (a few of them they do find time to read) on to other booksellers when they think it’s a good match. It’s like recommending books to customers, except instead of books the customer might buy, it’s a free galley they can just have, and instead of never knowing when you’ll see them again, you know you’ll see them next Saturday from 2PM-8PM. But in another way, it’s entirely different. When I Galley Auntie a galley to another bookseller (yes, you can use “galley auntie” as a verb, as in “I’ll galley auntie Where the Wild Ladies Are when I’m finished with it”), it’s an act of comradeship. Not only am I helping build a professional relationship between booksellers and publishers, not only am I giving a friend a book they might love, I’m also building and celebrating a community. The community of PSB booksellers, the community of indie booksellers, and the community of books in general.
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Read our reopen policies and updated hours!
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Thanks to all our friends who've visited so far -- it's been wonderful to see everyone's face (well, the top half above the mask anyway) and we're so grateful to everyone who has been so respectful of our policies!
Updated In-Store Shopping Hours:
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday-Friday: 3PM-7PM
Saturday: 9AM-6PM, with 9AM-11AM set aside for vulnerable customers
Sunday: 3PM-7PM
Curbside Pick Up: Daily, 3PM-7PM
We really appreciate your support!
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Join our next virtual events!
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Rebecca Kim Wells with Rory Power and Sara Farizan
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Register for the event here: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/shatterthesky
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Porter Square Books is delighted to celebrate the paperback release of our Staff Pick of the Year with a virtual event featuring our own Rebecca Kim Wells, author of Shatter the Sky, in conversation with Sara Farizan and Rory Power! Join us for a panel discussion on queer kidlit perfect for your summer reading list, order your signed paperback edition of Shatter the Sky - and if we're lucky, get a sneak peek into the upcoming second book in the duology, Storm the Earth, on sale this fall! This event takes place on Crowdcast, and is free and open to all.
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A determined young woman sets out to rescue her kidnapped girlfriend by stealing a dragon from the corrupt emperor in this stunning fantasy debut that’s perfect for fans of Margaret Rogerson, Rae Carson, and Rachel Hartman. Raised among the ruins of a conquered mountain nation, Maren dreams only of sharing a quiet life with her girlfriend Kaia—until the day Kaia is abducted by the Aurati, prophetic agents of the emperor, and forced to join their ranks. Desperate to save her, Maren hatches a plan to steal one of the emperor’s coveted dragons and storm the Aurati stronghold. If Maren is to have any hope of succeeding, she must become an apprentice to the Aromatory—the emperor’s mysterious dragon trainer. But Maren is unprepared for the dangerous secrets she uncovers: rumors of a lost prince, a brewing rebellion, and a prophecy that threatens to shatter the empire itself. Not to mention the strange dreams she’s been having about a beast deep underground…
With time running out, can Maren survive long enough to rescue Kaia from impending death? Or could it be that Maren is destined for something greater than she could have ever imagined?
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An Atlantis-like city from Celtic legend is the setting of The Daughters of Ys, a mythical graphic novel fantasy from National Book Award winner M. T. Anderson and artist Jo Rioux.
Ys, city of wealth and wonder, has a history of dark secrets. Queen Malgven used magic to raise the great walls that keep Ys safe from the tumultuous sea. But after the queen's inexplicable death, her daughters drift apart. Rozenn, the heir to the throne, spends her time on the moors communing with wild animals, while Dahut, the youngest, enjoys the splendors of royal life and is eager to take part in palace intrigue.
When Rozenn and Dahut's bond is irrevocably changed, the fate of Ys is sealed, exposing the monsters that lurk in plain view. M. T. Anderson and Jo Rioux reimagine this classic Breton folktale of love, loss, and rebirth, revealing the secrets that lie beneath the surface.
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An Upcoming Event and a Request
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In Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From, first-generation American LatinX Liliana Cruz does what it takes to fit in at her new nearly all-white school. But when family secrets spill out and racism at school ramps up, she must decide what she believes in and take a stand.
Former Boston Public School teacher and debut author Jennifer De Leon has a goal: she wants to put a free copy of her book in the hands of every ninth grade student at the O'Bryant High School in Boston. Help us reach this goal by donating a copy to a student! Porter Square Books will gather all donations and bring them over to the O'Bryant School once we've reached our goal.
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Want to show your love of Porter Square Books? Order your very own Porter Square Books T-shirt!
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Visit your friends at Cafe Zing!
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Did you know our beloved Cafe Zing is open for customers? Now you know!
Open Wednesday-Saturday, 8AM-2PM! See you and your extra-shot, biggest-size-you-have iced latte at the cafe.
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This week, I’ve been drawing on nostalgia a lot and have been trying to find ways to connect to good memories and warm feelings from the past. I haven’t had a bad week, but I’m still finding some extra comfort in hearkening back to things from my childhood. Summer, more than any other season, always brings me back to being a kid, probably because growing up on the Cape was pretty much a guarantee that summer would be my favorite season.
