Melissa Russell
Handselling might not be a well-known term, but if you’ve ever been to an independent bookstore where a staff member makes a personal recommendation, you’ve experienced it.
Some booksellers are better at it than others, and Belmont Books’ Audrey Huang—who was just recognized as Handseller of the Year by the Book Publisher Representatives of New England—is among the best.
But that comes as no surprise to those who know her.
Huang is a staff member of Belmont Books, and anyone who has entered those doors has probably encountered her. She is, as described by co-owner Chris Abouzeid, the “go-to bookseller for recommendations in nearly every genre.”
“Audrey reads extensively, averaging 300 books a year and posting 200 reviews annually with a total of 1,200 reviews since starting her job,” Abouzeid said. “Her expertise spans genres, including mystery, romance, and history, with a focus on diversity and inclusion.”
Her broad expertise and enthusiasm caught the eye of the BPRNE, which recently established the award to celebrate standout independent bookstore employees whose recommendations are based on personal taste and experience rather than directed by a publisher or algorithm.
“One of the things publishers have found is that even though huge corporations like Amazon are good at getting thousands of books out every day, they’re not great at getting especially new authors or lesser-known authors out into the public eye,” Abouzeid said. “That’s the thing independent bookstores do really well. What makes Audrey unique is that she reads widely and can make recommendations in just about any category you could imagine.”
Upon presenting the award to Huang at last month’s New England Independent Booksellers Association conference, Ben White, representative for Macmillan Trade Publications, praised Huang’s book recommendations and buzz-building for titles she is excited about.
“She is a force of nature and a lovely person,” White said.
A former attorney and Cambridge resident, Huang has been with Belmont Books since it opened its doors in 2017. She has made it her personal mission to advocate for books published by and about people of color and members of the LGBTQIA communities. She serves on the American Bookseller Association’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, which makes recommendations to publishers about ways they can support those authors and communities.
“She’s pushed us as a store beyond our mission to promote authors from different ethnic backgrounds and get real representation in every section,” Abouzeid said. “So, you’ll see books with Islamic characters, Black characters, non-binary characters. She keeps on top of what issues are not being addressed and helps people pay attention to them.”
Huang reads diverse authors as often as possible because, she said, there is “so much systemic racism built into publishing.”
“I think the concept of windows and mirrors for both adults and kids is so important so that people can learn about people they may not normally hang out with, just have a different experience,” she said. “And it’s not just stories about pain and suffering; it is really important to show people of color, LGBTQIA, and people who are disabled, who are having fun and being the star of the show and not just a side character.”
Huang believes it’s her exhaustive pace of reading that distinguishes her from other book sellers. Because she is familiar with so many titles across so many genres, customers trust her judgment. Apart from that, she knows what questions to ask when people look for a recommendation.
“There are so many books out there, and it’s impossible to read everything, so I ask customers, ‘What do you like,’ and more importantly, ‘What don’t you like?’ Some people love the truthtellers, but they hate fantasy, and that will help narrow down a section,” she said.
She is also committed to raising the profile of lesser-known authors and independent publishers.
“I try to elevate those voices,” she said. “The books can be fantastic, but people may not know about them for a variety of different reasons; they may not have as much marketing budget behind them.”
These days, Huang is excited about reading “Colored Television” by Danzy Senna and “Magically Black and Other Essays” by Jerald Walkerand is anticipating publication of “Rental House” by Weike Wang and “Sister Snake” by Amanda Lee Koe, which are due out toward the end of the year.
Above all else, Huang believes reading should always be fun, especially for children.
“I get immense pleasure from reading these books,” she said. “I’m a big believer that if you’re not enjoying a book, if it is not for you, put it aside and choose something else. It shouldn’t be a chore. The next book could be so much better.”