Water Street Bookstore

Water Street Bookstore WSB is the largest independent bookstore in the seacoast region of New Hampshire. Conveniently located in downtown Exeter, we are 100% here for you.
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From special orders to out of print titles to "what the heck should I read next?", we can help!

05/27/2026

🎉 YAY, IT’S BOB SHEA DAY AT WSB! 🎉

Hope to see you for a very special, very silly story time today at 6 pm (Wednesday 5/27/26)! Free and open to all!



Abrams Kids

Don’t forget, picture book fans! The one and only BOB SHEA will be here tom’w, May 27th at 6 pm - join us for a free and...
05/26/2026

Don’t forget, picture book fans! The one and only BOB SHEA will be here tom’w, May 27th at 6 pm - join us for a free and open to all fun fest! We have super cute giveaways for you, too!

WE CAN’T WAIT!!

Friends, another politically-motivated trash bag of a bill has passed both the NH House and Senate and now sits on Gover...
05/23/2026

Friends, another politically-motivated trash bag of a bill has passed both the NH House and Senate and now sits on Governor Ayotte’s desk.

SB 434's terms are deliberately vague, and would allow individuals/complainants to label material (statues, maps, plays, dances, classroom books, school library books, pamphlets, visiting speakers) as "offensive" based solely on their own biases and beliefs.

Facts:

➡️ NH school districts already have effective book review processes/guidelines in place for teachers and librarians, and parents are allowed to opt their child out of any required coursework, curriculum, or material.

➡️ SB 434 threatens NH’s long tradition of local control

➡️ The majority of banned books in US public schools last year dealt with people of color, LGBTQ+ people and other demographics, according to a new study from PEN America. SB 434 raises First Amendment concerns by potentially restricting access to diverse educational materials.

Gov. Ayotte vetoed the last book ban bill to cross her desk (that was ten months ago.) She said, "I do not believe the State of New Hampshire needs to, nor should it, engage in the role of addressing questions of literary value and appropriateness.”

☎️ Call (603) 271-2121 and remind her that the majority of NH voters strongly oppose this unnecessary and harmful overreach into NH’s schools.

And/or

📧 Click the link below to use a super handy NO BOOK BANS IN NH email template.

VETO SB 434!

Because it needs to be said! We at Water Street Bookstore stand with all creatives when we say art should not be created...
05/22/2026

Because it needs to be said!

We at Water Street Bookstore stand with all creatives when we say art should not be created by AI. Art is one of the things we are doing pretty well, if you ask me. Every week our shelves are overflowing with beautiful novels, incredible works of nonfiction, ground breaking poetry, and gorgeous, thought provoking, silly children's books. We don't need AI!

(Not to mention, AI is an environmental disaster, exploitative to workers in the global south, a danger to our neighbors living near data centers, and a threat to people just trying to live and work.)

Using generative AI to write books or make art is just lame behavior. Be cool!!!

🔔 Super fun storytime alert! 🔔 Our hilarious pal BOB SHEA will be here one week from today to celebrate the release of h...
05/20/2026

🔔 Super fun storytime alert! 🔔

Our hilarious pal BOB SHEA will be here one week from today to celebrate the release of his brand new picture book, BEARSUIT TURTLE PLAYS A GAME!

Come learn how to play Bearsketball (thrilling action! high stakes! absurd rules!)

Hope to see you at 6 pm Wednesday, May 27th!

p.s. We’ll have cool giveaways, too 🤩

🐻 🐢 📖 🎉

Abrams Kids

05/07/2026

What a beautiful start to the ‘26 Exeter Farmers' Market season! ☀️✌️🩷🥕🥬🍪📚

Oooh we’re all in love - this is a really special, gorgeous deluxe edition of Peter Brown Studio’s The Wild Robot! 🤩 🤖
05/05/2026

Oooh we’re all in love - this is a really special, gorgeous deluxe edition of Peter Brown Studio’s The Wild Robot! 🤩 🤖

YAYYYYY, BOB SHEA’S COMING BACK TO WSB! Join us on Wednesday, May 27th at 6 pm for a celebration of his newest picture ...
04/28/2026

YAYYYYY, BOB SHEA’S COMING BACK TO WSB!

Join us on Wednesday, May 27th at 6 pm for a celebration of his newest picture book, BEARSUIT TURTLE PLAYS A GAME - featuring a read-aloud, Q & A, live drawings, and as always, assorted Shea-nanigans!

Free and open to all!

🐻 🐢 📖 🎉

Abrams Kids

It's Independent Bookstore Day! Come say hello, grab a free Blind Date with a Book (while they last), search for 5 hidde...
04/25/2026

It's Independent Bookstore Day! Come say hello, grab a free Blind Date with a Book (while they last), search for 5 hidden $10 gift cards and the Golden Ticket! Plus we have two contests - Literary Trivia and Book Character AITA - winners each get a $50 bookstore gift card. Mostly though we just want to see your faces!!!! 🥳

TONIGHT!! 🤩
04/14/2026

TONIGHT!! 🤩

Address

125 Water Street
Exeter, NH
03833

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 9am - 8pm
Wednesday 9am - 8pm
Thursday 9am - 8pm
Friday 9am - 8pm
Saturday 9am - 6pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(603) 778-9731

Website

https://linktr.ee/Waterstreetbookstore

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