After a 30-year career as a consumer rights attorney, Newton Centre resident Elizabeth Miller is now one year into her new venture — Rebooked, a curated resale business selling books and vintage items at pop-up markets and fairs in the Greater Boston area.
With Rebooked, Miller curates used books and vintage goods for book lovers and sells only books that she has personally read and loved — buying only used copies in excellent condition keeping prices low in order for these books to get to new readers. “Every one of the 600+ books on my shelves has the Liz Miller stamp of approval, and I can lead you to the perfect match for you!”
In 2021, Miller began to think about closing her law practice and retiring. While she loved being a lawyer, she had reached the end of her patience for the stresses of litigation. “I always loved to read, recommend books to others, and shop for vintage, so in 2022, I combined all the things she loved to do, and Rebooked was born as my retirement project.” She was an original member of the Auburndale Community Library board and co-president for many years, and she continues on the board today.
She said that starting up was “humbling” with so much that she didn’t know — including how to set up a tent, take credit-card payments, use Instagram, and find the best places to shop for used books. “But it was also just so much fun, something you don’t often say about being a lawyer. So that was a welcome change.”
Rebooked does not currently have a brick-and mortar-shop and will instead pop-up at flea markets, vintage fairs, the Newton Harvest Fair, and Miller’s front porch. In between those events, she sells items online, and customers may contact her to see if she has a particular title.
Miller also sells individually curated book boxes. Once the box is purchased, she will send the recipient a questionnaire about their reading tastes and then pick three books especially for them, checking to make sure they have not already read them. The books are wrapped in vintage fabric and mailed off. Rebooked is also a bookseller for audiobooks on Libro.fm, where Miller has recommendations for some of her favorite audiobooks.
To celebrate Rebooked’s first anniversary, Miller will hold a Pop-up Sale and Fundraiser on Saturday, September 9, 10AM-3PM, at 22 Berwick Road in Newton. Rebooked will donate 10% of all sales from this porch sale to the Newton Public Schools Creative Arts and Sciences (CAS) program, which works with each school’s PTO to bring carefully planned, curriculum-focused programming into the classroom. Rebook’s donation will support author visits during the upcoming school year.
In the first two hours of the September 9 Pop-up Sale, as part of All Over Newton’s Back-to-School campaign, there will also be bouquets of dahlias provided by Derby Farm of Newton Centre and freshly baked French pastries by Marion B. at A Taste of France. (NOTE: Bakery orders must be placed before midnight on Wednesday, September 6.)
Rebooked may be found on Instagram (@rebookedboston), Facebook (Rebooked), or by email (rebookedboston@gmail.com).