This Tuesday, I made taquitos that were reminiscent of my dad’s “chicken roll-ups” that he made practically every week when I was growing up. On Wednesday, I made mac and cheese and threw in some hotdogs for another dose of nostalgia. Tonight, my boyfriend and I are going to watch a Pixar movie with friends (virtually). I’ve been putting more effort into connecting with some of my longest-time friends. I’ve been rereading and revisiting some of the books that meant a lot to me as a teenager (currently rereading my favorite book—and the one I have a tattoo from—for the millionth time, Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Boys). All of these things have made a fine week into a really good one. Drawing out all of these connections to past happiness has brought some lightness to a busy work week when I wish I could be back on the beach like I was this past weekend.
So my advice to you this week is this: Think about a meal from your childhood and try to re-create it (ask someone in your family for advice on the recipe if you need it—that’s a bonus connection right there!). Return to a piece of media you loved when you were younger—a book or movie or even revisiting a favorite show (I will probably be doing this over the weekend; Buffy the Vampire Slayer, here I come). I promise that this will spark joy or warmth when you do it, and will level up your week—an already good week, a down one, an OK one—into something a little lighter.
With love,
April
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We want to hear from you!
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Have you stopped by the store now that we're reopened?
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Not me - I'm still shopping online and staying at home.
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I haven't yet, but I'm planning to visit this summer!
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Porter Square Books is proud to partner with the Prison Book Program to help provide access to books to people in prison. Order any title off this wish list and select the "Curbside Pick Up" shipping option and we'll give to the Prison Book Program to distribute.
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Antiracism Books: A Place to Start
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Empire of Wild by Cherie Dimaline, read by Michelle St. John
A bold and brilliant new indigenous voice in contemporary literature makes her American debut with this kinetic, imaginative, and sensuous fable inspired by the traditional Canadian Métis legend of the Rogarou—a werewolf-like creature that haunts the roads and woods of native people’s communities.
“Cherie Dimaline’s latest novel packs a wallop of a story. Absolutely stunning in every way, this latest offering follows the story of Joan, whose husband has disappeared, and her courage when confronted with truths and lies. She and her husband, Victor, live in a Métis community, close and tight knit. As Joan deals with the fallout of her emotions after Victor disappears, she comes across another man, Eugene Wolff, who bears her husband’s face. He does not carry Victor’s memories and insists he has no idea who Joan’s husband is. Turning over rocks to find the truth, Joan reaches out to whomever she can in her community for help. What waits for her at the end of her quest is incredible. This novel will have you at the edge of your seat!” --Annie Carl, The Neverending Bookshop
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Digital Audio Books:
A terrific way to support local indies!
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Want book recommendations, personalized just for you?
Fill out our form with your likes and dislikes, genres and favorites, and we'll crowdsource a bunch of great picks for you with our crack team of real life booksellers. Give it a whirl!
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Our 'get 3 paperbacks' bundle options have expanded to include Caleb, Meaghan, and Shana! Get 3 paperbacks handpicked by the bookseller that fit in with their theme. You can find all bundles.
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EXPANDED OPTIONS:
Journals, Stationery & Crafts
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Sometimes a new notebook is what it takes to get the juices flowing!
We have now made a much wider variety of notebooks, journals, and even calendars available for order from our website, like this classic Moleskin. Now, along with items with an inventory status of "On Our Shelves Now," you can order journals, notebooks, diaries, calendars, planners, and more with an inventory status of "Available at Warehouses."
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Face Masks
Face coverings are going to be with us for a while, so we’re now offering non-medical grade cloth masks (including kid size) from a variety of makers. Right now quantities are limited, but additional styles are on the way. We’ll keep you posted!
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Additional Book Bundle Offerings
Make your shopping easy by buying bundles, handpicked by our expert booksellers!
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Our dear friend Neil reads the third chapter of The Graveyard Book!
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Support Cafe Zing Baristas!
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Although Cafe Zing is its own business separate from ours, we really don't see it that way: Zing workers are part of the Porter Square Books family. They keep us well supplied - very well supplied - with caffeine, kindness, and some great tunes. Sometimes they give us staff picks; sometimes we give them exact change because we've bought the same, perfect, comforting, delicious beverage twice a day five days a week for how long, now?
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New month, new discounts! Check out what our booksellers are loving this summer.
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Featured Staff Pick for Children
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Hannah is a witch—a real Elemental witch who can control the four elements—but even though she lives in Salem, MA, she has to keep her magic a closely guarded secret. But her life is upended when it seems that a blood witch has come to town and is threatening her coven—and she'll have to team up with her ex-girlfriend to investigate it. As the threats to the coven grow, the story becomes a fast-paced mystery with a side of romance. This was the perfect blend of sweet romance (and queerness), complex friendships, and thrilling mystery. And the second one's out now, so you can keep reading as soon as you're done—I promise you'll want to.
--April
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Featured Staff Pick for Adults
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A tangled story of dark folklore, wobbly truths, and girl power. The release date for this title was pushed way back, and I have been so excited to recommend it for months. The time is finally here!
--Stacey
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See you next time here at Shelf Stable!
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Did you miss an installment, or want to share with a friend? The Shelf Stable Archive has all our past issues!
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And don't forget to subscribe to our Events Newsletter for the full line up of events coming up, and our Kids Newsletter for all the latest on events, new books, reviews, and more for young and young-at-heart readers.
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Looking for other ways to keep up with us? Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube:
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25 White St. Cambridge, MA 02140
617-491-2220
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