Marvey Books owner Nadia Alawa has been running her bookstore on Cricket Ave. in Ardmore since April 27, writes Caroline O’Halloran for SAAVY Main Line.

It has a little bit of everything—mainstream bestsellers, mysteries and book club reads, empowerment/wellness/parenting titles, books signed by local authors, children’s classics and more.

The focus is on diverse and inclusive books, Alawa said.

“We’re excited to be here,” says Alawa. “The community has been fantastic. People are always saying they’ve been looking to have a bookstore and thank us for being here. We’ve had people drive an hour to shop here – when they hear we’re women and minority-owned.”

Alawa is a Wynnewood mother of eight who looks after the store with help from her 23-year-old twin homeschooled daughters, Silla and Deema.

She’s a voracious reader who enjoys sourcing books for a diverse audience.

That can mean carrying new authors with differing views or bringing back forgotten favorites like Pippi Longstocking.

Alawa opened the store to offer the local community “a place where people can come to get their curiosity satisfied and get exposed to new books and ideas.”

The store’s name comes from the Alawa family puppy, a “curious, friendly and inquisitive” dog,, Alawa said.

Read more about Marvey Books in Main Line Savvy.