New Hampshire...

While I might be a tiny bit biased having worked there for almost a decade, but The Toadstool Bookshops in Milford, Peterborough and Keene, are wonderful, moderately large, independent bookstores with something for everyone. Books (new, used and remaindered), music, a great card selection, calendars and so on... And space is well-used!

The staff is terrific and they all READ. In Milford, they have a large "staff picks" display which includes handwritten blurbs written by the recommending staff members.

Each of the three sister stores have different personalities; both because of staff and stock (due to the fact that a large chunk of the book ordering is done individually). So it is worth checking them all out.

Website is www.toadbooks.com

If you're in Portsmouth (Portsmouth center that is) there is a store on Congress St. that is a great place for off-the-beaten-path books that the big chain stores probably bury under a mountain of Grisham, Patterson & Cornwell.

http://www.riverrunbookstore.com/

They also have an affiliated used bookstore (Second Run) in center Portsmouth that is located a few blocks away down the most wonderful little alley.

They have author events (Elmore Leonard is coming in May) and interesting picks.