Odyssey Bookshop is a family-run bookstore founded in 1963 and is the major literary hub of Western MA. It is the official Mount Holyoke College Campus Store, located right across the street from the campus, with lots of MHC stuff. The store hosts over 125 events per year, including book readings and author talks, and runs the premier signed First Editions Club. It carries a great variety of interesting books, with a large collection of fiction and also books that are being banned. The staff is sweet, cheerful, understanding, and very strong on customer service. They are super responsive, keep customers posted, and will cheerfully order books. It is the kind of bookstore where folks notice what books you are buying and will start interesting conversations. They are kind, even helping with directions to the elevator and wrapping gift items. The store is an institution with a long history, and it aims to help create and support communities of readers both online and in the shop.
I visit once a year to fill up on books for grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. I am never disappointed, and neither are the kids. I refuse to frequent the box stores that exists to squash small independents and limit my choices.
November 2023
The book readings and author talks/interviews are what keep me coming back quite regularly. Sweet staff, everything is orderly, and you leave happy to have visited such a great bookstore.
November 2023
They have large collection of frictions and also books that are being banned. I highly recommend this bookshop, I was fortunate enough to be there when the book club was happening.
