It’s a short drive from where you are to a West Virginia bookstore with character and charm.

written by Pam Kasey and Devin Lacy
Independent Bookstores
A New Chapter
922 Washington Street West, Lewisburg
newchapterbookswv.com
NEW BOOKS
Argo Books
7 East Main Street, Buckhannon
theargobooks.com
NEW AND USED BOOKS
Alexandria on Main
119 3rd Street, Elkins
alexandriaonmain.com
NEW AND USED BOOKS
Bank Books
145 S Queen Street, Martinsburg
bankbookswv.com
USED BOOKS
The Book Store
161 North Street, New Martinsville
wetzelcountybookstore.com
NEW AND USED BOOKS
Booktenders
621 Central Avenue, Barboursville
booktenderswv.com
NEW BOOKS
Cicada Books & Coffee
604 14th Street West, Huntington
cicadabooks.com
NEW AND USED BOOKS
Four Seasons Books
114 West German Street, Shepherdstown
fourseasonsbooks.com
NEW AND USED BOOKS
Fuzzy Dog Books & Music
201 East Washington Street, Charles Town
fuzzydogbooks.com
NEW AND USED BOOKS
The Hatter’s Bookshop
929 Mercer Street, Princeton
“The Hatter’s Bookshop” on FB
USED BOOKS
The Inner Geek
30 Pullman Square, Huntington
@innergeekhuntington on FB
NEW AND USED BOOKS
J & M Books and Play
508 37th Street, Parkersburg
@jandmbooksandplay on FB
NEW AND USED BOOKS
Monkey Wrench Books
214 High Street, Morgantown
@monkeywrenchbookswv on FB
NEW AND USED BOOKS
The Paradox Bookstore
2228 Market Street, Wheeling
@paradoxbookstore on FB
USED BOOKS
Plot Twist Books
209 D Street, South Charleston
plottwistbooks.com
NEW AND USED BOOKS
Taylor Books
226 Capitol Street, Charleston
taylorbooks.com
NEW AND USED BOOKS
Vigilant Books
1900 Market Street, Wheeling
@VigilantBooks on FB
USED BOOKS
WordPlay
50 West Main Street, Wardensville
wordplaywv.com
NEW BOOKS
BOOKSTORES IN MARKETPLACES
Maple Grove Books
68½ East 2nd Avenue, Williamson
Located at The Collective Retail & Artisan Shops
“Maple Grove Books, LLC” on FB
NEW AND USED BOOKS
Main Line Books
316 Railroad Avenue, Elkins
Located at The Delmonte Market
“Main Line Books” on FB
NEW AND USED BOOKS
Scapegoat Books
1401 Charles Avenue, Dunbar
Located at the Eclectic Goods Market
USED BOOKS
BOOK MOBILE
The Book Hop
This traveling children’s book shop roams a radius around Martinsburg sharing the love of imagination, adventure, and literature. thebookhopwv.com, @thebookhopwv on FB
Workman Books
A small, thoughtfully curated pop-up selection of new and used books ranging from cookbooks to children’s books to classics found at events in the Bridgeport area. “Workman Books” on FB
Living the Shelf Life
Meet a few of the passionate book-lovers who are bringing life and literature to their communities.
MATT BROWNING
Plot Twist Books, South Charleston
Matt Browning explored local independent bookstores all over the state, turning his journey into a book and a podcast. “Industry-wide, the perseverance of indie bookstores was wonderful to really dive into and hear from the booksellers,” he says.
For Browning, Plot Twist Books was meant to be a retirement project, but good advice had him and co-owner Brian Mann going ahead and opening the shop in 2023. It has only grown since, expanding to offer stays at the Bookshop Bungalow, a studio apartment on the top level of the store that allows guests to wander the shop at their leisure—even after closing.
“We let folks be as much a part of the bookshop as they want to be,” Browning says. And some guests want to really be a part of it. “For the people that want this level of experience, we offer to show them how we run the place. It’s been fun, because we’ve had some people from out of state come to learn the book business to open their own store.”
Favorite Recent Read: Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin
MARLENE ENGLAND
WordPlay, Wardensville
Marlene England and her husband, Tom, opened WordPlay after a visit to Wardensville inspired their retail genes. The people of Wardensville welcomed them with open arms.
“Community is very important to us. We know how hard small business is,” England says—they also own two other shops in Frederick, Maryland. “To have the support, you have to be a part of and genuinely care about the community. And we do. We want to be there, listen, and see what they want from us.” This might lead to an adjustment to their offerings, book clubs, or author signings. Or it might be taking the books—and their authors—to the local schools. Their nonprofit program WordPlay Connects seeks to put free books in the hands of the children in the region and give them access to authors, instilling an early love of reading.
