Plot Twist Books lets you spend the night at a bookstore

Local, independent bookstores have never been more important. With fair access to literature under political attack, bookstores are a bulwark against censorship and an asset to the communities they serve. 
Each week we profile an independent bookstore, discovering what makes each one special and getting their expert book recommendations.
This week we have Plot Twist Books in South Charleston, West Virginia!
What’s your store’s story?
We are a small, LGBTQIA+ owned bookshop that opened in March 2023 and sells a curated mix of new books, used books and gifts. In September, we launched an all-access bookstore vacation rental, called The Bookshop Bungalow, that lets guests go “behind the shelves.” It’s a studio apartment attached to the shop that includes 24-hour access to wander the store, a used book credit, employee pricing on new books, and an honorary Staff Pick added to our inventory.
Check out: USA TODAY’s Independent Bookstores Map
What makes your independent bookstore unique?
What we lack in square footage, we make up for in friendly customer service and a curated selection of titles. After less than a year in business, we were named the Best Independent Bookstore in West Virginia by a statewide lifestyle/tourism magazine. The fact that these annual awards are fan-voted made it all the more special. We’re also drawing guests to the Bookshop Bungalow that want to open their own bookshops, and they’re hanging out with us to learn about the bookselling business. We love that! We’re also active on social media. One of our owners hosts the Bookstore Explorer podcast, and the other loves to cook. For him, we launched Plot Twist Kitchen, where we make videos sampling recipes from cookbooks we have for sale in the shop. When B. Dylan Hollis commented on one of our posts from his book, we were super excited.
What’s your favorite section in your store?
We love our Honorary Staff Pick section, populated by titles chosen by our overnight guests. We stock a few copies of each guest’s favorite book and provide them a shelf-talker card to write about why they love it. Our regular customers and our staff have learned about some great books through our guests’ creative selections.
What book do you think deserves more attention and why?
“Fresh Water for Flowers” by French writer Valerie Perrin was a book I picked up by chance a couple years ago, let it sit on my shelf at home for ages, and finally read last summer. And OMG, it is exquisite! We added it to our inventory and have been selling it like crazy. Everyone who has bought a copy has come back in to say how much they loved it. 
Why is shopping at local, independent bookstores important?
Not only are you supporting neighborhood business and the local economy by shopping at indie stores, they are also – to put it simply – magical places! In an indie shop, you’re getting personalized attention from caring staff members. They’re places of discovery, both in terms of books and people. If you want to get a feel for the true heartbeat of a community, spend some time in its independent bookstore.
What are some of your store’s programs or partnerships coming up this quarter that you would like to share?
We turned 1 in March, so we explored some collaborative events with our local library and other retail shops to celebrate. In our state, the opioid epidemic remains a massive issue, so we’re working on adding an Addiction & Recovery section to our store. We’re also exploring a partnership with the Appalachian Prison Book Project, a nonprofit that provides books to incarcerated individuals in the Appalachian region.