Sometimes an ideal night isn’t a night out; it’s a glass of French wine and falling asleep to a good book. And not an illuminated Kindle or Nook, dear readers. A real, paperbound, feel-the-weight-in-your-hands book. We’re firm believers that everyone should spend less time on social media, believe it or not, and more time with their noses in a book, so here’s a list of bookstores in Hoboken and Jersey City to pick up your next read.
Hoboken
Hoboken Public Library | 500 Park Avenue
The Hoboken Public Library was established under the NJ General Library Act of 1884. It is on the National List of Historic Places. Most people love a good bookshelf and collection of books, but if you’re not the purchasing type, the Hoboken Public Library is a no-brainer place to go. On the bottom level of the library, there is a section dedicated to books that are for sale — and on the second floor, locals can search Hoboken archives, there’s a collection of movies and CDs, weekly events, and much more. Learn more about the Hoboken Public Library here.
Little City Books | 100 Bloomfield Street
Little City Books is an independent bookstore that happens to be the perfect place to find newly released books and popular authors. The selection of books includes architecture, art, business, drama, history, cooking, gardening, medical, nature, true crime, sports, and much more. The bookstore also hosts monthly events.
Read More: A List of Books That Take Place in Hudson County
Symposia Community Bookstore | 510 Washington Street
Gently used books for a fraction of the price you’d pay in stores. Though they may not have the newest arrivals, the collection is always chock-full of goodies in all genres including fiction, non-fiction, biographies, history, art, psychology, children’s books, and more. Symposia Bookstore also hosts weekly events such as Puppetonia puppet shows for toddlers, yoga, author meet-and-greets, open mic sessions, and more.
Jersey City
Lawn Love ranked 2022’s Best Cities for Book Lovers. It compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on access to public libraries, bookstores, little free libraries, book clubs, and events. In addition to its overall 3rd place nationwide ranking, Jersey City ranked in some key metrics (1 = Best) as follows:
- Bookstores per 100,000 Residents – 1st
- Independent Bookstores per 100,000 Residents – 1st
- Public Libraries – 61st
- Books “in the Wild” (BookCrossing) per 100,000 Residents – 32nd
- Silent Book Clubs – 63rd
- Book Events and Festivals per 100,000 Residents – 144th
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The Beautiful American | 136 Hutton Street (Online Bookstore)
This unique Jersey City-based online bookstore has rare and unusual finds. This site aims to provide reading for both seasoned book collectors and those new to collecting old finds alike. This is also the place to shop for vinyl records, posters, and graphic art.
Jersey City Free Books | 3396 Kennedy Boulevard
For a more unorthodox and feel-good option, Jersey City Free Books does exactly what its name suggests. This community exchange book organization serves Hoboken, Jersey City, and the greater Hudson County area — completely for free.
Jersey City Public Library | Multiple Locations
The Hoboken Public Library was established under the NJ General Library Act of 1884. It is on the National List of Historic Places. The Jersey City public library offers many books of all genres. But what’s even cooler are the additional services the library provides like employment assistance, college readiness, services for adults and children, a community awareness series, and more. There are multiple branches that can be found throughout Jersey City.
WORD | 29 McWilliams Place
There are always new arrivals, an in-house cafe to read your newly purchased book, and an awesome selection of gift cards. This bookstore always keeps an inventory of books that reflect the current cultural and political climate. Customers can also browse the staff picks for good recommendations on what to read next.
