Fewer Americans are reading books, but here's the plot twist: The bookstore is still staging a comeback.

Why it matters: Once left for dead in the wake of Amazon's rise and the death of Borders, Barnes & Noble and independent booksellers have pulled off a stunning turnaround, opening new stores and reporting higher sales.

Zoom in: Metro Detroit has seen several new shops open in recent years, including Next Chapter Books in Detroit, Whistler's Daughter Books in Ferndale and Howard Family Bookstore on the city's west side.

The big picture: AI threatens to disrupt information consumption, and certain genres are slumping — but bookstores have remade themselves as a hideaway from modern distractions and a place of authentic discovery.

What they're saying: "The revival is there," Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt tells Axios.

• Daunt — a U.K. bookseller — is widely credited with turning around B&N since taking over in 2019.
• He empowered local managers to stock books based on what their communities like to read, renovated stores, overhauled book displays and refreshed the assortment of non-book items.

By the numbers: Independent booksellers are enjoying a renaissance.

• The number of U.S. bookstore companies rose 70% from 2,010 in 2021 to 3,417 in 2025, according to the American Booksellers Association.
• 73% of booksellers recorded a sales increase in 2025, with more than 47% saying sales rose at least 6%.

Yes, but: 36% of Americans say they're reading fewer books than they did a decade ago, according to a CBS News poll conducted in June.

Between the lines: In our increasingly isolated world, bookstores also serve as third spaces where people gather. Many local shops encourage customers to linger, learn and make friends — not just shop and exit — through comfortable seating, pop-ups and events tailored to community interests.

Go deeper: Explore other locally owned bookstores like 27th Letter Books in southwest Detroit, Source Booksellers in Midtown and Coreander's Children's Bookshoppe in Grosse Pointe Park.

Used electric vehicles are flying off dealer lots as pinched car buyers hunt for budget-friendly options.

Why it matters: The soaring demand has led to a rare phenomenon — used EVs rising in value, rather than depreciating, according to Recurrent, a research firm specializing in the used EV market.

By the numbers: Used EV prices rose more than 5% since January, with the biggest gains at the affordable end of the market (below $20,000), per Recurrent.

• A used 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV, for example, cost less than $18,000 back in January. Now it's over $21,000 — almost 20% more.
• A 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, which could be purchased for less than $19,000 in January, now costs over $21,000 — up 13%.
• A 2022 Tesla Model 3 that cost around $23,750 at the start of 2026 now costs nearly $27,000.

What we're watching: Availability of two- and three-year-old EVs will grow over the next few years.

• As many as 500,000 lease returns are projected in 2026 and up to twice as many in 2027, per Recurrent.

💭 Joe's thought bubble: My old Honda hopefully has a few years left. But I've been clocking used Toyota RAV4 hybrid prices lately to prepare for my next purchase.

🏞️ Detroit is investing nearly $20 million to upgrade 11 neighborhood parks across the city. (MLive)

💨 Recent rain brought some relief for Canadian wildfire crews and helped improve Detroit-area air quality after days of smoke. (Planet Detroit)

⚖️ The U.S. Senate this week confirmed Michael Martin, of Grosse Pointe Park, to serve as a federal judge in Detroit. (Detroit News)

🏛️ Highland Park's justice center is set to receive $500,000 from the state for building upgrades. (Michigan Chronicle)

With trade rumors swirling, Tarik Skubal is scheduled to take the mound at Comerica Park tonight against Kansas City.

Why it matters: Including tonight, Skubal only has two more scheduled starts in Detroit before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

Friction point: Skubal's future has the Tigers' front office in a pickle.

• He is widely expected to test free agency after the season. So the franchise can either trade him before the deadline and get a decent haul in return, or keep him and risk getting nothing.

State of play: The Tigers (49-54) were 4 games out of a wild-card playoff spot after last night's 4-3 win over the Royals.

Between the lines: Trading away one of the sport's best pitchers would anger the fan base and derail Detroit's playoff chase, even if it's in the team's best interest long term.

📣 Your turn: Should the Tigers trade Skubal or keep him and risk losing him for nothing?

• Click the link below and vote.

Take our Skubal poll