Bookstore
Photo by Andre Thibault Photography
Book Around is built on the belief that every book has a story to tell, not just in its pages, but in the journey it takes from one reader to the next. As a primarily preowned bookstore, we have a selection of books that have been loved, shared, and are now ready to be passed along to new readers.
We’re committed to sustainability, giving books a second life and helping reduce waste while keeping the joy of reading alive. There are so many ways to extend the life of a book, starting with finding your next read in a preowned bookstore like ours!
Beyond our preowned inventory, readers can find a wide variety of locally written books by authors across Rhode Island and beyond. Authors invest so much energy (and money) into their work. Book Around is committed to being as author-centric as possible, offering Rhode Island’s authors a place to showcase their work.
Stay tuned for a selection of new, mainstream titles, coming soon!
Community Space
Book Around is so much more than just a bookstore; it’s a vibrant community hub where connections are made. As we work to establish our presence in Pawtucket and beyond, keep an eye out for our events calendar!
Our goal is to create an inclusive space where everyone, regardless of age or background, feels welcome. We encourage individuals and organizations alike to reach out. We can’t wait to meet you!
A message from
The Owner
Photo by Andre Thibault Photography
Hi! I’m Alyssa Flori, owner, operator, and book enthusiast behind Book Around. During my freshman year of college, I took on a side gig as the social media manager for a local author. By 2022, I had connected with several authors and by 2023, I registered a fully operational consulting agency for authors as an LLC in Rhode Island. Enter Flori Fundamentals.
In working alongside authors in Rhode Island and beyond, I found that one of the biggest challenges for non-traditionally published authors is finding opportunities to introduce their work to new audiences beyond the digital space. Enter Book Around!
The longstanding dream since I wasn’t much bigger than a stack of books was to open a bookstore that reminds people of the value that books hold, no matter their popularity, condition, or cover. That dream still stands and is heavily incorporated into Book Around, but now there’s a bigger piece: supporting community by connecting readers and authors in a physical space.
To all of my fellow readers, book buyers (real ones know you don't have to be both), small business supporters, local organizations, and everyone in between, Book Around is for you.
Photo by Andre Thibault Photography
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The quality of our preowned books varies, and we price them accordingly based on their condition. We aim to provide affordable options for every budget!
Each book is carefully inspected to ensure it’s in good enough shape to be enjoyed by its next reader. While some books may show signs of wear, such as creased spines, cover scuffs, or slightly dog-eared pages, others may be in near-new condition.
Locally written books are all new and priced by the authors.
Regardless of their appearance, all of our books are fully readable and ready for a new home!
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Yes! We happily accept book drop-offs from our community. If you have gently used books that you no longer need, feel free to bring them to our store. In exchange for your generosity, we offer a small thank you to encourage your continued support of our bookstore and helping keep books in circulation.
For every drop-off, you’ll receive 10% off your next purchase. This is our way of showing gratitude to our supporters for contributing to the sustainability and growth of our store!
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You can stay updated on our upcoming events through our website, social media pages, or by signing up for our newsletter.
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If you’re looking for a specific book, feel free to ask us! Due to the nature of a preowned inventory, we cannot guarantee any specific titles, however we can offer to source a new copy of the book for you! Please contact us to learn more.
If you’re looking for a local title that we don’t have, we are happy to contact the author to request their book(s). Local authors are encouraged to consider consigning their books with Book Around!
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We love hosting events! The space is available to authors* and/or organizations for community events, as well as to individuals for private events.
Please reach out to us to discuss availability and requirements.
*If you're interested in hosting a book launch, please be in touch to discuss the details.
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Our bookstore takes a unique approach to organization. Rather than using the traditional method of categorizing books into extensive genres or subgenres, we keep things simple with a few main categories, including kids, middle grade, fiction, and non-fiction. Within these, you’ll find a few hyper-niche sections that highlight special themes or interests, but for the most part, our system is designed to encourage exploration.
Readers tend to browse their favorite categories when shopping for books. The intentional simplicity of our approach invites you to browse more freely, stumble upon unexpected reads, and maybe even discover a story you might not have chosen otherwise!