More Than Just Books: Exploring Bookstores Near USM
October 19, 2026
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by Camille Alipalo
At some point, I realized I was spending more time reading captions than reading novels. I’m a graduate student at the University of Southern Maine, currently in my final year studying Leadership and Organizational Studies. Between classes, work, and everything else that comes with being a student, I’ve been thinking more about how I choose to spend my free time.
It started gradually — I was constantly scanning captions, photos, videos, and pieces of other people’s lives. Eventually, it started to feel like I was experiencing everyone else’s life instead of living my own. If I added up all the time I spent scrolling through content, I probably could have read something much more substantial, maybe even a few novels.
So, I decided to make a change. I deleted social media during the workweek and created boundaries for myself on the weekends. I still wanted a way to connect with people, but I didn’t want scrolling to be the default in every free moment. Without it, I started returning to something I loved when I was younger: reading.
Reading for leisure had become difficult during college. Between assigned readings, schoolwork, and everything else competing for my attention, reading a book for fun didn’t seem like something I had time for. Looking back now, I wonder how much of that time was actually there. I was just spending it somewhere else.
Getting back into reading has almost felt like rewiring my brain. Starting a book can take some effort — it can be a little like trying a new food or meeting a new friend. You have to give it a chance. Sometimes after a few bites, you fall in love. Other times, you realize it isn’t for you and move on to something else.
Recently, I read “Liar’s Dice,” which transported me all the way to Rio. That’s part of what I’d forgotten about reading. Sometimes you want a book that mirrors something you’re living through, and sometimes you just want to escape somewhere completely different. Rediscovering my love for reading made me curious about the bookstores around me that I hadn’t really explored.
Looking for a student discount, finding something else
I started exploring bookstores near USM with a pretty practical question: Are there benefits for college students that I don’t know about?
One of the things I love about being at USM is how much there is to explore beyond campus. With Portland’s bookstores, cafés, and local businesses scattered throughout the city, there are plenty of opportunities to turn an ordinary afternoon into something special.
I visited bookstores around Portland, including Yes Books, Longfellow Books, PRINT, Back Cove Books, Nonesuch Books, Grump & Sunshine, Sherman’s, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million. I even ventured farther south to Octopus Books in Kennebunk — Bookworm in Gorham is still on my list.
Some are just a short walk or bus ride from the Portland campus, tucked into the Arts District and Old Port, where you can wander between local businesses and discover something new along the way. Others take you into different neighborhoods or nearby towns — a great excuse for a day trip.
What I discovered wasn’t exactly what I expected. Student discounts weren’t the big benefit I thought I might uncover. What I started noticing instead were rewards programs, book clubs, events, cafés, recommendations, cozy corners, and places designed for people to linger.
I went looking for ways students could save money. Instead, I found opportunities that students might want to invest in.
Every bookstore has its own story
One of my favorite parts of exploring these stores was realizing that no two bookstores felt quite the same.
At Longfellow Books, I loved the thoughtful curation and recommendations throughout the store. Browsing almost felt like walking around with a friendly guide who was quietly pointing you toward something you might enjoy.
Yes Books offered a completely different experience. It felt rustic and unique, and searching through the store was almost like going on a scavenger hunt. You don’t necessarily know what you’ll find, which is part of the fun.
PRINT felt vibrant and welcoming, while Sherman’s gave me the feeling of stepping into the kind of classic bookstore you might see in a Hallmark movie.
Then there was Nonesuch Books, where there was so much more to wander through than books. The gifts and little knickknacks made browsing feel like an activity in itself.
Grump & Sunshine stood out to me for another reason. It felt like a space where people could connect over a particular genre, interest, or fan base.
The larger bookstores offer their own advantages, too. Places like Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million have cafés, giving you somewhere to grab something, sit down, and stay awhile.
But one of the places that made me think the most about what a bookstore can offer students was Back Cove Books.
Finding a third space
Back Cove Books felt cozy in a very intentional way. With comfortable couches and little nooks to tuck yourself into, it didn’t feel like the goal was to get you through the door, have you spend money, and send you on your way. It felt like they wanted you to stay.
Located in Portland’s Woodfords Corner neighborhood, Back Cove Books is just a short walk from campus — and a spot worth knowing about.For students on the Portland campus, even the walk there can become something to do. You can finish class, take a walk, browse without necessarily needing to buy anything, find somewhere comfortable to read, or look into joining a book club.
There’s also something refreshing about leaving class and walking into a bookstore. After spending so much of the day looking at screens, being able to physically explore what’s in front of you — picking up books, flipping through pages, discovering something you weren’t looking for — feels different from shopping online.
Sometimes, having somewhere to go is enough. That’s what made me start thinking about bookstores as a potential “third space,” somewhere outside of school and home where you can simply spend time. College can make it easy to move between class, work, home, and our phones. Having another place where you feel comfortable spending time can offer a welcome break from that routine.
Bookstores can also make an activity that seems solitary surprisingly social. At Octopus Books in Kennebunk, for example, I discovered people gathering to talk about current reads while snacking, and spending time reading together.
You don’t necessarily have to arrive knowing anyone. The book already gives you something to talk about. That kind of experience changed the way I thought about what a “student benefit” could mean.
Getting off the phone and onto a page
I’m not suggesting every USM student should delete social media or suddenly read a novel every week. Social media is still part of my life, too, which is why I’ve chosen to create boundaries with it rather than remove it entirely. But I’ve become more conscious of where I’m investing my attention.
For me, reading has become a way to have fun while also slowing down. I’m practicing focusing on one thing and staying committed to it rather than constantly moving from one piece of content to another. A bookstore gives that experience in a physical place.
Maybe you want a cozy corner where you can read between classes. Maybe you’re looking for a book club where you can meet people. Maybe you want a café where you can study with a friend. Maybe you want to wander around Nonesuch looking at gifts, dig through Yes Books like you’re on a hunt to discover something new, or let the recommendations at Longfellow point you toward a book you never would have chosen yourself.
Or maybe you just need somewhere to go for an hour instead of reaching for your phone.
I started this search wondering which bookstores around USM could help students save a little money. I didn’t find the student discounts I expected. Instead, I found something I wasn’t looking for: places where students can invest some of their time, attention, curiosity, and maybe even find a little community along the way.
Sometimes the benefit of a bookstore isn’t what you save when you walk in. It’s what you take with you when you leave.
