Chapters of Connection: How the Vero Beach Book Center Keeps Our Community Bound

You’d think with everything going digital, independent bookstores would be on their way out. But they’re actually making a comeback. Since 2016, the number of indie bookstores in the U.S. has been climbing—now  over 2,400 and counting. As it turns out, people still want real places --  places where you can slow down, have a chat, and maybe get lost in a story.

Vero’s had one of these places all along: the Vero Beach Book Center.

For more than 45 years, Vero Beach Book Center has been a constant presence —  hosting story times, book clubs, and visits from authors big and small. This is the kind of place where you can show up without a plan and, boom,  an hour has passed and you are flipping through pages you didn’t even know you wanted to read!

Carl Hiaasen, a longtime local and bestselling author, stopped by recently for a launch event for his new book Fever Beach, and was met with a standing-room-only turnout. This was not just because he’s a big name and a local legend, but because people love this place. This night felt less like a book signing and more like a community reunion.

And that’s really the thing. Indie bookstores aren’t just about books. They’re about connection --  creating space for conversation, for discovery, for a little serendipity. The Vero Beach Book Center is one of those places that quietly holds a community together in the same way a spine binds pages of a book.

So next time you’re out—maybe  just running to the store for milk—swing by, say hi, and browse the shelves. You may leave with a book --  or two. Or you might just leave feeling a little more grounded.

Barbara Ruddy and Carl Hiaasen