Novels & Nightcaps is taking a hiatus in 2026, but stay tuned for details about Read with Heart, a citywide celebration of books and community starting Feb. 4th (World Read Aloud Day) to March 2nd (Read Across America Day)!

Cocktails, conversation, and Charlotte’s favorite independent bookstores all under one roof. Novels & Nightcaps, a Promising Pages Book Fair for Grown-Ups, is no ordinary book fair or nonprofit fundraiser. All year long, we make sure that over 55,000 children have amazing books to fill their homes, and this is our grown-up way of celebrating books and readers with a twist.

Event Highlights

Shop curated book collections from independent booksellers
Sample beverages and bites
Connect & kick back in the Readers’ Lounge with
- Book Clubs & Local Library Offerings
- Grown-Up Read-A-Louds
Enjoy a bit of spontaneity with the Impromptu Poet
Discover unique gifts, nostalgic book fair swag, and one-of-a-kind experiences in our lit-themed merch shop and silent auction
Collect clues, solve the book fair mystery, and be entered into our Bookish Raffle to win prizes.