Brookline Booksmith — Local services in Brookline

I recently relocated to Boston and was on the lookout for a privately-owned bookstore. I'm not a big fan of shopping at the "big-chain" book stores.

I also am not huge on reading books from an electronic device. I'm on my computer and phone all day. My eyes prefer a physical paper book.

I scoured Yelp and found a spot called Brookline Booksmith. The reviews were solid and I knew I had to check it out! I am glad I did!

The size and selection is unmatched. This isn't your ordinary bookstore. While they do have a plethora of books to choose from, they also have a massive selection of other products.

They have a massive selection of craft-made sweets, snacks, sauces, craft-sodas and drinks, CBD infused drinks and candy, craft-beverage mixes, cocktail kits, sugar cubes/sticks, cocktail rim salt/sugars, craft chocolate bars + truffles, craft teas, rice crispy treats, craft popcorn, cookies, nuts, and so much more!

If you're looking for home-goods, they have you covered! They have a solid selection of glassware, plates, mugs, teapots+cups, bowls, chopsticks, utensils, platters, bar ware, kitchen tools, and more! The quality is top-notch and the items are incredibly unique. I've never seen such an incredible selection!

They also have a solid "self-care" section with incense, candles, body care, cosmic crystals, crystal sets, stones and stone sets, crystal candles, chakra stones, meditation stones, healing stones, serenity stones, grounding stones, and other assorted minerals and stones!

If you're looking for gorgeous jewelry, they have you covered on that too! They have a huge selection of anklets, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and so much more!

Now, onto the books! After all, it is a bookstore! They have a massive selection of books in every genre you can imagine. They also have a solid selection of cookbooks and adult coloring books! They do have a solid selection of book lights for those who like to read at night without disturbing others.

I love the adult coloring books and they have the largest selection I've seen anywhere. You can even find the profanity-laced coloring books here! They have a solid selection of quality, high-end colored pencils and such so you don't have to go anywhere else!

If you're looking for a new journal, THIS is the place for it. They easily have HUNDREDS of choices in nearly every size, color, and pattern imaginable. They also have a solid selection of accessories for your new journal, like a loop to hold your pen.

Honestly, it was overwhelming there were so many choices. You'll see what I mean when you first walk in. It is the biggest selection anywhere! They also have a great selection of calendars in different themes, sizes, and designs.

I strongly suggest spending an afternoon taking in everything they have to offer. The amount of stuff is incredible! The book selection is massive. I wish I had more time on my first visit here, I did not realize how large the place was.

I will certainly be back on a rainy afternoon to really spend some time shopping and picking out a few good books. I did end up grabbing some craft snacks and sweets and a CBD infused beverage! I look forward to coming back!

The only thing that could make this place even better would be a small cafe! However, I understand why they don't have one. There likely wouldn't be the space to accommodate a cafe.

Service is friendly and efficient. The line at checkout moves quickly and they do have employees on the floor to help guide you to that perfect book! Prices are very reasonable for the quality products offered. I can't wait...

I have had the great pleasure of shopping here for many decades and each visit seems to get better and better. I remember when the owner Lisa was just setting out in the business. She's always been friendly, smart and helpful as well as very hands on. I often recall her working the floor and interacting with customers. She must also clearly be a really great manager because her employees are always happy and smiling. The place seems like a really good place to work. This seems especially true when one considers that traditionally retail work is not known for very good financial compensation which means that managers need to work extra hard to create a positive and rewarding workplace experience for their employees. It seems like Lisa and her other managers do just that.

Before my retirement, I managed many teams and people and I pride myself on being able to spot good managers by the attitudes and atmospheres of workplaces. Every single associate I have ever dealt with at this shop seems to be on top of their game. They are quite knowledgeable and ready to assist. For example, the other day I came in looking for a book for my wife but I could not for the life of me remember the title. I had like one name of one character and Sara the incredibly smart associate was able to identify it immediately. She was great! I have also had many pleasant conversations with a gentleman named Dave who knows quite a lot about music and local history. He seems like a good example of someone who is mature and professionally seasoned enough to work anywhere he likes but he delibertely chooses to work in such a well run store. That speaks volumes about the management.

When my children were young I would take them to spend entire afternoons here. They always saw it as a treat and when they were very very little they particularly enjoyed some of the story hours and childrens' programming. What they never knew was that a trip to the bookstore was an excuse to get them out of the house when my wife had a migraine. They just thought it was a couple hours of magic among shelves of books and toys and fun things. I only wish that they had the Novel Kitchen way back then. Now when I take my grandkids that is one of the highlights. The cheese plates are always delicious and the Novel Cafe Staff seems just as friendly as everyone else. They like the book staff seem quite satisfied with their jobs and treat what they do with great professionality. That is sadly all too rare in retail these days.

I can still kill several hours at that store and I do almost all my holiday shopping at that store. The staff can always be counted on for recommendations. One of my granddaughters is named Olivia and several years ago a charming young associate named Emily recommended a picture book about a pig named Olivia which I bought for her for her birthday. She may be too old for those books now but Olivia still loves pigs and even dressed as Olivia for Halloween. And I have Emily to thank for that!

Brookline Booksmith is large but friendly. It's like a home...

I used to be a fan and regular patron of Brookline Booksmith, and recommended their bookstore to everyone I knew who was visiting Boston. I will never patronize this business again, fortunately there are plenty of other, inclusive bookstores in Brookline, Boston and the surrounding area.

In the past 2 years Brookline Booksmith has began to push a certain agenda on their clientele, including making Jewish authors and patrons unwelcome. This includes having their children's booksellers - Sara, Diana among others CHILDRENS BOOKSELLERS at Brookline Booksmith push children's books with ideologies they ascribe to. Let children be children? Provide equal representation for all groups and communities?

The icing on the cake has been the exclusion of Jewish authors at speaking events, in a community such as Brookline with a significant Jewish population, unless those authors agree with Brookline Booksmith's ideologies. What happened to bookstores presenting and selling books from all points of view and all backgrounds? No longer present at Brookline Booksmith.

For Jewish American Heritage Month this May, Brookline Booksmith did not post on their social media (they did post twice in April for Arab American Heritage Month) and they posted in May for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The month of May is BOTH Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage and Jewish American Heritage Month- May is a time to celebrate the contributions and diverse histories of both communities. Brookline Booksmith proudly replied, "we have a beautiful Jewish American Heritage collection up in our store and online for browsing now!" Upon examination of this "Jewish AMERICAN" heritage collection, 2 of the authors featured- Bonny Reichert and Leonard are CANADIAN. Surely there is no paucity of Jewish AMERICAN authors that Brookline Booksmith could...