Metro Boston Indie Bookstore Crawl 2025
A literary scavenger hunt for the cool, the curious, and the caffeine-fueled.
Follow along a month-long celebration of independent bookstores around the Greater Boston area, culminating in Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 26th.
Twenty-one shops, twenty-one different vibes.
- Grab a “Metro Boston Indie Bookstore Crawl Passport” at any participating store
- Collect stamps as you visit each bookstore (No Purchase Necessary)
- Celebrate Local Book/Bookstore Love
- Be on the path to win bookish prizes
— including a chance at one of five gift baskets stacked with bookish swag.
The goal? Visit as many shops as your heart (and feet) can handle.
Table of Contents
The Full List: All 21 Metro Boston Indie Bookstore Crawl 2025 Participants
Here’s the full alphabetized list of indie bookstores to visit during the Metro Boston Indie Bookstore Crawl, complete with links, locations, and prize details for Independent Bookstore Day (April 26, 2025):
All She Wrote Books – 451 Artisan Way, Somerville, MA 02145
On Independent Bookstore Day: 5 or more stamps = All She Wrote Sticker
Grand Prize: Bundle of Justice Postcards made by CollectiveVision
Beacon Hill Books & Café – 71 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114
On Independent Bookstore Day: Custom IBD sticker for anyone with a passport
Grand Prize: Paige the Squirrel plush, Paige of Beacon Hill book, and “Please Read to Me” Mini Tote
Brookline Booksmith – 279 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02446
On Independent Bookstore Day: 5+ stamps = 15% off new, full-price books
Grand Prize: Brookline Booksmith Beanie
East End Books Boston Seaport – 389 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210
On Independent Bookstore Day: 5-9 stamps = 10% off any book; 10+ stamps = 20% off any book
Grand Prize: $100 Gift Certificate
Frugal Bookstore – 57 Warren Street, Roxbury, MA 02119
On Independent Bookstore Day: 10+ stamps = 10% discount
*Grand Prize: $15 Gift Card + Frugal Bookstore Tote
Harvard Book Store – 1256 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138
On Independent Bookstore Day: 5+ stamps = HBS Sticker; 10+ = HBS Pen; 15+ = HBS Pouch; 20+ = HBS Mug
Grand Prize: 2 tickets to any event + 20% off one purchase (up to $200, exclusions apply)
I AM Books – 124 Salem Street, Boston, MA 02113
On Independent Bookstore Day: Free signature tote with $50+ purchase (normally $150 minimum)
Grand Prize: “Don’t Worry” children’s book + plush turtle
Just Bookish – 132 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114
On Independent Bookstore Day: 5+ stamps = 5% off; 10+ stamps = 10% off
Grand Prize: 1 Tote & 1 Just Bookish Hat
Lovestruck Books – 18 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
On Independent Bookstore Day: 5+ stamps = Sticker; 10+ = Pen; 15+ = Pouch; 20+ = Mug
Grand Prize: 2 event tickets + 20% off one purchase (up to $200, exclusions apply)
MIT Press Bookstore – 314 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142
On Independent Bookstore Day: 1–20 stamps = pick from prize box (bookmarks, stickers, ARCs, etc.); Full card = prize box + stylish MIT tote
Grand Prize: 5-book bundle from Radium Age sci-fi series
Narrative – 338 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02115
On Independent Bookstore Day: 5+ stamps = Sticker + 5% off; 10+ = 10% off; full card = ARC
Grand Prize: Autographed book + 2 event tickets
Grand Prize: $25 Gift Card
Pandemonium Books & Games – 4 Pleasant Street, Cambridge, MA 02139
On Independent Bookstore Day: 5% off for every 5 stamps; 25% off for full passport
Grand Prize: 1–2 special edition hardcovers* $20 Gift Certificate
Papercuts – 60 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
On Independent Bookstore Day: Free cookie + gift (while supplies last)
Grand Prize: $75 gift card + tote + Papercuts Anthology* Limited edition signed copy of a local author’s book
Parkside Bookshop – 3 Blackstone Street, Boston, MA 02109
On Independent Bookstore Day: 10+ stamps = tote with purchase; full passport = bucket hat
Grand Prize: Parkside bucket hat
Grand Prize: $25 Gift Card + Bookstore Swag
Porter Square Books (Cambridge) – 1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140
On Independent Bookstore Day: 1% off per passport stamp
Grand Prize: Private shopping spree at either location* $50 Gift Certificate + Tote + Patch + Mug
Porter Square Books: Boston Edition – 50 Liberty Drive, Boston, MA 02210
On Independent Bookstore Day: Same rewards as Cambridge location
Grand Prize: Shared drawing – Private shopping spree at either location* Shared drawing with Cambridge location
Rozzie Bound Co-op – 739 South Street, Roslindale, MA 02131
On Independent Bookstore Day: 1 blind date book for every 5 stamps
Grand Prize: 10% off future purchase* Book Bundle of Local Authors
A Sanctuary Café – 80 Beacon Street, Somerville, MA 02143
On Independent Bookstore Day: Cat sticker for all; 10+ stamps = custom letterpress bookmark
Grand Prize: Book matchmaking session + free drink* $25 Sanctuary Café Gift Certificate
Frugal Bookstore at Nubian Markets – 2565 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02119
On Independent Bookstore Day: Passport stamp earns a free bookmark or sticker
Grand Prize: $10 Gift Certificate + Free Book
Side Quest Books & Games – 1 Bow Market Way, Somerville, MA 02143
On Independent Bookstore Day: 5–9 stamps = 5% off; 10+ = 10% off
Grand Prize: Free tote or mug with custom fantasy art
Grand Prize: $25 Gift Card + Game Swag
Trident Booksellers & Café – 338 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02115
On Independent Bookstore Day: Free drink coupon with purchase and passport stamp
Grand Prize: Trident Mug + Tote + $20 Gift Card
- (Prizes and participation details vary by store — check each location for details!)
FAQs
FAQs: Metro Boston Indie Bookstore Crawl 2025 – For the Curious Crawlers
Q: Do I have to start in Cambridge?
Nope! Start at any participating store. But Cambridge is a great jumping-off point — geographically and existentially.
Q: What do I get with the passport?
Each stamp = a step closer to prizes. Hit enough spots, and you could win tote bags, gift cards, custom swag, and more.
Q: How long does the crawl last?
Through Saturday, April 26th — aka Independent Bookstore Day.
Q: Can I bring my dog?
Some shops say yes! Porter Square Books and a few others are famously pet-friendly. Call first!
P.S.
If you visit any of the bookstores during the Metro Boston Indie Bookstore Crawl, tag @cambridging or shoot me a message. Share with us what books and bookstores you discover!
