Places to Visit: Montgomery & Taggert

I’m very lucky to live in an area surrounded by many bookshops, and firmly believe there is no such thing as too many. While I wouldn’t necessarily consider myself a romance reader, I will read practically anything put in front of me, and there’s no denying that there is a particularly beautiful aesthetic surrounding cozy romance. 

So in the summer of 2024, when a “small town romance bookshop” popped up on my recommended accounts to follow, I immediately checked them out. A beautiful name and logo, big plans for their summer opening, and only an hour drive away? I went ahead and added some romance books to my TBR.

When I was finally able to visit for the first time last year, Montgomery and Taggert was just as sweet as I had expected. It was set up like a little cottage, with several rooms, cozy armchairs, candles, and thoughtful touches everywhere you look. Every shelf in this shop feels highly curated and they sure know how to advertise a beautiful cover! I left with way more books than I’d anticipated (no regrets). 

But the thing I love most about this bookshop is why I followed them in the first place – they are engaged with their audience. They host book clubs and events to interact with readers. They are active on multiple social accounts, and actually respond to comments. Whenever I go into the shop, whoever is at the front desk is always full of suggestions and genuine enthusiasm. This is a small business that cares about their customers, and it shines through in every interaction I have with them. 

Their events also often partner with other small businesses in the area. Before they opened, I did not know much about the small town of Chester, Connecticut. Now, thanks to their endless collaborations with local businesses, I’ve gone to Chester so many times and discovered so many cool places, shops, and restaurants. If you ask me about Chester now, I feel like I know more about it than my own town – and it’s all thanks to Montgomery & Taggert.

Every time I go, I leave with a stack of books bigger than the last one. Not to mention a few stickers, greeting cards, and notebooks. I think this is both the cutest and most sincere business I’ve had the pleasure of patronizing in a long time, and I’m grateful that I’ve been able to follow it from the ground up. Today I’m celebrating Montgomery & Taggert not just as an indie bookstore, but as an incredible small business who gets it right. 

Did you know you can support them even if you’re not local? Go to bookshop.org and select Montgomery & Taggert as your local bookshop, and a percentage of the sale will go directly to them.