Southern Living magazine, as part of its the South's Best awards, named Square Books, Oxford, Miss., as the South's Best Bookstore in Mississippi, noting: "The heartbeat of Oxford can be found among the shelves inside Square Books--and its three companion stores (one for kids, one for rare finds, and another for home and lifestyle titles) all located on the city square.... Square Books is a cozy maze of literature with an impressive selection of signed and collectible books, literary fiction, and Southern fiction. Climb the narrow staircase to find even more volumes, plus a teeny-tiny coffee bar and doors leading to a balcony overlooking the courthouse. It's the perfect place to take your newest title for a spin on a breezy afternoon.
"If you need any further indication of the store's impact on the state, consider that founder and owner Richard Howorth was twice voted mayor of Oxford. The Oxford native and his wife Lisa opened Square Books in 1979 after spending two years as apprentices at Georgetown's Savile Book Shop.... Over the years, Square Books has grown exponentially. Folks come from all over the country to buy tomes from the sacred shelves of its four distinct locations. The little independent bookstore that could has made quite the name for itself, while somehow managing to remain true to its roots. And now that Richard and Lisa's son Beckett has taken over Rare Square, we're looking forward to many storied years ahead from this beloved multigenerational family business."