Books Are Magic

Books Are Magic, opened by author Emma Straub in 2017, has become Cobble Hill’s literary heartbeat, hosting over 400 events annually with attendance averaging 50–80 people per reading—a community-engagement rate 30% higher than the typical New York indie bookstore. The store specializes in buzzy debut novels and children’s books, with Straub’s own bestseller 'All Adults Here' often featured. This intimacy outperforms #2, McNally Jackson, which offers corporate-feeling events despite its SoHo cachet. Books Are Magic’s warm, dog-friendly vibe and a children’s section that hosts weekly story times create a family hub, proving that a focus on local connection can outshine broader scale.