Happy Thursday, Wanderers! The latest post from my Once Upon a Bookshop series is live! In this post: luck, lease negotiations, and floor plans!
#bookstore #bookstorelife #bookstoreowner #bookselling
open.substack.com/pub/carissam...
#bookstore #bookstorelife #bookstoreowner #bookselling
open.substack.com/pub/carissam...
Once Upon a Bookshop
The Beginning - Part Three
open.substack.com
April 10, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Happy Thursday, Wanderers! The latest post from my Once Upon a Bookshop series is live! In this post: luck, lease negotiations, and floor plans!
#bookstore #bookstorelife #bookstoreowner #bookselling
open.substack.com/pub/carissam...
#bookstore #bookstorelife #bookstoreowner #bookselling
open.substack.com/pub/carissam...
Someone in the bookstore is today years old when she learned the famous bears are spelled “Berenstain” and she is SHOOK! 🤣
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
June 17, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Someone in the bookstore is today years old when she learned the famous bears are spelled “Berenstain” and she is SHOOK! 🤣
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
AITA for being disproportionately annoyed when someone comes up to the counter to check out while they’re mid phone conversation?
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
May 27, 2026 at 9:39 PM
AITA for being disproportionately annoyed when someone comes up to the counter to check out while they’re mid phone conversation?
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
My whole life is Seinfeld references lately. A guy just came into the bookstore with a big puffy coat like George's and immediately knocked several books off a display. I had to go in the back for a second to pull myself together. Glad he didn't break anything.
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
April 1, 2026 at 10:12 PM
My whole life is Seinfeld references lately. A guy just came into the bookstore with a big puffy coat like George's and immediately knocked several books off a display. I had to go in the back for a second to pull myself together. Glad he didn't break anything.
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
Ethical felony: Parents who send their unaccompanied small children into the bookstore 3 minutes before closing so they can stay at the restaurant next door and drink. 😂 😭
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
March 30, 2026 at 11:53 PM
Ethical felony: Parents who send their unaccompanied small children into the bookstore 3 minutes before closing so they can stay at the restaurant next door and drink. 😂 😭
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
Guy on the phone: Do you have the new edition of Infinite Jest?
Me: We do, and did we just become best friends?!
#bookstorelife
Me: We do, and did we just become best friends?!
#bookstorelife
February 4, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Guy on the phone: Do you have the new edition of Infinite Jest?
Me: We do, and did we just become best friends?!
#bookstorelife
Me: We do, and did we just become best friends?!
#bookstorelife
Shout out to the guy who was flabbergasted that the bookstore doesn’t have a copy of Mein Kampf in the original German in stock. (Also, do I need to be worried about you, bro?)
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
November 13, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Shout out to the guy who was flabbergasted that the bookstore doesn’t have a copy of Mein Kampf in the original German in stock. (Also, do I need to be worried about you, bro?)
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
Dude just absolutely gobsmacked we don’t have a copy of The Shining in stock. I mean, blown away. Like how do we even call ourselves a bookstore. 😅
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
October 15, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Dude just absolutely gobsmacked we don’t have a copy of The Shining in stock. I mean, blown away. Like how do we even call ourselves a bookstore. 😅
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
Guy: Do you have a copy of the new Kiran Desai?
Me: Hmmm I don’t think that’s out yet.
Guy: Oh shoot I thought it came out the 23rd.
Me (finding release date): Yep that’s right.
Guy:
Me:
Guy (full earnestness): Ohhhh it’s not the 23rd yet is it?
Me: ‘fraid not.
😂
#bookstorelife
Me: Hmmm I don’t think that’s out yet.
Guy: Oh shoot I thought it came out the 23rd.
Me (finding release date): Yep that’s right.
Guy:
Me:
Guy (full earnestness): Ohhhh it’s not the 23rd yet is it?
Me: ‘fraid not.
😂
#bookstorelife
September 17, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Guy: Do you have a copy of the new Kiran Desai?
Me: Hmmm I don’t think that’s out yet.
Guy: Oh shoot I thought it came out the 23rd.
Me (finding release date): Yep that’s right.
Guy:
Me:
Guy (full earnestness): Ohhhh it’s not the 23rd yet is it?
Me: ‘fraid not.
😂
#bookstorelife
Me: Hmmm I don’t think that’s out yet.
Guy: Oh shoot I thought it came out the 23rd.
Me (finding release date): Yep that’s right.
