09/06/2026
Obviously, I am fully aware that we are reaching a peak moment where there are many KC metro bookshops, pop-up shops, and on-theme vans tossing open their doors at a curbside near you.
BUT BACK IN 2022 when I opened my first bookshop, most of these DID NOT exist.
There's a lot of ways to look at this. On the one hand, you could say that "the field was wide open" for booksellers to open up. On the other hand, there is a pretty human tendency to reach for what's trendy and popular, and to do things similar to the way other people are already doing them.
At times it has been a horrible hardship that I was too young to get a business loan. That everything I bought then (and now) has to be on a cash basis.
Two things can be true at the same time though! That part HAS been a pain in the butt. It has sometimes affected my ability to restock inventory or have fuller shelves. I look around at all of these people that have started up bookselling operations in the last couple years and they have more fully stocked stores FROM DAY ONE because they don't have this continual challenge that I wrestle with. It would be dishonest to not acknowledge that.
BUT THERE IS LIGHT! It's ALSO true that this hardship has forced me... no, TRAINED ME... To look OUTSIDE of the box. In fact, I am so comfortable working outside of the box that I literally do not understand (and have developed a hatred for) some of the typical bookseller purchasing platforms! And this has been A BENEFIT because when I look around at my store... it is abundantly clear that one of the many things that sets me apart is the fact that I am ordering outside of the designated script!
This photo attached is a cropped screenshot from just one of many bookseller emails that I receive in my inbox weekly.
Disclaimer: I don't know anything about THIS book or this author and what I'm going to say here has no bearing on whether or not this is actually a quality book. If you know this author or if you know this book, wonderful! If you love it, even better. But I want to illustrate to you how my brain discernment works as a bookseller when I receive promotional messages in my inbox and I'm going to use this as an example...
First of all, I DO initially judge many books by their cover. 😆 I can point out hundreds of books with awful covers that are also great and worth owning But when you have so many books passing in front of your face, I think it's human nature to first size them all up by cover art, colors, and fonts.
The second thing I always run to is wanting to know what genre the book is and the briefest idea of what it's about. In this case... a "no spice romantasy".
Now there are some stores who specialize in that genre and this would immediately leap out to THEM. I appreciate and value my friendships with booksellers who lean hard in that direction, but there are a number of reasons that I do not. And yet I do still need to keep a sprinkling of romantasy in the store... because it is 2026. So I've already seen a couple of things that don't thrill me, but I'm still paying attention...
And then, just like that... I'm a few seconds into looking at my inbox and I'm done with this one. I saw something. Do you know what it is?
Now if you listen to popular culture, I'm 17 and I'm supposed to be on TikTok constantly. Right? THEORETICALLY I should love that they have secured so many influencers to rave about this book.
Nope.
Not me.
I'm done.
You just told me in your promotion that this book is being artificially boosted. I personally think that should make most people cringe.
If you see behind the curtain and recognize you are being TOLD to read something or someone is hammering heavily above your head... DOES THAT TELL YOU ANYTHING ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE BOOK?
At THIS VERY MOMENT, various corners of the publishing industry are telling booksellers AND readers that they NEED the Mr. Beast and James Patterson book. Check out your big box store and as my mom says, they look like "a NASCAR situation"... Paid promotional "buzz" posted everywhere.
Barnes & Noble did this with Whistler this year, James last year, and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store the year prior. HUGE signs ("NASCAR", says my mom)... Emails to customers... And the indie bookshops were supposed to follow suit, if you look at the weight of promotions sent to us too. I sold (and continue to sell) each of those great books, sure. ...But those are not the #1 bestsellers I would highlight for you in each of the last three years from my store! Not even close. (Sorry, Ann Patchett)
And "TikTok influencers"?
👎 Just........ No.
I have said THIS before too....
I often see middle-aged women who reference themselves as a ... Meanwhile, I am an ACTUAL girl and an ACTUAL boss, and I cringe at the idea of such a gross label. (Someone, please introduce me to just one boyboss and I MIGHT rethink my stance.)
SIMILARLY, I'm the young, target audience that influencer culture theoretically built the entire foundation of my whole generation upon... And I EQUALLY CRINGE because from my vantage point, "girlbosses" and influencer culture is dead. Buried. It's like "6...7".
Will there still be booksellers on the hook even though I bailed? Sure. TikTok promos, giant billboards, and hammers 🔨 over the head are proof of *"industry excitement"*, others will say.
But it won't be me. I'm more than happy to give you directions down the street to the store that will have all of those things paid influence bought... Mr. Beast included.
Your girlboss,
🤣
Halley
P.s.... We are closed on Mondays, labor day included. I am, however, open today from 9 to 3. That's a lie. Will be a tiny bit late because I have to go get coffee!
