A Book Lover’s Thank-You List: Small Ways to Support Indie Authors and Bookstores

Around Thanksgiving, we spend a lot of time thinking about who will be around the table, what everyone is bringing, and whether we really need another dessert.

I suspect you can guess my answer to that last question.

But this season also makes me think about the people who bring something good into our lives all year. That includes the authors who keep us reading past bedtime and the booksellers who somehow know exactly what we need to read next.

Books give us places to escape, characters to root for, and sometimes a little company when we need it. This Thanksgiving, why not send some appreciation back to the people helping those stories find us?

You don’t need a shopping budget or a large social media following. There are plenty of small, meaningful ways to say thank you.

Leave a Few Honest Words

If you enjoyed a book, consider leaving an honest review wherever you usually share your reading thoughts.

It doesn’t have to be a polished essay. You don’t need to summarize the entire plot, analyze the symbolism, or sound like someone grading a college paper.

A few specific sentences are enough. What did you enjoy? Who might like it? Did the setting make you want to move there, or did a character feel like someone you’d invite for coffee?

Something like this can help another reader decide whether to give a story a try:

“I loved the small-town setting and the slow-growing romance. This was a lovely book to curl up with after a long week.”

Write what you actually think, in your own words. That’s what makes it useful.

And please don’t worry that you read the book months ago. A bookish thank-you doesn’t have an expiration date.

Play Matchmaker Between a Book and a Friend

You know that moment when you finish a story and immediately think, “Oh, she would love this”?

Tell her.

Send a text, mention it over lunch, or share the title in your book club. Add a little reason: “This has the second-chance romance you love,” or “The heroine’s sense of humor reminded me of you.”

As someone who writes romance, I’m very much in favor of a little matchmaking. Connecting a reader with their next favorite book seems like an excellent use of those skills.

Give a Story a Little Space Online

If an author shares something that interests you, consider passing it along with a sentence about why.

Maybe it’s a new release, a peek behind the scenes, or a post that made you laugh. Your own words give your friends a reason to stop and look.

“This sounds like the cozy Christmas read I’ve been looking for” feels like the beginning of a conversation.

You can also subscribe to an author’s or independent bookstore’s newsletter if you genuinely want to hear more from them. It’s a simple way to stay connected and discover what they’re working on, recommending, or celebrating.

No need to sign up for everything. Choose the bookish voices you’d enjoy having in your inbox.

Let Your Library Know What You’d Love to Read

Check whether your library has a purchase-suggestion process. If it does, you can suggest a book you’d like it to consider, including a title by an independent author.

Libraries have their own selection policies, budgets, and availability requirements, so a suggestion isn’t a guarantee. But it’s a thoughtful way to express interest in a story and potentially help other readers discover it, too.

Have the title and author’s name handy, along with the ISBN if you can find it, and follow your library’s instructions.

While you’re there, thank a librarian for a recommendation or a program you enjoyed. The people connecting us with books deserve a little appreciation as well.

Shop Small When Your Budget Allows

If books are on your holiday gift list, consider an independent bookstore.

Browse the shelves, ask for help choosing something, and give yourself permission to linger. A bookseller might introduce you to a title you would never have thought to pick up.

You could choose a novel for a friend, a picture book for a grandchild, or a gift card for someone who considers selecting their own books part of the fun.

I understand that last person completely.

A book with a handwritten note inside can make a lovely gift. Tell the recipient why you chose it for them. That little personal connection may become as treasured as the story itself.

And if buying something isn’t in the budget this year, the other ideas on this list are still wonderful ways to help.

Thank the Person Behind the Recommendation

Did a bookseller steer you toward a book you loved? Let them know the next time you visit.

“You recommended this to me, and I couldn’t put it down” is a lovely thing to hear.

The same goes for an author. If you feel comfortable reaching out through their public contact page, email, or social media, tell them something specific that stayed with you.

Maybe a character made you feel understood. Maybe a funny scene arrived on a day when you needed a laugh. Maybe the story simply gave you a few happy hours.

You don’t have to share anything deeply personal. “Your book made a difficult week a little better” says plenty.

From the Author Side of the Page

So much of writing happens quietly: thinking through a character’s choices, rewriting a conversation, and wondering whether the scene on the page feels the way it does in your head.

As an author, the thought that someone might carry a character with them after the last page means a great deal to me. I hope readers find warmth, connection, and a little joy in the worlds I create.

If Marianne’s bakery makes you wish you could stop in for a pastry, or a moment in Grandma’s Christmas Challenge leaves you thinking about someone you love, that’s the kind of connection I hope for.

Hearing that a story mattered is a reminder that those quiet hours at the keyboard can reach someone on the other side.

One Bookish Thank-You This Week

You don’t need to turn gratitude into another long holiday to-do list.

Choose one small thing. Write the review you’ve been meaning to leave. Send a recommendation to a friend. Thank the bookseller who helped you find something wonderful.

And to everyone who has made room for my stories in their reading life: thank you. I know there are a lot of books to choose from, and I’m grateful when you choose to spend a little time with mine.

Choose one bookish thank-you to give this week. What will yours be?