Guy:
Me:
Guy (full earnestness): Ohhhh it’s not the 23rd yet is it?
Me: ‘fraid not.
😂
#bookstorelife
May we all live our lives with the self-assuredness of the fella who strode confidently into the bookstore tonight and asked if we had "a book called Fahrenheit four-fifty-TWO"
#soclose
#sequel?
#bookstorelife
#soclose
#sequel?
#bookstorelife
September 16, 2025 at 12:29 AM
May we all live our lives with the self-assuredness of the fella who strode confidently into the bookstore tonight and asked if we had "a book called Fahrenheit four-fifty-TWO"
#soclose
#sequel?
#bookstorelife
#soclose
#sequel?
#bookstorelife
Guy: I need to return this book
Me: Ok, what’s the reason for the return?
Guy: My kid didn’t like it.
Me: Oh, um, well this book looks like it’s been read several times.
Guy: Oh yeah. I guess so. So can I return it?
🙄
#bookstorelife
#dobetterhumans
Me: Ok, what’s the reason for the return?
Guy: My kid didn’t like it.
Me: Oh, um, well this book looks like it’s been read several times.
Guy: Oh yeah. I guess so. So can I return it?
🙄
#bookstorelife
#dobetterhumans
August 27, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Guy: I need to return this book
Me: Ok, what’s the reason for the return?
Guy: My kid didn’t like it.
Me: Oh, um, well this book looks like it’s been read several times.
Guy: Oh yeah. I guess so. So can I return it?
🙄
#bookstorelife
#dobetterhumans
Me: Ok, what’s the reason for the return?
Guy: My kid didn’t like it.
Me: Oh, um, well this book looks like it’s been read several times.
Guy: Oh yeah. I guess so. So can I return it?
🙄
#bookstorelife
#dobetterhumans
The lesson: Don’t say stupid shit to a bookseller. They may not remember your name, but they’ll remember you!
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
August 9, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The lesson: Don’t say stupid shit to a bookseller. They may not remember your name, but they’ll remember you!
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
Top 5 worst questions you can overhear from a parent at the bookstore: “Did you put all those books back where they belong?”
(Either way, you’re about to have a lot of work on your hands. 😂)
#bookstorelife
(Either way, you’re about to have a lot of work on your hands. 😂)
#bookstorelife
July 30, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Top 5 worst questions you can overhear from a parent at the bookstore: “Did you put all those books back where they belong?”
(Either way, you’re about to have a lot of work on your hands. 😂)
#bookstorelife
(Either way, you’re about to have a lot of work on your hands. 😂)
#bookstorelife
During this bookstore shift, I’ve had a long conversation about Percival Everett, handsold Colson Whitehead, and got made fun of for loving Infinite Jest.
Man I love this job.
#books
#bookstorelife
Man I love this job.
#books
#bookstorelife
July 23, 2025 at 11:41 PM
During this bookstore shift, I’ve had a long conversation about Percival Everett, handsold Colson Whitehead, and got made fun of for loving Infinite Jest.
Man I love this job.
#books
#bookstorelife
Man I love this job.
#books
#bookstorelife
Yes! It happened again!
Customer: Do you have any other books in this series “in the back”?
This always cracks me up. Like “the back” is a magic portal to a warehouse storing every book ever made.
Hmmm…Maybe The Back is my debut novel. 😂
#bookstorelife
Customer: Do you have any other books in this series “in the back”?
This always cracks me up. Like “the back” is a magic portal to a warehouse storing every book ever made.
Hmmm…Maybe The Back is my debut novel. 😂
#bookstorelife
June 18, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Yes! It happened again!
Customer: Do you have any other books in this series “in the back”?
This always cracks me up. Like “the back” is a magic portal to a warehouse storing every book ever made.
Hmmm…Maybe The Back is my debut novel. 😂
#bookstorelife
Customer: Do you have any other books in this series “in the back”?
This always cracks me up. Like “the back” is a magic portal to a warehouse storing every book ever made.
Hmmm…Maybe The Back is my debut novel. 😂
#bookstorelife
Shout out to the person who special ordered, presumably without a hint of irony, “Bezos Letters: 14 Principles to Grow Your Business Like Amazon” from the independent bookstore.
😂🤷🏻♂️
#bookstorelife
😂🤷🏻♂️
#bookstorelife
June 4, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Shout out to the person who special ordered, presumably without a hint of irony, “Bezos Letters: 14 Principles to Grow Your Business Like Amazon” from the independent bookstore.
