* John Hugo’s career in bookselling began when he was 8 years old, ringing registers at his father’s Spirit of ’76 Bookstore in Marblehead. After college, John managed the Andover Bookstore for 10 years before taking over as General Manager for the three Hugo Family stores in Marblehead, Newburyport, and Andover. He has shepherded the bookstore through unprecedented upheavals, store closures, and a tough era for independent bookstores generally. Hugobooks’ flagship store in Andover is the oldest independent bookstore in the country. John and his longtime staff fight every day to keep this storied gem alive on Main Street. John lives in Newburyport, Mass. with his beloved wife Catalina, his son Rory, and his daughter Izzy. When not trying to run bookstores, John enjoys his time on the golf course as a single-digit handicap. John recommends >
Karen has been a mainstay of the Andover Bookstore for 30 years. (In her other life, she is a painter of watercolors & drawings & collage.) She organizes the Morning and Evening Book Groups and introduces the authors who come for events. Karen is forever grateful to the loyal customers who have kept the store afloat through storm and epidemic and to John Hugo, who has kept us going into our 215th year. Karen recommends >
Chris has worked at Andover Bookstore since the summer of 2004, having staked it out with his young daughter prior to joining the staff. He is also a longtime elementary school teacher. In addition to devouring loads of children’s books, he’s a dedicated reader of nonfiction, with a particular fondness for United States history. Chris recommends >
Sarah has been the general manager since August of 2022. Prior to managing the store, she spent a good portion of her adulthood in academia, and another portion teaching English Language Arts to middle schoolers, which makes for a pretty full human experience. She enjoys freelance photography when she isn’t buried in the pleasure/pain of books.
Claire has been a Bookseller at the Andover Bookstore since August of 2021. She is now a sophomore at Bennington College in VT. Her favorite part of working at the store is getting to exchange stories with everyone who comes in!
Caroline retired from teaching fifth graders after 20 plus years. She joined the Andover Bookstore crew in 2023, and her brain hasn’t stopped spinning with ideas for improving the store for staff and customers. If the bookstore looks different every time you come in, you can thank Caroline!
Beth is an avid traveler, a busy grandmother, and an avid reader across all genres.
Susan graduated from Emerson college with a degree in publishing. When she isn’t heading up our Young Adult Sci-Fi/Fantasy book club, she is working on her young adult novel.
