"Book lovers of the North Shore are lucky to have an array of these independent retailers to accommodate their literary desires," Northshore magazine noted in showcasing "3 Small Local Book Shops on the North Shore," including:
The Book Shop of Beverly Farms, Beverly, Mass.: "At first glance, the big yellow house with its beautiful flower gardens might look like a private home. Inside, however, readers will find one of the North Shore's oldest bookstores; the shop turned 50 this year.... Because the space is small, owners Pam Price and Lee Brown focus on quality over volume, carefully choosing the best books in each category."
The Bookstore of Gloucester, "operating out of a small storefront in the city's quaint, bustling downtown since 1975, has become something of a local tradition." Owner Arwen Severance, who bought the store last May after working there for 17 years, said, "People come in here and remember coming back when they were kids--there's a lot of community love for the store."
Wicked Good Books, Salem: "Denise Kent had always dreamed of owning a bookstore. Then, the last mainstream book shop in Salem closed and Kent decided it was time to pursue her goal. Thus, four years ago, Wicked Good Books was born with the mission of ensuring Salem always has a local bookstore. The shop occupies a 900-square-foot space in a historic brick building."