NL only: Today is National Book Lovers Day, and Raleigh is filled with local literary gems — so we decided to highlight them.
National Book Lovers Day is a day where bibliophiles are celebrated for the love of reading and literature. As proud Raleighites, we think this day is pretty awesome considering that we have so many bookstores and authors with local ties.

Here are a few ways to jump start your book loving day.

Bookstores to visit

Blackbird Books & Coffee | From pop-up events to silent book clubs, this bookstore has become quite the literary destination.

Dog-Eared Books | This place is a literary haven witha homey, spacious structure + $20 fill-a-bag events. Psst, the next one is Sunday, Sept. 15.

Nice Price Books & Records | Get the literary and musical vibes you desire in this one-stop shop by picking up a new read + vinyl record.

Quail Ridge Books | This North Hills fixture has an expansive collection of children's books + is right on time for back to school.

Nice Price Books & Records has a podcast about new and reissued records. | Photo by RALtoday

Books to read

"The Kingmaker" by Kennedy Ryan | Two headstrong people who, despite their familial backgrounds and unlikely connection, find each other and have to fight through the unthinkable just to be together. Fun fact: Ryan just relocated to NC from Georgia.

"The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks | An explosive and decade-spanning love story set in coastal NC that knows no bounds, even through war.

"Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens | Set in a quiet town on the NC coast, this is a coming-of-age story + surprising murder mystery. Plus, watch the film adaptation.

"The 1619 Project" by Nikole Hannah-Jones | In this book, essays, poems + more are woven together to explore the legacy of slavery in present-day America and illuminate key moments of oppression, struggle, and resistance. Pro tip: Check out the Hulu documentary based on the book.sugg: let me track down a hulu affiliate link for you!