Isle of Books

For us, the bound and written word isn’t just our business, it’s our all-consuming obsession. We’re proud to say that Isle of Books is a store with deep Montana roots. Established in 2013 by Medellee Antonioli, a fifth-generation Montana woman, Isle of Books began as a humble amazon account, selling books online. In 2019, after completing a Masters in Library and Information Science at the University of Denver, Medellee returned home and purchased the Used Book Emporium in Bozeman. Within two years, Isle of Books became one of Montana’s largest and highest rated independent bookstores.

In 2020, Medellee purchased her grandmother Jo’s iconic Butte store Books and Books. A few months later, Medellee and her incredible mother Susan Rosten bought and began to restore the historic Southern Hotel in Uptown Butte. Books and Books (now Isle of Books and Books) moved to the larger location in December, which is being filled to the rafters with more new and used books.

Today, between both locations, Isle of Books maintains over 100,000 new and used titles available for sale in-store and online, from every kind of fiction to the whole gamut of nonfiction, as well as records, gifts, and more. Plus, we’ve got the friendliest batch of bibliophiles west of the Mississippi, all of them just aching to make a recommendation. If you’re as book obsessed as us, you’ll want to put both Isle of Books locations on your Montana must-visit list!

Bozeman

Isle of Books, Bozeman’s Used Book Emporium is one of Montana’s largest independent used bookstores, with over 75,000 books. Our Bozeman location maintains a large collection of fiction and nonfiction books, a variety of vintage and antiquarian titles and wonderful children’s and young adult sections. Stop by to browse our well-organized shelves of: Fiction, Classics, Montana, History, Poetry, Foreign language, Business, Animals & Nature, Science & Mathematics, Philosophy, DIY, Crafts, Diet & Health, Travel, Religion and more! You can bring in books to trade every day that we’re open, so gather a few from your shelf and head on over to our used bookstore.

We are open:
Monday through Saturday: 10:00AM–5:00PM
Sunday: 11:00AM–5:00PM

Our address is:
511 W. Mendenhall
Bozeman, Montana 59715

Email:
isleofbooks@outlook.com

Give us a call: 
(406) 219-3581

Butte

Founded more than 40 years ago, Books & Books, now Isle of Books & Books in Butte houses more than 40,000 new and used titles. Owner Medellee Antonioli purchased the store from her grandmother, Jojamette Antonioli in November, 2020 and moved the store to its new location, the historic Southern Hotel at 43 E. Broadway in December 2021. Come browse our floor to ceiling custom built wood shelves filled with new and beautiful antiquarian books.

We are open:
Tuesday through Saturday: 10:00AM–5:00PM

Our address:
43 E Broadway St. Butte, MT 59701

Email:
butte@isleofbooksMT.com

Give us a call: 
(406) 782-9520

Our Book Credit Program

Bring in your gently used books to either location any time we’re open. We offer $2.00 credit for most books and are happy to take used records, CDs and DVDs as well. We also have a “no trash” policy. If we cannot use a book, we either donate it to the library or recycle it depending on the condition. Your books will not end up in the garbage. Store credit is maintained by us in our system, it can be applied towards the purchase of anything in the store and it never expires. Note, store credit applies to half used book purchases (if you buy $10 in books, your store credit will cover $5) and one quarter of new book purchases.

Events

We’re beyond excited to welcome Montana’s own (and our dear friend) Russell Rowland to Isle of Books on Friday, March 28th at 6:30 PM!

Russell will be sharing stories from his newest book BE A MAN: Raised in the Shadow of Cowboys – a heartfelt memoir about growing up in the West and navigating what masculinity means when you’re surrounded by men of few words.

You might already know Russell as the talented author behind eight books, including the beloved Fifty-Six Counties and the critically-acclaimed Arbuckle trilogy. He’s been capturing Montana’s spirit and stories for years, and we’re thrilled to have him stop by for this special evening.

The details:

  • When: Friday, March 28th, 2025, 6:30 PM
  • Where: Isle of Books, 511 W. Mendenhall, Bozeman
  • What else: Snacks and refreshments (because books and snacks go together perfectly!)

This is sure to be a beautiful and interesting night of stories, conversation, and community. Russell’s down-to-earth approach and honest storytelling always make for memorable events, and we can’t wait to share this evening with you all.

Bring your friends, bring your questions, and lets explore unspoken codes of western masculinity together. 


