61 Route 296 & South Street, Windham, NY

Up in the Catskill Mountains tucked in among the ski resorts, hiking trails, and panoramic overlooks you’ll find Briars & Brambles Books in a small unassuming plaza in Windham. It may seem tucked away, but inside there’s plenty of personality, not to mention enough bestselling titles, new releases, and games to satisfy any bookworm or ski bum needing a break from the slopes.

I hadn’t visited a bookshop since early March due to the pandemic, and I was relieved and happy to see they took customer safety seriously. Right at the front door they have a table with free hand sanitizer and an array of masks for sale. After taking care of business there, I began browsing the front of the shop, finding staff picks and new fiction releases just inside to the right. To the left there’s history, presidential and political memoirs, local interest and authors, new nonfiction, sports, and more of the like.

Passing a table with an attractive array of locally-themed gifts, hats, stickers, mugs, and so on, there are more displays of poetry, books for the mind and body, and a wall of fiction along the left, with hardcovers and paperbacks mixed in. This section includes literary fiction, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy, etc. There are also plenty of games, puzzled, gift sets, toys, and home items that have a literary and/or foodie bent to them. Near these items are food and cocktail books, and I nearly picked up one about literary-themed cocktails but I already had a memoir by Dave Holmes and Breakfast at Tiffany’s picked out to bring home, so I resisted the urge…this time.

One of the notable aspects of this shop is the excellent selection of books for younger readers, from YA to middle grade and down to the first picture, chapter, and board books for the beginners. There are educational activity books too, great for keeping young minds sharp and occupied on longer vacations. Between these and the selection of games and puzzles, it’s a shop where anyone in the family, no matter the age, can find something fun to bring home.

If you’re in the area, I recommend stopping in for a comfortable browsing session in this bright and welcoming shop!

Atmosphere — A clean, organized shop with bright displays and a welcoming vibe, set in a small commercial strip in a Catskill Mountain village.

Quality — The books are all new and the gifts are unique and many have a local focus.

Quantity — It’s not a huge shop but they cover a lot of ground, with an extra nook in the back for the youngest of readers.

Diversity — This shop hits all the main categories with a healthy selection of YA, middle grade, and children’s books, plus plenty of gifts and games throughout.

Affordability — New books at new book prices, but they also have a repeat buyer program that offers discounts after a certain level.

Amenities — You’re primarily there for the books, though there are eating options nearby.

Location — From Albany it took me about an hour, and there were some truly gorgeous vistas along the way. The shop itself is in a small plaza and may seem unassuming from the outside but it’s really personable and charming on the inside.

Customer Service — Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and happily chatted with all the customers who came in during my visit.

Overall — This shop is probably a life-saver for all those ski bums who go on vacation without a good book in tow, and if I lived closer I’d be thrilled to have a shop selling all the best-selling classics and newest releases in my own backyard. A great neighborhood shop for small town residents and Catskill tourists alike.