“To be successful in a community, you have to be a part of it and build those relationships,” she says. “You have to love people more than books!”
Currently Reading: Somehow: Thoughts on Love by Anne Lamott
KENDRA GOLDSBOROUGH
Four Seasons Books, Shepherdstown
Kendra Goldsborough has been with Four Seasons Books through various phases of her life. She started out as a college student working for the store part-time in 1994, returning after a “12-year maternity leave” to manage and eventually own it. She’s put her heart into building a safe space for her beloved Shepherdstown community. “It is in my mission statement that everything we do, we do in service to our community,” Goldsborough says. “It’s always been important to me that this store is a reflection of our values and mission, a place where people can feel safe and cared for.” One of the ways FSB is doing this is through its impressive number of book clubs and events held throughout a given month, partnering with nearby Shepherd University to better serve the people of the area.
Goldborough feels it’s her job to curate an environment that reflects her community and inspires others. “We have the power to decide what our communities should be—we all create the community we live in, but it requires active participation,” she says. “Every community deserves a bookstore, and we have to do everything in our power to support these stores.”
Most Anticipated TBR: Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner
MARYANN LENDEARO
Maple Grove Books, Williamson
Maryann Lendearo got a crash course in what it takes to run a bookstore. “I was kind of at an impasse with my career. I thought about going back to school to be a librarian, and I was brainstorming one night and wondered, ‘Why don’t we have a bookstore?’ Then I thought, ‘I could do that. I could open one.’” And she did, only two months later, at The Collective Retail & Artisan Shops.
The experience, while a complete whirlwind, taught Lendearo a lot, and she’s still learning. Now, Maple Grove Books—also a small shelf at The Hive in Logan—is a thriving community space that gives residents of the Williamson area access to numerous local authors, a book club, and their next favorite book.
“Prepare,” she advises prospective bookstore owners, suggesting the American Booksellers Association for classes on how to run things. “I also went around to the other bookstores and asked questions. You learn so much and get that community, knowing someone is in your shoes and has your back, too.”
Go-to Recommendation: Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah
Once More, with Style
Secondhand bookstores are reinventing themselves.
Used bookstores have changed. Gone are the dusty shelves of forgotten volumes you’ve seen in the past—these shops are kindling love for the written word by hosting book clubs, promoting local authors and banned books, getting rowdy for Independent Bookstore Day, and more.
Alexandria on Main
You’ll find local authors among the titles at this woman- and disabled-owned new and used bookstore in the heart of Elkins, along with a selection of the readers’ accessories we all love. A full calendar of author readings, book club meetings, poetry slams, and literature-based kids’ summer camps makes for a lively community of readers. 119 3rd Street, Elkins, alexandriaonmain.com, “Alexandria on Main” on FB
Bank Books
Located in a historic bank building in downtown Martinsburg, Bank Books has many thousands of pre-loved volumes in all genres. Although it does not buy used books, it accepts donations and recycles those that are too worn for resale. Bank Books participates in the July–September Shepherdstown Book Festival Indie Bookshop Crawl and offers a cozily decorated Book Club Room for club meetings. 145 South Queen Street, Martinsburg, bankbookswv.com, @bankbooks145 on FB
Cicada Books & Coffee
This family-owned, independent, mostly used bookstore hosts author readings and multiple book clubs and buys select volumes one week a month. Cicada prides itself on its inviting atmosphere and friendly staff. Relax with a good book, your favorite coffee or tea drink, and a New York bagel sandwich. 604 14th Street West, Huntington, cicadabooks.com, @cicadabooks on FB
Inner Geek
A community spot with an eclectic mix on its shelves, Inner Geek buys used books from customers and bases its offering of new books in large part on reader requests. An entryway display and a dedicated shelf showcase local authors and works. Join the monthly book club and grab a soda and a bag of chips from the counter—and don’t miss the candy cigarettes. 30 Pullman Square, Huntington, @innergeekhuntington on FB
Vigilant Books
The love of books—”the world’s most reliable hand-held device”—is tangible at this community-oriented shop that recalls a time when independent bookstores were vibrant third places for many. Look for Vigilant in new space in late fall 2024: a renovated 1892 firehall at 650 Main Street with double the books plus a cafe, entertainment, workshops, and book club meetings. 1900 Market Street, Wheeling, @vigilantbooks on FB
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S FALL 2024 ISSUE
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