River House Books
208 Crossroads Blvd., Carmel (831) 626-2665, riverhousebookscarmel.com
There are still independent bookstores, stocking and selling books in their old-fashioned format, no backlight needed. Just because new books use the same print-and-paper medium as books from the ’80s doesn’t stop River House Books from offering up all the hottest ideas. New owners bought this place last year, kept the loyal staff – and empowered the staff to be in charge. Now it’s not the owners but the employees who do the ordering, selecting books based on what bookworm customers like. Recent best-sellers include Michelle Obama’s Becoming, 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, popular among book clubs. There’s also a fresh focus on local authors.