Second Annual Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl

The first ever Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl in 2023 was incredibly successful, and the festivities are back for a second year! Over thirty stores will be participating in this all-day celebration of the Greater Philadelphia region’s thriving bookish scene.  

On Saturday, August 24th, book lovers are invited to explore shops from Old City to Germantown, Fishtown through West Philadelphia, Elkins Park to Ardmore, and as far as Wayne, PA and Haddonfield, NJ. 

This First-Friday-esque (but on a Saturday!) event challenges readers to visit as many shops as possible. Participating bookstores will host a range of events, giveaways, sales, and celebrations. Readers can also celebrate alongside a bevy of beloved local authors, from critically acclaimed comic book authors to USA Today bestselling romance writers, and maybe even get your book signed!  

This year’s stores include:  

• A Novel Idea  

• American Grammar  

• Big Blue Marble  

• Bindlestiff  

• Binding Agents  

• Booked  

• Brave New Worlds  

• Capricorn Books  

• Children’s Book World  

• The DuBois Robeson People’s Center  

• PAT @ Giovanni’s Room  

• Harriett’s  

• Headhouse Books  

• Healing While Black  

• H&H Books  

• Hilltop Books  

• Iffy Books  

• Inkwood Books  

• The Last Word  

• Main Point Books  

• Making Worlds  

• Mavey Books  

• Miscellanea Libri  

• Molly’s Books and Records  

• Mostly Books  

• Multiverse  

• Neighborhood Books  

• Open Book   

• Partners & Son  

• Umoja House  

• Uncle Bobbie’s  

• Wooden Shoe Books  

Sponsors this year include: 

Running Press, William Morrow, Atria, Avon, Kensington, June Road Press, Tundra Books, Quarto, Avon, Quirk Books, and Harper Children’s. 

Participating local authors include: 

Sarahlyn Bruck (Light of the Fire), Nick Gregorio (Launch Me to the Stars, I’m Finished Here), Victoria Mier (Beyond the Aching Door), USA Today bestselling author Xio Axelrod (Girls with Bad Reputations), Jennifer Herrera (The Hunter), Dr. Melissa Ford (Their Example Will Inspire Us), Jadzia Axelrod (DC’s Hawkgirl, Galaxy: The Prettiest Star), Jiordan Castle (Disappearing Act), poet Boney Atlas, Dr. Mercedes Osakwe (The Enchanted Garden Affirmation Coloring Book), Lambda Literary Award nominee Alina Pleskova (Toska), Eshani Surya (Ravishing, coming soon with Roxane Gay Books), Joseph Earl Thomas (God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer), Laura Piper Lee (Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair), Annie Liontas (Sex with a Brain Injury), Katherine Vaz (Above the Salt), Elise Juska (Reunion), Lambda Literary Award nominee Emma Copley Eisenberg (Housemates), and more to be announced.  

Exciting highlight events include:   

• An industry brain pick at American Grammar in Fishtown featuring literary agents and editors including Jennifer Herrera (David Black Literary Agency), Britny Perilli (Running Press), Liz Kossnar (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers), Eric Smith (P.S. Literary) and Leslie Zampetti (Open Book Literary). It’ll take place at 10am at the shop.  

• An afterparty celebration at Main Point Books in Wayne with acclaimed authors telling stories from 7pm to 9pm, with Anne Liontas, Katherine Vaz, Elise Juska, and Emma Copley Eisenberg.   

• A sneak peek at a brand-new bookshop opening in the Italian Market, Binding Agents, a cookbook shop that will open at 908 Christian Street. Molly’s Books and Records is joining in the celebration with Cosmic Writers, selling The Monster-Building Handbook, and offering a tour of the new space before it even opens. 

For more information on the events, including an ongoing list of giveaways and signing, you can visit the official Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl website (www.phillybookstorecrawl.com), and follow the crawl on Instagram where they’re regularly posting new updates (https://www.instagram.com/phillybookcrawl/). Select local authors are very available for interviews and press. You can also contact the event’s founder, Eric Smith (ericsmithrocks@gmail.com).