Best of Boston

2005 Best Bookstore

Brookline Booksmith

It’s not easy for an independent bookstore to weather the perfect storm of Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Amazon.com; more local favorites have closed this year. But this shop takes on the giants and one-ups them with a crew of bibliophiles and the city’s best reading series. Add to this a thoughtfully balanced inventory and the Used Book Cellar, and you’ll see why Brookline Booksmith is a page-turner.

279 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-566-6660, brooklinebooksmith.com/