Wisconsin is in great shape for Cozy-Up-With-A-Book season. Let’s go!

If you want to put your fingers on the literary pulse of a community, poke your head into an independent book store.

We got to do that several times this past week and we’re happy to report that Wisconsin readers are in very good hands.

Take Bosse’s News and Tobacco, a Green Bay icon now serving customers in it’s new DePere location. Bosse’s first opened its doors in 1898 and it’s known as the oldest retail store in Northeast Wisconsin.

For nearly all those years, the store has been run by the same family.

We met fourth-generation owner Lisa and her husband Steve during a book signing there last week. They could not be kinder or more accommodating and their store stocks a wide array of books (including ours), newspapers and magazines.

Bosse’s is now located on Broadway in DePere, just down the street from the historic Union Hotel and around the corner from Seroogy’s Chocolates.

You could treat yourself to a sweet snack, browse the stacks at Bosse’s and wrap up your visit to DePere with a delicious dinner at the Union Hotel.

That would be at 10/10 afternoon.

We also loved our time at Uncorked, a brand new book shop and wine bar in Two Rivers.

Owner Carrie Paczkowski turned her beloved book club into an establishment we can all enjoy. You can sit in a comfy chair, sip on a nice glass of wine and relax with a good book. We loved the store’s cool vibe and really friendly atmosphere.

We spent Sunday at another really well-run book store. Owned by the enthusiastic Daniel Goldin, Boswell Book Company hosts a wide range of book talks and signing events. We appreciated his expertise and hospitality during our event there, and we loved the huge array of books his store offers.

We’re heading into Cozy-Up-With-A-Good-Book season here in Wisconsin and we’re lucky to have so many great places to buy them.