August 2020 Update: I did it! I have now been to every bookstore in Prince Edward Island!
They said it couldn’t be done. The fools. The fools! (Keep in mind, another bookstore could open after August 2020. So if you’re reading this after that date, I might be missing one. Let me know!)
To say “I love bookstores” is a cliché. What writer/reader doesn’t like a bookstore?
Still. It’s very true. I like how books look on a shelf. I like how they feel. I even like how bookstores smell.
I’ve decided I would like to try to visit every bookstore* (new and used) on Prince Edward Island.
When you live on a small island made up of relatively small towns, picking an arbitrary goal like this is actually quite doable. Unless that goal involves visiting all of PEI’s seafood restaurants. Now that might be impossible. By the time you get to the last one at the end of the island, four more will have popped up elsewhere in the province. *I am including comic book stores in this list but not stores that don’t specifically specialize in books or comic books. Also left out topic-specific bookstores (college, religion, Anne of Green Gables, et cetera). As of August 2, 2019, I have visited all bookstores in the province, save for just one.
What about you, what you visited all the bookstores of Prince Edward Island?
Bookstores in Charlottetown
BOOKMARK
172 Queen Street, Charlottetown | Website My indie-owned bookstore of choice and very close to my heart, and not just because they carry my paperbacks in-store. In addition to their fantastic selection, they have so many cool bookish things and art supplies. They’re also extremely engaged in the writing community and host losts of fantastic bookish events.
INDIGO
465 University Avenue, Charlottetown | Website A good selection and lots of pretty things. My usual go-to for kids books in particular.
BOOK EMPORIUM
169 Queen Street, Charlottetown | Facebook Used books.
THE BOOKMAN
177 Queen Street, Charlottetown | Website New, used, and rare books.
THE COMIC HUNTER
183 Queen Street, Charlottetown | Website Comic books, graphic novels, games, and more.
LIGHTNING BOLT COMICS
99 Grafton Street, Charlottetown | Facebook Comics, games, toys, and more.
Bookstores in Summerside
Seaside Books
240 Water Street, Summerside “A bookshop with just books.”
Had the absolute delight of checking this place out in early August 2020. What a treasure! A huge selection of used books in lots of different genres. Nancy is a gem.
Coles
475 Granville Street, Summerside | Website New books. Located in the County Fair Mall.
Bookstores Elsewhere on PEI
JEM Books
6922 Rustico Road, North Rustico | Website Lovely little seasonal bookshop. Used fiction and non-fiction.
We have been driving across Canada in our EV and have visited at least 17 indie bookstores between BC and the Maritimes. Can’t wait to visit the ones on PEI. You can follow our blog if you want to visit others from BC to here.
Our home town is Mission, BC and our independent bookstore is Totally Book-ish
Seaside Books in Summerside and Lightning Bolt Comics in Charlottetown are now unfortunately closed.
I’d love to see BC (and its bookstores!) someday. I’ve never been west of Ontario.