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  • Jamie Ford Discusses “The Many Daughters of Afong Moy”

    Jamie Ford Discusses “The Many Daughters of Afong Moy”

    6:00 PM-8:00 PM
    October 11, 2022
    Isle of Books Butte
    43 East Broadway, Butte MT 59701

    We are incredibly excited to welcome world renowned Montana author Jamie Ford for a discussion and reading from his new novel “The Many Daughters of Afong Moy.” Join us Tuesday, October 11th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Isle of Books in Butte, 43 E. Broadway St.

    “The Many Daughters of Afong Moy is simply transcendent. The first Chinese woman to set her lotus-bound feet in America is destined to set off a ripple through time and space, as her descendants struggle with her legacy of loss and loneliness. Themes of karma, courage, love, and motherhood weave timelessly through eight generations of women seeking to find balance in an increasingly tempest-racked world. Jamie Ford has outdone himself!” —KATE QUINN, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code

    “Jamie Ford’s army of readers will be thrilled by this amazing new novel, The Many Daughters of Afong Moy, which promises to take them to places they have not been to before. At our house, we enjoyed many nights reading later and later into the evening, and discussing its wonders and surprises.” —LUIS ALBERTO URREA, bestselling author of The House of Broken Angels

    “Fans of The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet rejoice: Jamie Ford has done it again. The Many Daughters of Afong Moy is a searing and vibrant epic of generational love, trauma, and healing. In his trademark poignant prose, Ford breathes Afong Moy and her descendants to life with dimension and power. This is a book that will stay with readers and reshape how they engage with their own lives and legacies. To read it is to be transformed–and to transcend.” —QIAN JULIE WANG, New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Country

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  • Meet Bruce Smith, Author of the Legend Keepers: The Chosen One and Legend Keepers: The Partnership

    Meet Bruce Smith, Author of the Legend Keepers: The Chosen One and Legend Keepers: The Partnership

    1:00 PM-3:00 PM
    October 15, 2022
    Isle of Books Butte
    43 East Broadway, Butte MT 59701

    Join us for an afternoon with Bruce Smith, wildlife biologist, science writer, and children’s fiction author!
    To celebrate the release of the second in his “Legend Keepers” series, Bruce Smith will be signing books and delivering a visual presentation at 1:30 PM!
    In addition to “Legend Keepers: The Chosen One” and “Legend Keepers: The Partnership,” Smith is the author of “Life On the Rocks: A Portrait of the American Mountain Goat,” “Where Elk Roam,” “Wildlife on the Wind,” “Stories From Afield: Adventures With Wild Things in Wild Places,” and more.
    Bruce Smith is a wildlife biologist who holds a PhD in Zoology. During his career with the federal government, he studied and managed most large mammal species that roam the western United States.
    He’s authored five nonfiction books of natural history, conservation, and outdoor adventure.
    He spent three years studying mountain goats in Montana’s Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area – and
    many days afield with binoculars and camera since – which provided an enduring affection for the subject of
    Life on the Rocks: A Portrait of the Mountain Goat, winner of the National Outdoor Book Award.
    Legend Keepers: The Chosen One, received a Feathered Quill Silver Medal Award in two categories!
    Bruce and his wife, Diana, live in southwest Montana not far from mountain goats.
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  • Charles Finn & Barbara Michelman – On a Benediction of Wind

    Charles Finn & Barbara Michelman – On a Benediction of Wind

    3:00 PM-5:00 PM
    October 21, 2022
    Isle of Books Butte
    43 East Broadway, Butte MT 59701

    Join Isle of Books in welcoming Havre poet, Charles Finn and Missoula photographer Barbara Michelman as they share their collection of lyrical  poetry and images called, On a Benediction of Wind. Charles and Barbara will be at Isle of Books from 3:00-5:00 pm on August 21st with a presentation beginning at 3:30.

    Charles Finn’s work has appeared in a wide variety of newspapers, journals, magazines, and anthologies, including, The Sun, Wild Earth, Big Sky Journal, and Montana Quarterly. He is the editor of High Desert Journal, a print and online magazine dedicated to the interior West and is the author of Wild Delicate Seconds: 29 Wildlife Encounters (OSU Press 2012) and now, On a Benediction of Wind: Poems and Photographs (Chatwin Press 2020.)

    Barbara Michelson  began her career working in the major film studios. Some of her credits include “Happy Days”, Little House on the Prairie” and “Gideon’s Trumpet.” She taught film lighting at San Francisco State University and photography at Nevada County Community College. She also led photo tours to Europe for Close-Up Expeditions and Sweet Light Photo tours until 2006. Her work can be found in public and private collections in the US and Europe and  also includes digital films for Going Viral,  an art and science project, developed with Rocky Mountain Lab, an NIH lab,  and Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre.

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