Essex
These events all took place in our Essex store.
Turning Pages with Mary - Live!
Join us in Essex on Tuesday, September 26th for Turning Pages Live!
A Sweet & Spooky Night at the Bookstore!
Calling all kids! Please join us for a special celebration of all things Fall and Halloween at Phoenix Books in Essex! We are planning a fabulous night of author meet & greets, crafts, and fall-themed snacks and drinks.
Meet Ryan T. Higgins and Bruce the Bear!
Calling all kids!
Join us for a very special story time featuring Ryan T. Higgins, and his latest Mother Bruce book, Bruce and the Legend of Soggy Hollow. Ryan will be joined by our favorite bear-- Bruce himself!
Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

What I love most about Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s writing is that I always learn something niche about the era she's writing in. Like a movie reel, unspooling old, glossy film, in Silver Nitrate we are shown several decades of the film industry while remaining rooted in Mexico City during the 90s. Told from two perspectives, best friends, Montserrat and Tristán, a burgeoning mystery unfolds concerning a cursed film, Nazi occultism, and a secret history too enticing to ignore.
It is impossible to come into this book thinking it is one thing because you will inevitably be surprised by how the narrative moves otherwise. SMG creates lush, cultish aesthetics and characters to set the mood, tempo, and pace, lulling you into an immersive reading experience that makes you want to uncover your own secret film from a bygone era.
Cosmoknights by Hannah Templer

SPACE LESBIANS!!! Holy WOW this blew me away! What an ingenious blend of sci-fi and medieval knights. In a universe where knights joust in mech suits for the princess's favor and marry her off to a suitor, Pan joins a resistance to give the princesses their lives back into their own hands. Full of heart, cool gadgets, and a diverse range of well-written characters, this was the queer space opera I've been searching for.
The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens

A thriller-mystery with dark twists and great characters. What starts as a simple writing assignment for Joe Talbot quickly becomes a full-blown investigation into the life of Carl Iverson, a retired Vietnam veteran accused of murdering his teen neighbor. But the more he learns, the more he questions Carl's guilt. I devoured this book at breakneck speed. Great for a rainy afternoon or an evening by the fireplace. An easy favorite of mine!
Lt. Governor's Banned Book Tour
Join Lt. Governor David Zuckerman and guests at Phoenix Books in Essex to hear excerpts from some books that have been the subject of bans and participate in a discussion about the importance of free speech, inclusion, democracy, and open dialogue. Lt. Governor Zuckerman will be in conversation with Senator Tanya Vyhovsky and Vermont author Tanya Lee Stone.
Find Waldo in Essex!
Where’s Waldo? In Essex, of course! The iconic children’s book character in the striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting local businesses throughout our community this July. Find Waldo Local is a great summer vacation activity and a wonderful way to support local businesses and the Shop Local movement in our community.
Candelaria by Melissa Lozada-Oliva

Cannibals, cults, and familial estrangement at the end of the world. It's horror, but funny. It's grief, but funny. It's the apocalypse, but funny. I read this book in a frantic rush, and I would read it again. Give this book as a gift to your wildest, funniest friend.