Side Quest Books & Games — Local services in Somerville

Antisemitic incident occurred here recently. The staff asked a Jewish friend to leave the store. Really disappointing that people who read books for a living are so close-minded.

Friend's story here: I'd been casually chatting with 2 staff members for a while (10-15 mins.) about books and a variety of local topics. Conversation moved to a new book that had some controversy surrounding it, which none of us had read and we all agreed on, when one said something about claims of antisemitism (related to the book) had to be taken with a grain of salt because it was all coming from Zionists. To which I responded said something to the effect of “you mean Jews? Or people who believe in indigenous rights?” Demeanor immediately changed and I was told my "vibes aren't welcome here" by one staff member while the other gestured to the door. I responded that this obviously wasn't a safe or welcoming place and left. Given the hugely skyrocketing numbers of antisemetic violence occurring worldwide/in the US/in Somerville these days, ranging from verbal to physical to more subtle, putting aside my own trauma triggers, this was a very distressing and...

I first encountered Side Quest as a Bow Market pop-up over the summer, and was elated to learn they would be opening officially in Bow Market in the fall!

As a lifelong avid reader and fantasy/sci-fi book lover who is always trying to find more reads from women and other underrepresented writers, this store is basically perfect for me. They're filled with great books and games, and are awesome about ordering anything that might not be in stock. I think I gave Caroline a list of 14 books over the summer, and she kindly managed to get me everything I wanted, while recommending more when I asked for specific ideas (I had a few styles of storytelling I was seeking, and she found them all).

Cannot recommend enough. I have to resist going every week in order to make sure to retain some money in my bank account! The events are also great, and I've made new friends through Side Quest encounters. Highly recommend for booklovers, and anyone ranging from those new to fantasy and gaming to long-time aficionados. There's something for everyone at Side Quest, and you won't leave...

Talk about a safe space! It's clear the owner and workers are the perfect people to discuss and recommend books. If I had more money, I easily could have been convinced to buy every book there. They have a variety of ways to suggest books by genres, plots, characters, or connections to other stories you've enjoyed before, so don't be afraid to ask for recommendations! The shop is cozy and small but constantly bringing in new books and hosting events. The prices were stellar! Definitely better than any chain. I was only here to visit but can't wait to visit the area again or even order books online to ship! Please keep reading and spreading the...