A Novel Evening: Celebrating Books & Book Lovers
A love for books and nostalgia brought the community together in an overwhelming show of support at Clutch Collective and The Novel Notion’s first-ever Adult Book Fair on Saturday, March 22. The event channeled the excitement of a childhood book fair—this time, tailored for grown-ups who still revel in the joy of discovering new reads and bookish treasures.
Lines formed out the door a full half-hour before the event officially began, and the shop remained packed through the event’s conclusion at 8:00 pm. “We’ve never had so many people in the shop before,” said Sarah Arnold, owner of Clutch Collective, “or had a line form outside our doors. We were absolutely blown away!”
Book lovers from across the region gathered to shop for handmade literary-themed goods, swap books, and connect with fellow readers, several driving in from Athens, Ohio, or farther.
“It was so cool to see such a large crowd! I couldn’t help but smile as I walked up to the line forming down the sidewalk,” said Stacey Saunders, who drove in from Beverly, Ohio with her husband and son. “The vendors and shops had such cute book-themed items and it was fun to be part of the book swap! This event was wholesome and unique, I can’t wait until the next one!”
“Folks across Appalachian Ohio showed up in a big way and I truly couldn’t have planned for a more successful first event.”
The Novel Notion, known for its whimsical bookish accessories, set up shop for the first time inside Clutch Collective, offering romance trope keychains, handmade pencil pouches, bookmarks, and much more. Sam Miller, owner of The Novel Notion, sold out of many items, including her hand-sewn totes, pouches, and bookmarks.
“I really wasn’t sure what to expect before the event,” said Sam Miller, owner of The Novel Notion. “Having never done a pop-up event of my own, I wasn’t sure how interested folks would be. However, once the doors opened, any anticipated expectations fell away. Folks across Appalachian Ohio showed up in a big way and I truly couldn’t have planned for a more successful first event.”
Miller sold out of many items, including her hand-sewn totes, pouches, and bookmarks. “The incredible turnout has me thinking of other ways to share my work, and of course, thinking about when the next Book Fair will be!” she said.
Guests also browsed an exclusive selection of literary-inspired ceramics by local artists Eva and Tim Bennett of The Beard and The Bun Pottery, as well as handcrafted Kindle covers and book sleeves by Sara Flood of Sara & Sybil and bookmarks by artist Meg McAtee. Additionally, Clutch Collective and Wit & Whimzy offered a variety of bookish paper goods, apparel, and more.
“We had an amazing evening! The shop was crowded with people chatting, shopping and simply sharing their love of reading with each other,” said Laura Pytlik, owner of Wit & Whimzy. “The book-related products that I had offered in Wit & Whimzy proved to be very popular, and I enjoyed seeing people excitedly showing their friends the book or books they had found to take home with them.”
One of event’s highlights was the Book Swap. Over 200 books were donated and exchanged among attendees. All remaining books from the swap were donated to the Friends of the Library Book Sale at the Washington County Public Library.
“It wasn’t just about the books – it was about community.”
“Books have always been a way for folks to escape the realities that they are living in and people are turning to books now more than ever to see and visit worlds that are different from our own,” said Miller.
Beyond the shopping and swapping, the event served as a vibrant meeting ground for book enthusiasts. “It wasn’t just about the books – it was about community,” said Arnold. “Seeing people bond over their favorite genres and tropes, share recommendations, and just bask in the joy of reading made this event truly special. This event definitely struck a chord.”
Miller said there’s just something nostalgic about the idea of a book fair. “I think for many the book fairs we enjoyed as kids were the first time we felt some amount of freedom and unwavering excitement,” she said. “We never knew what was going to be there, but we always knew we could buy what we wanted with that $20 bill in our pocket. Our Adult Book Fair event allowed people to relive that core memory for a moment and feel that same rush of excitement.”
With such an overwhelming response, organizers are already exploring the possibility of hosting similar events in the future. The turnout proved that a love for books brings people together, creating a vibrant and welcoming space for readers to connect and share their passion.