Beach reads, cult classics and a generous list of other genres are yours for the taking at Burton’s Bookstore (43 Front St., Greenport, 631-477-1161).
“My personal philosophy is, I want a family of any size to all be able to find something,” says owner Scott Raulsome. “Whether it’s baby books, picture books, beach reads, history, classics, young adult—we try to have a little bit of everything.”
Opened in 1979 by the Burton family, the shop is in its 11th summer under Raulsome’s ownership.
“Over the years, we kind of finetuned to where we know, depending on the season, what kind of books people are looking for,” he says. “Whether it be cookbooks for Christmastime, because people like to give them as gifts, or the newest beach reads of summer.”
The shelves at Burton’s Bookstore are stocked with every collection a reader could ask for, with colorfully painted wooden walls and bookmarks, cards, games, journals, magnets and stickers at the front of the shop.
Packing in a plethora of page turners, the unassuming but charming staple is a great place to pick out your next bed- or poolside read.
1. “The East End A to Z” by Kara Hoblin, $28. Hoblin, a local author, artist and owner and director of Greenport’s North Fork Art Collective, penned this children’s book, which tells the story of the East End through illustrations and locations listed A to Z. Suitable for all ages, the beautiful cover and imaginative interior are a love letter to the area.
2. “Great Big Beautiful Life” by Emily Henry, $29. Henry’s romance reads are a favorite among the publishing professionals who summer on the North Fork. Her latest, which sees two writers competing to tell the story of a mysterious dowager secreted away on fictional Crescent Island, is sure to be a ubiquitous beach-bag bring-along this season.
3. “My Friends” by Fredrik Backman, $29.99. From the author of the bestselling “A Man Called Ove” and the “Beartown” trilogy, Backman’s coming-of-age book is about friendships made during the summer in a seaside town and the journey, full of discoveries, that follows.
4. “Mark Twain” by Ron Chernow, $45. If you’re looking for a meaty, mighty month-
long read, this biography, depicting the life of one of America’s most iconic writers,
is by the same author who wrote about Alexander Hamilton—and the thorough depiction of humorist Twain clocks in at a hefty 1,000 pages.
5. “Remarkably Bright Creatures” by Shelby Van Pelt, $19.99. In this fictional runaway hit, Van Pelt explores the connection between Marcellus, an octopus in captivity, with Tova, a widow who works in the aquarium where he dwells. Judging by the two million-plus copies already sold of this New York Times bestseller, you might need eight arms to grab a copy (although if you call Burton’s, they’ll be happy to set one aside for you).
