The Forbidden Shelf

10/18/2026

Beautiful morning at the History Park Market! Stop by to see us and so many other amazing vendors, plus enjoy the live music. The weather could not be more perfect to browse the shops and discover your next great read!

10/18/2026

📚☀️ Sunday plans? We've got you covered!

The Forbidden Shelf is popping up at the History Park Sunday Market TOMORROW! 🖤

Stop by to browse your next favorite read, discover a banned book, or take a chance on one of our popular 📖 Blind Dates with a Book!

While you're there, explore all the amazing local vendors, fresh produce, handmade goods, and more!

📍 History Park | 501 Shreve St., Punta Gorda
🗓️ Sunday, October 18
⏰ 9 AM – 1 PM

Come shop small, support local, and find your next literary obsession! 🖤

10/10/2026

Today is Let Freedom Read Day. 📚🔥

The freedom to read doesn’t protect only the books we agree with. It protects our ability to encounter different ideas, ask questions, hear perspectives beyond our own, and think critically for ourselves.

It takes all of us to protect that freedom, with very little effort!

Have 5 minutes? Do something.
Have 15? Do a little more.
Have 30? Make your voice heard.
Have an hour? Get involved.

Swipe through for ways you can take action today. Check out a challenged book to support organizations fighting censorship, contact decision-makers, attend local meetings, volunteer, or simply help someone else access a book.

At The Forbidden Shelf, we believe the answer to an idea you disagree with isn’t to make sure no one can read it. It’s more reading. More conversation. More ideas.

Books belong in the hands of readers.

Let freedom read. ❤️📚

10/09/2026

If you haven’t heard, it’s ! Although, at The Forbidden Shelf, we are ALWAYS celebrating and highlighting banned books! It’s kind of our thing 😏.

Florida has had more than 3,200 book bans for the 25-26 school year. We are the 2nd highest in the nation, behind Texas. (Not a competition we want to be in.)

Any book worth banning is a book worth reading. Get involved, educate yourselves on the material being censored, and protect the freedom to read in your communities!

10/03/2026

Today is a very special market day. We’re at Charlotte County’s PRIDE festival! 🌈❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Come see us for our selection of LGBTQ+ books (which frequently overlap with our banned/challenged books), some new releases, Halloween reads, and of course, our favorite banned books.

Come celebrate diversity, acceptance, inclusion, and representation across all the amazing vendors and entertainers at today’s event! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

09/22/2026

Happy Autumn Equinox! Celebrate the turning of the season with books that feel like fall: moody, magical, and maybe a little mysterious. Check out our 2026 Fall Reading List on bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/shop/theforbiddenshelf

What’s your ideal fall reading setup?

09/22/2026

09/19/2026

Come see us tonight at HallowBean Coffee Co!

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY IS BACK AT HALLOWBEAN! 🖤🎃

Come grab your favorite coffee, soak up all the spooky vibes, and shop LOCAL with us! ☕️👻

We’ll have some amazing local vendors joining us with:
🍪 Cookies
🎂 Custom Cake Bar
🎁 Handmade Gifts
📚 Books & More!

📅 Saturday, September 19th
⏰ 4–7 PM
📍 Hallowbean Coffee Shop

Come support small businesses, discover something new, and enjoy a little coffee while you shop! 🖤☕️🎃

Interested in becoming a vendor? Message our page for more information!

Tag your shopping buddy and come hang out with us THIS SATURDAY!!!👻🛍️✨

09/18/2026

📱📚 Happy Read an Ebook Day!

Did you know you can read digitally AND support The Forbidden Shelf?

You can purchase ebooks through our Bookshop.org storefront and read them right from the Bookshop.org app on your phone or tablet.

So if your TBR is digital, we’ve got you too. ❤️

Read however you like. Just keep reading.

Shop ebooks from The Forbidden Shelf:
bookshop.org/shop/theforbiddenshelf

09/17/2026