Dick and Pam Haferman, owners of Black River Books, are under contract with a soon-to-be new owner of Black River Books. To all our customers whom we told we would have sales starting April 1 if we hadn't secured a buyer, we apologize. We only secured a buyer recently. The store will be closed in April for transitioning. More information will follow.

Black River Books is an independently owned and operated quality used bookstore, designed to offer a pleasant browsing experience in a relaxed atmosphere. Nearly 40 thousand books occupying over 2000 square feet of space and covering a broad range of subjects are arranged on well-labeled shelves. Two walls of windows bring in plenty of natural light. Comfortable chairs afford a place to relax, examine possible purchases or simply breathe in the bookstore air. Black River Books welcomes children with a room furnished for them. This room also houses the cooking and gardening books, so moms or dads can browse while the little ones are entertained. 

Although we are primarily used, we do carry some new books: a selection of Michigan books, children's books and books with a local connection, either through topic, author or illustrator.

We, Dick and Pam, welcome you to Black River Books. We hope you find our store a comfortable place to hunt for a special book for yourself, a friend or a family member. Perhaps it's also a place to meet a friend or find a new one. Sometimes it's a place to get a book signed by a locally-connected author's book-signing event. Whatever brings you to our store, we hope you enjoy your visit, tell your friends about us and come again.

Scarlet in Blue, by Jennifer Murphy

An Awesome Psychological Thriller

We Have Sold Well Over 150, and

We Still Have a Few Copies Left 

Art, mystery, a fraught mother-daughter relationship, and the complicated burden of genius - it's all there in Jennifer Murphy's gorgeous and ambitious novel, Scarlet in Blue. Jennifer was living in South Haven when we featured her first book, I Love You More. We held a couple of signing events with Jennifer, and we sold about 150 copies before and after the events! Jennifer will be at Black River Books for a signing with Scarlet in Blue on Saturday, June 4! If you liked her first book, you will love this one!

Quote by local resident and customer, Elaine Stephens: "Wow! The first sentence of Jen's book took my breath away, and the twist at the end caught me by surprise. Between the beginning and ending, I was mesmerized by her vivid descriptions, believable characters and authentic conversations. Her perceptive insights into the passion that drives a genius and the fading line between reality and madness were fascinating. I give it 5 stars!"

the Last Bathing Beauty, by Amy Sue Nathan is still a favorite of our customers!

The main character, Betty Stern, is an 18-year-old "knockout" in the summer of 1951. She's working at her grandparent's lakeside resort in South Haven, the "Catskills of the Midwest." This novel takes her from that summer at the beach to decades later when she "finally faces the past." A good summer read!

Many of our customers have asked to purchase a mug, but we were waiting for an order. Happily, the mugs are here!

New! We have added two diversity sections of children's and youth books. One is on a front bookshelf just to the left of the front door. The other is in the children's room on two shelves.