Books make my heart sing! So it was exciting to visit 27th Letter Books, a Detroit-based, indie-owned bookstore.
27th Letter Books started as a pop-up but opened a permanent location on Michigan Avenue this summer. Its offerings include adult fiction and nonfiction, kid’s books, YA novels, graphic novels, and books in Spanish. Works by authors of color are well represented.
One thing I adore about visiting bookstores is seeing the staff recommendations. 27th Letter Books has those in spades. The two books I left with, Kindred by Octavia E. Butler and Scorpionfish by Natalie Bakopoulos, were because of the recommendation-card write-ups that accompanied them.
I also love when a bookstore feels like its own space, a unique personality. 27th Letter Books feels like that. Its design elements are a mix of contemporary (industrial elements, including peeling paint and exposed brick) and cozy (colorfully patterned rugs, wood-plank floors, and plush antique chairs). It’s an aesthetically pleasing place that has a welcoming vibe – in large part because of the friendly, eager-to-help booksellers at its helm.
Having experienced those inviting vibes, it’s no surprise to me that 27th Letter Books regularly holds community events, including writing meet-ups, artist talks, children’s story times, and its monthly Ampersand Book Club. Check out the Events section of its website for its latest offerings. And check out its shelves the next time your heart sings for a new book.
3546 Michigan Ave.
Detroit, MI 48216
100 Places in the D 