Indie Bookstore Visits II & III

With my 2026 bookish goals in full swing, one of my intentions this year is to visit more indie bookstores. There’s something special about discovering new literary spaces, and I’m determined to experience more of them. Here are my visits to bookstores number II and III.

II. Pulp Books & Café

There are not many places I would willingly brave -20 degree weather for — but Pulp Books & Café is definitely one of them.

The drive wasn’t bad at all, and considering it was only a few days after a snowstorm, I was pleasantly surprised to find parking right in front of the store. Already, the outing felt meant to be.

Photo taken at Pulp Books as i drank my latte

The moment I walked into Pulp Books, I was greeted by a lively, cozy atmosphere. Several people were browsing the shelves, and the employees were smiling and laughing, creating an immediate sense of warmth that contrasted beautifully with the bitter cold outside.

I made my way to the café at the back of the store and ordered a pistachio oat latte (yum!) before settling in to warm up. As I sipped my coffee and jotted down notes for weekend plans and errands, I watched a steady stream of customers come and go. Some grabbed drinks, others picked up books. There were regulars with their kids, ordering hot chocolates and selecting their next reads. It was clear that Pulp Books isn’t just a bookstore — it’s a community staple. And honestly, it made me want to be part of it.

Eventually, I got up to browse and selected a book to take home. I was already thrilled with my visit and excited to tell my partner I had discovered a new spot I’d be frequenting often. But the experience didn’t end there.

As I was checking out, the cashier let me know they were doing something special that day. They often receive ARCs (Advance Reader Copies), and since the staff can’t always get through them all, they were giving away a free ARC with every purchase.

It felt incredibly thoughtful — more special than anything I’ve received at larger commercial book chains in Canada. That small gesture made the visit even more memorable.

I’m so grateful for that cozy afternoon at Pulp Books, and I’ll absolutely be returning soon — hopefully on a slightly warmer day.

III. [REDACTED BOOKSTORE NAME]

As you can probably guess from the redaction, this experience didn’t quite match the warmth of the previous one — and you’d be right.

I’ll start with the positives.

The location is very central and easily accessible by public transit, which is no small thing in a city that sees its fair share of snowstorms. The shop itself is quite small, but the selection was clearly curated with intention. One wall featured staff picks with handwritten notes explaining why readers might enjoy each title — a thoughtful touch I genuinely appreciated. There were also signs and pamphlets discussing the harm Amazon has done to small booksellers, which aligns strongly with my own views about supporting local businesses.

And that’s where the positives end.

I walked in on my birthday — excited, energized, and ready to treat myself to two new books before heading off to celebrate with family and friends. But no one acknowledged my entrance. Not a hello. Not even a small nod.

Photo of the books I got for my birthday as well as the ARC from Pulp books

I browsed for about ten minutes in near silence. The two employees working didn’t speak to me or to each other until one casually mentioned they were heading on break. By that point, I had already selected my books and made my way to the counter.

Even during checkout, I tried to make light conversation, but it felt as though my presence was more of a nuisance than anything else. They slipped the store’s free bookmark into one of my books — which was honestly the kindest part of the interaction — and I left feeling oddly deflated.

It wasn’t the birthday book-sprinkle I had envisioned (not quite a full-blown spree, but still), and I walked away less fulfilled than I had hoped.

That said, I want to believe this may have been a one-off experience. Everyone has off days. I’ll likely give the store another chance — perhaps in warmer weather — and hope for a different atmosphere next time.