Friendly Alien Books

To celebrate our year of reading with Bookmarks, we asked some past participants to recommend their favorite read of 2025. Let the 2026 to-be-read pile begin.

2025 has been a year of change for many in Northeast Pennsylvania. Where one organization celebrated the opening of a new home, another downsized and closed a major shelter for people experiencing homelessness. Independent book sellers found success and support in downtown Scranton, and a new feature at WVIA brought together the avid readers of Northeast Pennsylvania.

Over the past year, three independent bookstores have opened in downtown Scranton, each hoping to fill the same void in the city. But instead of competition, the owners say they've found support among their small group.