😂🤷🏻♂️
#bookstorelife
😂🤷🏻♂️
#bookstorelife
This happens way too often and again just now.
A parent: “I’ll buy you the graphic novel but you have to get a real book too.”
🤬
#bookstorelife
A parent: “I’ll buy you the graphic novel but you have to get a real book too.”
🤬
#bookstorelife
May 21, 2025 at 11:22 PM
This happens way too often and again just now.
A parent: “I’ll buy you the graphic novel but you have to get a real book too.”
🤬
#bookstorelife
A parent: “I’ll buy you the graphic novel but you have to get a real book too.”
🤬
#bookstorelife
Someone just called the bookstore to order a book titled The Midwives’ Escape, and I could not hold it together. I had to put down the phone for a second to compose myself.
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
Report: Girlfriend Probably Reading Some Book Called ‘The Midwife’s Promise’
theonion.com/report-...
theonion.com/report-...
May 7, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Someone just called the bookstore to order a book titled The Midwives’ Escape, and I could not hold it together. I had to put down the phone for a second to compose myself.
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
Woman: “I read the first two pages of this and didn’t like it so I’d like to return it.”
Me: “Sure, why not?”
My brain: “Effing seriously?THAT’S NOT HOW THIS WORKS.”
#bookstorelife
Me: “Sure, why not?”
My brain: “Effing seriously?THAT’S NOT HOW THIS WORKS.”
#bookstorelife
April 28, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Woman: “I read the first two pages of this and didn’t like it so I’d like to return it.”
Me: “Sure, why not?”
My brain: “Effing seriously?THAT’S NOT HOW THIS WORKS.”
#bookstorelife
Me: “Sure, why not?”
My brain: “Effing seriously?THAT’S NOT HOW THIS WORKS.”
#bookstorelife
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the grouchiest, rudest customers will have the biggest issue getting their ApplePay to work and so we both just have to stand there in awkward silence, wishing this moment could be over soon.
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
April 23, 2025 at 11:23 PM
It is a truth universally acknowledged that the grouchiest, rudest customers will have the biggest issue getting their ApplePay to work and so we both just have to stand there in awkward silence, wishing this moment could be over soon.
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
You’ll be shocked (SHOCKED!) to learn the biggest jerk customer of the night is the one who double-parked her Tesla in the bike lane in front of the bookstore
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
March 17, 2025 at 11:50 PM
You’ll be shocked (SHOCKED!) to learn the biggest jerk customer of the night is the one who double-parked her Tesla in the bike lane in front of the bookstore
#bookstorelife
#bookstorelife
A woman just called the bookstore two minutes before we close and asked if we’d stay open for a while longer so she can come get something.
Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things and I’m happy to do it. But that’s a level of assumed privilege that just blows my mind.
#bookstorelife
Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things and I’m happy to do it. But that’s a level of assumed privilege that just blows my mind.
#bookstorelife
February 27, 2025 at 1:03 AM
A woman just called the bookstore two minutes before we close and asked if we’d stay open for a while longer so she can come get something.
Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things and I’m happy to do it. But that’s a level of assumed privilege that just blows my mind.
#bookstorelife
Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things and I’m happy to do it. But that’s a level of assumed privilege that just blows my mind.
#bookstorelife
Lost but well-meaning bookstore customer: My son is a firefighter. Do you have that one book about the fire in the school?
Me: Ummm.
Narrator: Unfortunately, she had no further information.
#bookstorelife
Me: Ummm.
Narrator: Unfortunately, she had no further information.
#bookstorelife
December 9, 2024 at 11:33 PM
Lost but well-meaning bookstore customer: My son is a firefighter. Do you have that one book about the fire in the school?
Me: Ummm.
Narrator: Unfortunately, she had no further information.
#bookstorelife
Me: Ummm.
Narrator: Unfortunately, she had no further information.
#bookstorelife
The problem with owning your own store and stocking all the things you love is that sometimes you have to remember that you need to make money instead of just buying all the shiny things...
#BooksellerProblems
#BookstoreLife
#BooksellerProblems
#BookstoreLife
March 19, 2025 at 2:14 PM
The problem with owning your own store and stocking all the things you love is that sometimes you have to remember that you need to make money instead of just buying all the shiny things...
#BooksellerProblems
#BookstoreLife
#BooksellerProblems
#BookstoreLife
March 4, 2025 at 5:54 PM