4th ANNUAL CAPE & ISLANDS BOOKSTORE TRAIL

Discover the Cape and Islands through independent bookstores Who knew there are so many bookstores on Cape Cod and the Islands? Follow the Cape & Islands Bookstore Trail to discover a delightful trail of new and used bookstores from Falmouth to Provincetown, Martha’s Vineyard to Nantucket. It’s like a pub crawl – but with books!

What is the Bookstore Trail?

Each year, the trail launches on Independent Bookstore Day in April and continues through Banned Books Week in September. The goal of the Trail is to share a love of literature and highlight the unique and diverse array of independent bookstores on Cape Cod and the Islands. The Trail was started in 2019 by Eight Cousins Books (Falmouth), Titcomb’s Bookshop (Sandwich), and Where the Sidewalk Ends (Chatham). The bookstores are so happy to have brought it back in 2024 for its fourth year.

Where Does the Bookstore Trail Lead?

There is a bookstore for every interest on the Trail. Antiquarian collectors and lovers of cozy old bookshops can find used bookstores like Isaiah Thomas (Cotuit) and Parnassus Book Service (Yarmouth Port). Those seeking particularly inclusive booksellers that specifically amplify underrepresented voices will be delighted to find the pop-up Belonging Books (now with a location in Hyannis) or Bread + Roses (bookstore and plant-based cafe in Hyannis). Heading to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket for your vacation? You will be happy to learn that there are two bookstores on each island!

Most of the bookstores host a plethora of exciting events throughout the summer and fall, so be sure to check out their websites and follow them on social media to see what is happening! Many of the bookstores also offer large selections of gifts, toys, games, and cards in addition to books, and some offer complimentary gift wrapping – a one-stop shop for birthdays and holidays!

Two Dozen Independent Bookstores

Twenty-four independent bookstores are participating in 2024, including Annie’s Books and Gifts in Orleans, Belonging Books (previously a pop-up store that now has a more permanent location in Hyannis), Below the Brine Bookshop in Harwich Port, Bread + Roses in Hyannis, Brewster Book Store in Brewster, Bunch of Grapes Bookstore in Vineyard Haven, East End Books in Provincetown, Edgartown Books in Edgartown, Eight Cousins Books in Falmouth, Herridge Books in Wellfleet, I Cannot Live Without Books and The Mystery Bookshop in West Dennis, Isaiah Thomas Books in Cotuit, Market Street Bookshop in Mashpee, Mitchell’s Book Corner and Nantucket Bookworks on Nantucket, Parnassus Book Service in Yarmouth Port, Provincetown Bookshop in Provincetown, Reed Books in Harwich Port, Sea Howl Bookshop in Orleans, Titcomb’s Bookshop in East Sandwich, Wellfleet Booksmith in Wellfleet, Where the Sidewalk Ends Bookstore in Chatham, and Yellow Umbrella Books in Chatham.

Gathering Books & Prizes

Visit at least 3 bookstores (or as many as you are able) and enter to win a gift card to the participating bookstore of your choice. Enter to win one of two $50 gift cards or one $150 gift card. One entry per person. The drawing ends September 28, 2024.

Trail maps are available at any of the participating bookstores and can be printed out online at capeandislandsbookstoretrail.com. Be sure to get your map stickered by a bookseller at each store!

The 2023 winners were so excited to get their gift cards. Seven-year-old Rosie Rheault chose Where the Sidewalk Ends (Chatham) for her gift card. She “loves going to libraries and bookstores when she visits Cape Cod because she can find different books than at home, often about animals which is her favorite subject.” – Amye Rheault (Rosie’s mom)

Winner Perri Sanborn chose Below the Brine Bookshop (Harwich Port) for her gift card: “We are extraordinarily fortunate to have so many delightful small bookstores on Cape Cod, each with their own character and run by wonderful local people! The bookstore trail is great fun, and good encouragement to visit a bookstore you have never been to before! Get out there and support your local bookstores!”

The Cape & Islands Bookstore Trail is organized by The Brewster Book Store in Brewster, Eight Cousins Books in Falmouth, and Titcomb’s Bookshop in East Sandwich.

For more information, visit capeandislandsbookstoretrail.com or contact the C&I Bookstore Trail team at capebooktrail@gmail.com.

Our guest author, Rae Titcomb is a Cape & Islands Bookstore Trail organizer as well as the general manager and events coordinator at Titcomb’s Bookshop in East Sandwich. Titcomb’s Bookshop is a fourth-generation family owned and operated independent bookstore providing a thoughtful selection of books, toys, and gifts to the Cape Cod community since 1969.