Welcome to Emerald & Amethyst Books!
We are glad you’re here!
We are a small independentbookstore in Lexington, Illinois, right on Route 66! We opened in January 2025. You can get to us easily from the Lexington exit on I-55.
We offer books in genres such as sci fi, fantasy, romance, thriller, horror, historical fiction, literary fiction, poetry, plays, history, true crime, memoirs, essays, personal development, science, and social sciences. We also offer tabletop games, board games, and role playing game materials. We have a selection of gifts for the gamers and readers in your life!
We have a cafe area with seating, and you can purchase coffee drinks and soda. We also offer gourmet baked goods from Common Grounds in Gridley, including pie by the slice, cookies, and scotcharoos.
Our store is owned by Jamie and Andy Hand, a married couple who met studying English at Illinois State University. Andy is a Navy veteran, guitar player, and game designer. Andy loves to read fantasy and horror. Jamie reads literary fiction, nonfiction, and a little bit of everything in between. Jamie had a successful corporate career before opening Emerald and Amethyst.
Upcoming Events
Quiet Reading Clubs!
Introverts love these free events from 6-8PM on Fridays. 6-7 is social hour and 7-8 is quiet reading time. Bring whatever book you’re reading at the time! Dates for the rest of 2026 are:
Aug 28
Sept 25
Oct 9 (this doubles as a banned book read-in for banned books week!)
Nov 13
Dec 4
Saturday, Sept 12
Merchants on Main is 10am-3pm!
This is one of our most fun events of the year. Come out for pop up vendors, food trucks, and great deals. We will be offering 20% off your purchase if you spend more than $50. We also have a “Ready for Fall” gift basket we’ll raffle off!
We will open early at 10 and stay open until 6pm.
More details on Facebook
Friday, October 2
Audiobook walking club is 7-8pm. Bring your earbuds and your audiobook an meet at Emerald and Amethyst a few minutes before 7. We will go on a brief 30-45 minute walk together. No sign up, free, strollers welcome!
Saturday, October 10
We will open early at 10am for the Lexington Art Walk. Local author Thomas Ramseyer will be here signing books from 11am-1pm.
November 27-28
Black Friday and Small Business Saturday
Saturday, December 5
Christmas on the Prairie
Tuesday, December 22
Last shopping day of the year! We will close at 6pm and not re-open till January.
Check back for more!
Ways to support us!
Ways to support us!
Sign up for our mailing list
We send a monthly newsletter that rounds up all of our upcoming events, recaps book recommendations for the month, and more! We promise not to spam you!
Libro.fm
Love audiobooks? So do we. Now you can buy audiobooks and benefit your local indie bookstore! Our libro.fm app works just like audible, but your money stays in your community.
Bookshop.org
This is our online store front for e-books, hardcovers, and paperbacks! Shop online and your purchases benefit our store. This is a great way to support us from afar.
