Queens, NY, JFK Airport, Terminal 4
We’ve all been stuck at the airport looking at the same limited stock you might find in a Hudson Bookseller or Hudson News. All fine and well until you see a full-fledged bookshop further along the terminal with a diverse selection that goes well beyond the usual beach reads. And that’s just what I found while taking a globe-crossing jaunt last month.
The Stacks, with its green wall art and welcoming signage, has a little something for everyone. There’s a children’s corner with books, graphic novels (a whole Dog Man shelf!), games, toys, snacks, and more, with all sorts of gifts, notebooks, pens, cards, postcards (hint: there’s a mailbox in the terminal too, so bring stamps to get some mail off to friends before you even leave!), and even games that are easy to bring onto flights. Beside this is a section of popular YA and loads of mainstream fiction that covers everything from literary classics of yore to the newest Stephen King or Chuck Wendig, plus a #booktock shelf for popular favorites found there too.
There’s a wide array of nonfiction, business and self help, biographies and memoirs, and books covering cultural movements and political quagmires (hello America 2025!). You’ve also got romance, romantacy, movie tie-ins, adult coloring books, travel accessories, really a little bit of everything. And there were some discounted shelves too, which I always look for in any bookstore.
So look, it’s an airport bookshop. It’s going to be somewhat limited. It’s no book barn in New England or mega-store in Manhattan, but when you’re on the run between terminals and you finished that latest Louise Penney mystery, The Stacks will get you back in the game with a great book that goes beyond the same touristy selection you’ll find elsewhere. An indie bookshop is a great addition to any airport!
Atmosphere — The shop feels brightly welcoming, with fun signage throughout, green walls decorated with stacks of white books, rows of shelves and plenty of interesting displays in between that covers a LOT of bases, with a huge array of new fictions and plenty to keep younger readers and kids occupied, even if it’s not something to read but a game, toy, or snack.
Quality — The books are all new.
Quantity — There’s a lot here for a single room, way more than you’ll find in a Hudson Bookseller (unless it’s a REALLY BIG Hudson Bookseller).
Diversity — The shop hits all the main bases: fictions, kids, memoirs, biography, self help, business, travel, romantasy, etc. I would expect a ton of poetry, cooking, or quaint belles-lettres in a spot like this.
Affordability — There are some discounted shelves (10% and 20%) but otherwise it’s standard pricing.
Amenities — They have gifts and some snacks but this is all about the books.
Location — Terminal 4, JFK Airport. You’re obviously not getting in here without going somewhere else too!
Customer Service — The one staffer was friendly and courteous.
Overall — This is what you want to see when your flight is delayed, a bookshop that gives you real options. In an era when most malls don’t even have a bookshop, take one wherever you can find it, and I was delighted to find this one right where people need one the most, before a 9-hour flight! Great addition to the airport.
